Award

of the EIFS Council of Canada. The CAN/ULC-S716 standard for EIFS includes parts one, two and three, and covers materials and systems, installation of EIFS components and water resistive barrier, and design application, respectively. The standard was published earlier this year and the National Model Building Code will include the standard in its 2015 edition. "It provides a baseline minimum and could be used to enforce a contract. It makes everyone accountable. By having a standard, EIFS are recognized in the National Building Code," Garbin says. He adds that the CAN/ULC-S716 standard has become a reference for the complete EIFS practice manual that is on the council's website. Others in the EIFS sector are enthusiastic about the emergence of the three-part set of formal standards. "All three elements are critical for end product quality," says Guido Rapone, general manager at Durabond Products Ltd. He points to a recent paper titled How to Arrive at the True Value Propositiosn of EIFS by Ted Kesik, an engineer and building science professor at the University of Toronto. In his 2012 paper Kesik refers to an ASHRAE research paper titled, Thermal Performance of Building Envelope Details for Mid- and High-Rise buildings, released in July 2011. The document includes detailed data on thermal transmittance values for a range of envelope components. The 189-page document reports that, in some instances, heat loss from thermal bridging can reduce the effective R-value of an envelope system by more than 50 per cent. Avoiding thermal bridging and ensuring continuous insulation are priorities in Kesik's Insulation p12-17Insulation.indd 15 evaluation of modern EIFS systems that meet the new standards. Kesik notes that the advantages of EIFS include continuous insulation, reduced air leakage and condensation potential, versatility, and a low carbon footprint that is quickly offset by energy savings. New products for non-EIFS external cladding assemblies are also hitting the market. Comfortboard CIS (commercial insulated sheathing) from Roxul Inc. had its formal release in July this year and is designed as a rigid high-density, non-combustible, stone wool insulation board for use as an exterior insulation in commercial applications. "It's moisture-resistant and vapour permeable, so it's a breathable system," says Wendy Pole, senior segment manager, building envelope, with Roxul. Roxul mineral wool insulation products are being increasingly used for exterior insulation, says John Trapp, president of Edmonton-based Total-R Inc. "Preengineered metal buildings, mostly light industrial and arenas, are now using Roxul," he says. Besides new standards and quality assurance programs from organizations, manufacturers themselves are also developing specialized analytics tools. An article by specialists at BASF Inc. back in the December 2010 issue of Chemical Engineering Progress (CEP) described an analytic tool called eco-efficiency analysis (EEA) as " a systematic methodology for comparing the environmental and economic aspects of alternative products or processes." An expanded version of the article on the BASF website includes a general discussion of EAA benefits and then applies the method to review and compare various insulation products. "These Eco-efficiency analyses can also use data to improve a product," says Robert Cardinal, a construction standards regulation specialist at BASF. "The nice feature of foam is the range of functions it performs: insulation, air and vapour barrier. It can do all three and has been verified as an air barrier. To get the most from thermal insulation, the envelope has to be airtight. With all the benefits, it can cost less than it seems to at first sight," he says. Since September 2011, BASF has been licenced to use the EcoLogo on its Walltite Eco foam insulation. "Independent verification is important to us and our client base," Cardinal says. Tougher code requirements for radon levels in basements have opened up an unexpected application for spray foam insulation. "An air barrier might be needed before you pour the slab. The simplest way to address this is to use spray foam. There are no joints. It's very robust," says Francois Lalande, marketing director and technical advisor at Demilec Canada Inc. Noting that Demilec, in 2006, was the first foam manufacturer in Canada with zero ozone depleting substances in its blowing agent, he says clients should use accredited contractors with the Canadian Urethane Foam Contractors Association (CUFCA) membership to be sure of quality installation. CUFCA has been providing third-party field quality assurance program management for over 29 years to the spray foam marketplace, adds Andrew Cole, executive director. CUFCA's new offices in Mississauga, Ontario, allow for hands-on technical training and installer evaluations in their new purpose-built facility. Additionally CUFCA works with leading building envelope research groups to continue to advance the use of spray foam through long-term studies. ■ october 2013 /15 13-09-13 3:33 PM

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