Literature Review on Building Envelope, Heating and ... - Beeshive.org

for rigidity, and can be used as sheathing over a wall or roof or as the entire envelope of
the house including structural elements.
Advantages of SIP panels include their uniform insulation, they provide a good air barrier
continuity when joints are well sealed. The panels also save construction time. However,
thermal bridging may occur through the top and bottom plates and vertical stiffeners if
used, and the panels require accurate drawings and dimensions. The literature on SIPs
and their application in Northern Canada is reviewed later in this section.
Concrete Wall Construction
These systems use insulating concrete forms (ICFs), which provide the formwork for the
concrete, insulation, and sheathing in a single system. An ICF system saves construction
time by combining the construction of the framing, insulation, sheathing, and air barrier
elements into one step. This results in a good R-value and minimum thermal bridging.
Little specialized labour or special tools are required, the forming material is lightweight,
and there is less construction waste. However, changes are difficult to make on site once
concrete has been poured, and the initial cost is high.
Best Practices in Wood Frame Envelopes
The Best Practice Guide - Wood-Frame Envelopes from CMHC (1999-1) addresses
principles, practical features, and detailed considerations of constructing wood frame
building envelopes across Canada, except along coastal British Columbia. Another best
practices guide (CMHC, 2001) addresses wood frame envelopes in the high moisture
climate of coastal British Columbia. The best practice guide (CMHC, 1999-1) provides
details of three samples of wood frame wall assemblies.
Wall Assembly A: Common Basic Stud Wall
The wall assembly from exterior-to-interior consists of:
• brick veneer cladding, attached with galvanized brick ties nailed into the stud;
• an air space, 38 mm (1½ in.);
• 15 lb perforated asphalt building paper moisture or weather barrier;
• OSB sheathing, 11 mm (7/16 in.);
• wood studs, 38 x 139 mm (2 x 6) at 400 mm (16 in.) or 600 mm (24 in.) on centre;
• batt insulation or blown insulation in the stud spaces, RSI-3.5 (R-20);
• polyethylene air/vapour barrier, 0.15 mm (6 mil); and
• gypsum board, 12.7 mm (½ in.).
The foundation from exterior-to-interior consists of:
• a rigid mineral fibre drainage layer;
• damp proofing to grade: building paper, polyethylene, or asphalt impregnated
building paper;
• a poured concrete foundation wall, 200 mm (8 in.);
• polyethylene moisture barrier, 0.15 mm (6 mil), perforated above grade;
• wood studs, 38 x 89 mm (2 x 4) at 600 mm (24 in.) on centre;
• batt insulation, RSI-2.11 (R-12);
PERD-079: Task 2 - <strong>Literature</strong> <strong>Review</strong> 18