Enclosure-First Approach: How Fundamental Principles and Good Design Lead to Passive House-Level Performance

About the event

The building enclosure provides an environmental separation between the interior and exterior spaces and controls the transfer of heat, air, and moisture between these two unique environments. However, these unique environments don’t allow for a one-size-fits-all approach to project-specific enclosure design; building exposure and use, long-term performance expectations, installation access, installer experience, and cost all factor into the many decisions that influence enclosure design. In this lecture, RDH Building Science Inc. will use the Twin Lakes Landing II affordable housing community, which is expected to receive Passive House certification, to explore the enclosure assembly design process, assembly options, and real-world decision-making factors that influenced the enclosure design best suited for the project. At the core of this discussion will be the options for producing high R-value assemblies and increasing airtightness while reducing moisture durability risks. During this lecture, students will be provided a hands-on opportunity to evaluate construction details from the Twin Lake Landing II construction drawings to identify the continuity of the enclosure layers and better understand how the building enclosure functions as a system.