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Home , Architectural technology, Building science

Journal of Civil and 9 (2015) 775-779 doi: 10.17265/1934-7359/2015.07.003 D DAVID PUBLISHING

The Need for Building Education

Joseph Laquatra Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, New York 13068, USA

Abstract: As the demand for high-performance housing grows, so does the need for improvements in education. Trial and error has long been the method for learning how to avoid problems in the construction of energy-efficient housing, including water intrusion and mold growth. Building codes have addressed these issues in prescriptive ways that were not evidence-based. Stricter building codes or builder licensing requirements are not necessarily the solutions to problems associated with misunderstandings about building science. Motivating professionals currently involved in the housing industry to learn through continuing education is a start, but the core problem must be addressed by including building science education in curricula related to architecture, engineering, construction management and other fields. The long-term solution is to include building science education in academic construction management programs. The purpose of this paper is to review the history of what has come to be known as building science and its importance to the residential construction industry. Problems that result from a lack of knowledge about the field are covered and a potential solution is proposed.

Key words: Building science education, high-performance housing, academic programs.

1. Introduction involved in the housing industry to learn through continuing education is a start, but the core problem As the demand for high-performance housing grows, must be addressed by including building science so does the need for improvements in building science education in curricula related to architecture, education. Even before the energy crisis precipitated by engineering, construction management and other fields. the 1973 Arab oil embargo, building codes in America The purpose of this paper is to review early were gradually addressing energy and moisture issues developments in the history of housing construction in prescriptive ways that were not evidence-based. As a that led to discoveries related to building science, result, problems ensued. Builders, , , problems that followed, their resolutions and current officials and others involved in the home efforts to increase awareness of the need for building building industry have been learning how to avoid the science education. This paper will demonstrate the problems through trial and error. This has led to importance of this need by citing examples of problems widespread misconceptions that persist to this day, that have occurred in the construction of including beliefs that buildings should not be airtight or high-performance homes and efforts currently “over insulated.” Well-documented problems of underway to integrate building science in academic mold-infested have exacerbated programs. misunderstandings about methods for building high-performance homes. 2. Materials and Methods Stricter building codes or builder licensing This research uses a review and summary method to requirements are not necessarily the solutions to provide a historical context for building science and its problems associated with misunderstandings about definition. Materials used for this purpose include building science. Motivating professionals currently books, journal publications, internet resources and

Corresponding author: Joseph Laquatra, Ph.D., professor personal communication. The current state of building and department extension leader, research field: residential science education is described by providing examples energy efficiency. E-mail: [email protected].

776 The Need for Building Science Education of colleges and universities that are and are not built by someone with a good understanding of integrating building science courses into their curricula. building science should be durable, affordable, healthy, Ongoing work underway by the US Department of comfortable and safe. But the term, building science, is Energy and its collaborations with private sector not used consistently. Rose [4] noted a use of the term, organizations is covered in the review. Barriers that “building science,” in the Proceedings of the continue to hinder applications of building science in University of Illinois Conference on Architectural the home building industry are explained and a Education from 1949. Max Abramovitz is quoted as long-term solution is proposed. saying, “I wonder if you realize how very few men are left today who are expert in building science” [4]. 3. Definitions Rose [4] described the field as “science applied to Ireton [1] provided a useful history of building buildings” and provides both broad and narrow science, beginning with the early years of insulating definitions, with the former applying to all “… physical, homes in the 1920s and 1930s, after which exterior chemical and biological processes affecting buildings,” paint started peeling. That resulted in painters refusing and the latter applying to “…heat, air and moisture to paint insulated houses. Vapor retarders and attic transport in buildings”. He also noted that the term insulation were prescribed by building codes and paint corresponds to what is called “building physics” in continued to peel from exterior siding. Issues that were Europe [4]. not understood included relative levels inside Best Training School provides the following houses and wind-driven rain that can penetrate siding. definition: “Building science is the collection of To this day, moisture movement inside houses and scientific knowledge that focuses on the analysis and water intrusion into building enclosures are issues that control of the physical phenomena affecting buildings. are not well comprehended by builders, code officials, This includes the detailed analysis of building architects and other housing professionals. materials and systems. The purpose Misconceptions abound and building failures continue of building science and understanding the training that because of moisture that can cause structural problems supports it is to provide predictive capability to and create conditions that lead to pest infestations. In optimize and understand or addition to affecting the health of structures, excess prevent building failures. Those failures may include moisture affects the health of building occupants by not only structural weaknesses but also failures in creating conditions that are favorable to mold growth securing the building envelope against moisture that exacerbates asthma and allergies [2]. intrusion that may result in wood rot, mold or, in most Besides moisture, other issues that affect the health severe cases, destruction of the structural integrity of of building occupants include indoor pollutants such as the building” (http://www.besttrainingschool. radon, volatile organic compounds and combustion com/building-science.php). products. Understanding and controlling these One thing missing from the definition above is the pollutants requires a grasp of what has come to be role of mechanical systems in a building’s performance known as building science, a growing field that takes a [5]. systems approach to understanding houses by focusing Lstiburek [6] wrote that building science is an on the structure of a building, its occupants and its immature discipline with little visibility at universities. contents [3]. In addition to a focus on pollutants, He compared it to when it was a building science includes emphases on heat flows, air young discipline. But structural engineering did mature flows and exterior water management. A that is and brought about an understanding of loads, load

The Need for Building Science Education 777 resistance and other concepts. As structural air flow detection equipment and indoor air engineering matured, so can building science, too. pollutant testing tools. This program is not accredited by ACCE. 4. Findings The Department of Building Science at Auburn At the university and community college levels in University offers bachelor and master’s degrees in the United States, building science is becoming building construction and is accredited by ACCE. But integrated into academic programs. Carnegie Mellon building science as described above is not covered in University’s School of Architecture, for example, the undergraduate or graduate program. The Del E. offers graduate degrees in building performance and Webb School of Construction at Arizona State diagnostics. The Department of Architecture at the University offers bachelor, master and Ph.D. programs University of California, Berkeley, includes a minor in in construction management and is accredited by sustainable design that features courses in building ACCE. Building science is not covered in any of these and sustainability. Onondaga Community programs. College’s programs in architecture and interior design 5. Solutions include instruction in building science. An issue with current academic programs in architecture is that they These are only a few examples of the current state of are focused on large buildings, not houses. One building science education, but they serve to academic program that does focus on housing is demonstrate that widespread awareness of building construction management, which is also known as science does not yet exist. In an article that is now 20 construction science, construction technology and years old, Uniacke [7] wrote that he expects to see construction engineering technology. What is the serious defects in the thermal performance of newly extent to which building science is becoming constructed houses. He cited a lack of access to good integrated into this program? information on the part of builders and architects as The ACCE (American Council for Construction being largely responsible for the situation. He argued Education) is the accrediting body for construction that integrating building science into construction management academic programs in the United States. management academic programs at the community The ACCE manual, Standards and Criteria for college level would be an effective remedy to the Accreditation of Postsecondary Construction problem because of ease of access and value. When Education Degree Programs, lists courses that must be Uniacke [7] wrote the article, his institution was called taught in construction management programs in order Yavapai Community College. It is now Yavapai for them to be accredited. Building science is not College. A check of its website on the associate of mentioned in the manual. applied science degree in residential building The Department of Technology and Environmental technology revealed that energy efficiency is Design at Appalachian State University offers a emphasized in some program areas1. bachelor of science degree in building science with Uniacke [7] stressed other advantages of integrating concentrations in construction management and building science in community college curricula. One and design. A specific course is that building in the local climate can be emphasized. in building science in this program covers ways that Another is that building professionals, at least at this buildings interact with the environment, moisture college, could take courses without being graded. The issues, , the use of diagnostic devices including blower doors, leakage testing devices, 1http://www.yc.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/associat e-of-applied-science---residential-building-technology/28.

778 The Need for Building Science Education particular course that Uniacke [7] described uses a  on-site generation; two-tiered approach to teaching building science. The  field issues: construction management, codes and first tier relates to the goal: to build a house that is other regulatory matters (optional); energy efficient, affordable, healthy, safe, comfortable  benchmarking performance: meeting and and durable. The second tier covers evidence and exceeding the norm; theory including definitions, procedures, product  community scale; information and construction details. In his class, he  putting it all together: experiential learning in the made use of the and other diagnostic tools, field/office; over 600 visual aids, expert guest lecturers,  homeowner education (communicating with the construction site tours and other enhancements that consumer). made his class so popular that attendees began sending Numerous resources on building science exist and their employees to it. include books, peer-reviewed journals, websites and A 2005 collaboration between the US DOE organizations. The DOE Building America Program (Department of Energy) and the APLU (Association of has set a goal of supporting the transformation of the Public and Land-Grant Universities) produced an design/construction industry to one that routinely outline for a university-level, semester-long course in designs and builds quality, high performance homes building science, “Building Science 101”. This course that are safe, healthy, durable, comfortable and energy outline contains the following modules: efficient. To achieve this goal, DOE recently  energy issues and building solutions; developed the Building America Building Science  introduction to sustainable design and building Education Committee. One activity of this group is to performance; work with a joint committee of the ASC (Associated  flows: air, heat, water and vapor; Schools of Construction) and the NCHRC (National  building materials and their properties; Consortium of Housing Research Centers). A  climate and designing with nature; long-term goal of this project is to facilitate the  building design, systems engineering and inclusion of building science courses as part of the commissioning; accreditation process of construction management  site: drainage, pest control and landscaping; academic programs by ACCE. The roadmap for this  foundation: moisture control and energy project can be viewed here: performance; http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/11/f5/ba_bldg_  building envelope: moisture control and energy science_education_roadmap.pdf. performance; In 2011, DOE worked with the NCHRC to establish  windows, doors and other penetrations; an annual excellence in Building Science Education  mechanicals/electrical/plumbing: systems Award Program to recognize efforts of university, engineering, energy performance, occupant health, college, or community college faculty in this area. safety, comfort and envelope/mechanicals 6. Conclusions management, Part I;  mechanicals/electrical/plumbing: systems Although progress is being made in building science engineering, energy performance, occupant health, education, it is not happening fast enough. System safety, comfort and envelope/mechanicals failures, including water leaks and mold growth in management, Part II; houses, are prevalent. Forty-seven percent of homes in  electricity payload; the US are reported to have problems related to

The Need for Building Science Education 779 dampness and mold [8]. Mullens et al. [9] reported that monitoring of the development of building science 20% of homes built in 2003 in central Florida curricula in community colleges and 4-year university experienced water leaks from the exterior during programs of construction management and related Hurricane Jeanne in 2004. fields. In addition, metrics should be developed to The construction of high performance energy measure the success of this effort, such as declines in efficient homes now requires specialized knowledge the incidence of building failures in residential and skills that were not required of builders 40 years construction and levels of understanding of building ago. Properly installed housewrap, window flashing science among general contractors and workers in the and air-tightening measures all contribute to a house subtrades. that performs well. But the nature of the housing References industry in the US makes it difficult to ensure that [1] Ireton, K. 2012. “The Trouble with Building Science.” everyone involved in building homes understands these Fine Homebuilding 227: 70-5. issues well. Many different trades, including carpentry, [2] Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Damp Indoor plumbing, electricity and others, are involved in Spaces and Health. 2004. Damp Indoor Spaces and Health. construction. Straube is quoted as saying that the Washington: The National Academies Press. [3] Florida Solar Energy Center. n.d.. “Building Science construction site supervisor should be the first person Basics.” Florida Solar Energy Center. Accessed to receive training in building science [1]. November 10, 2012. http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/ Changing building codes to reflect the latest consumer/buildings/basics/index.htm. knowledge in the field is not the answer to this problem, [4] Rose, W. 2012. “Research, Building Science and Architecture. Housing Knowledge Community Webinar because the code process is a political one and because Series.” American Institute of Architects. Accessed codes lag science by 10 years to 15 years [1]. Requiring November 11, 2012. http://network.aia.org/AIA/ licenses for building contractors, coupled with Resources/ViewDocument/?DocumentKey=89904d0f-70 continuing education, would only work partially, dc-4c4f-906a-c44e1556ec19. [5] Huelman, P. 2012. “Personal Communication.” Presented at because of all the trades involved in building. the Building Science Education Summit, Upper Marlboro. Licensing is another political issue. Not all states [6] Lstiburek, J. 2005. “Forward.” In Building Science for require this. Some that have tried to impose it as a Building Enclosures, edited by Straube, J., and Burnett, E. requirement have met stiff resistance from Westford: Building Science Press. [7] Uniacke, M. 1994. “Building Science Education in the homebuilder associations. The current generation of Community College.” Home Energy May/June. Accessed homebuilders requires continuing education in November 14, 2012. http://www.homeenergy.org/show/ building science, but not all builders are motivated to article/year/1994/magazine/85/id/1047. pursue this. In theory, home buyers could exert a push [8] LBNL (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). 2012. “Prevalence of Building Dampness.” LBNL. Accessed factor on the process by becoming informed about November 15, 2012. http://www.iaqscience.lbl.gov/ building science themselves, but this is not very likely dampness-prevalence.html. to happen. The long-term solution is to include [9] Mullens, M., Hoekstra, B., Nahmens, I., and Martinez, F. 2006. “Water Intrusion in Central Florida Homes During building science education in academic construction Hurricane Jeanne in 2004.” Accessed April 10, 2015. management programs. http://www.ba-pirc.org/pubs/deliverables/WaterIntrusion Future work in this area should include further Report8-21-06.pdf.