FEMA P55 Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition - Mad Cad

Volume II Designing the builDing envelope 11
Exterior Insulating Finishing System
EIFS can be applied over steel-frame, wood-frame, concrete, or
CMU
construction. An EIFS assembly is composed of several
note
types
of materials, as illustrated in Figure 11-18. Some of the
When a window or door assembly
layers
are adhered to one another, and one or more of the layers
is installed in an EIFS wall
is
typically
mechanically attached to the wall. If mechanical assembly, sealant between the
fasteners
are used, they need to be correctly located, of the window or door frame and the
proper
type and size, and of sufficient number (based on design EIFS should be applied to the
loads
and tested resistance). Most EIFS failures are caused by EIFS base coat. After sealant
application, the top coat is
an
inadequate
number of fasteners or an inadequate amount of
then applied. The top coat is
adhesive.
somewhat porous; if sealant is
applied to it, water can migrate
At
the
residence shown in Figure 11-19, the synthetic stucco was between the top and base coats
installed
over molded expanded polystyrene (MEPS) insulation and escape past the sealant.
that
was adhered to gypsum board that was mechanically
attached
to wood studs. Essentially all of the gypsum board
blew
off (the boards typically pulled over the fasteners).
The failure was initiated by detachment of the
gypsum
board or by stud blow off. Some of the gypsum board on the interior side of the studs was also blown
off.
Also, two windows were broken by debris.
Figure 11-18.
Typical EIFS assemblies
COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
11-19