Masonry Magazine January 2014 Page. 30
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A Crash Course
Air Barriers
By Colin Szewaga
All images courtesty of Hohhman and Barnard
AIR BARRIERS ARE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS IN TWO STANDARDS AND TWO CODES (ASHRAE 90.1�2010, ASHRAE 189.1-11, 2012 IECC and 2012 lgCC). These codes and standards have become building or energy code requirements in a minimum of 12 states in the U.S. In Canada, air barrier systems are a requirement of the Nation�at Building Code of Canada (NBCC) and the National Energy Codes for Buildings, and have been adopted by the provinces and territories. Design professionals have worked hard and have come a long way to ensure air barriers are designed continuously across the entire building.
The different types of air barrier materials and their tech�nologies have greatly increased in the last 20 years, giving Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA}Certified Air Barri�er Installers options for many different materials with which to work. Due to the nature of air barrier materials, masonry preparation is extremely critical to ensuring the material is installed properly.
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28 MASONRY � January 2014 � www masoncontractors org The Voice of the M~-~onfy Industry
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