At BuildSMART, we believe that higher expectations for building performance, durability, and occupant health make building today more challenging than ever before. Take for example the 2000 IBC, which increased the possibilities for wood construction by (among other things) officially recognizing additional fire protection strategies for wood frame buildings. As the IBC continues to evolve…
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4 Undeniable Benefits of Offsite Construction It takes an average of four to six months to build the typical new construction home and in the homebuilding business, time is money. Complicating the issue for most builders is a shortage of skilled tradespeople, including framing carpenters, the constraints of weather-related delays, and countless other risks associated with construction…
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FastFlash is the first and only fluid-applied flashing to be evaluated and approved by the International Code Council Evaluation Service. FastFlash has racked up yet another industry first – it’s the first and only fluid-applied flashing included in an Evaluation Service Report (ESR) from the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES). The organization, a third…
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The Accelerator’s second Prefab Summit showcased another series of prefab all-stars with materials and methods intended for buildings small and large. Each speaker brought a depth of experience to the event and a sense of the excitement and growth currently being experienced by so many in the prefab industry. There are too many great moments…
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At this decadal-shifting, stock-taking moment, where is Passive House headed? On the one hand, Passive House building—like other parts of the clean energy transition—is growing at an exponential rate. In the United States, for example, it is doubling every year (based on PHUIS+ project data). That is heartening! On the other hand, the market share…
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Benefits like increased energy efficiency and cost savings, combined with heightened resident demand for sustainable features, are driving builders to think about sustainability. Alongside the development boom that Marcus & Millichap estimates will add 335,000 new multifamily units to the nation’s inventory this year, another phenomenon is emerging. As developers recognize the benefits of sustainability…
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The conversion of this uninsulated concrete-block structure into commercial office space was one of two projects where WUFI was put to work. (Photo: Ben Lewis) After six weeks of research, a designer offers some practical advice to architects planning to run thermal and moisture simulations Thermodynamics drive every aspect of living and non-living systems, including building…
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With demand for Passive House-quality panels and modules on the rise, the factories producing these goods are expanding in number, capacity, and production. Most are new businesses producing Passive House-performance exterior wall, floor, and roof panels. Yet a strong contingent of existing businesses are also growing their product lines to include higher-performance, thermal-bridge-free Passive House…
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