This course examines the fundamentals of building envelope design, with a particular focus on fastener penetrations through water, air, and thermal control layers and their effect on overall performance. It explores various attachment solutions, including tube-seal fasteners, that reduce thermal bridging and support the continuity of the air- and weather-resistive barrier (AWRB) and exterior insulation, contributing to LEED® v5 Building Design and Construction and WELL Building Standard™ v2 goals. The course also reviews testing procedures for evaluating moisture penetration and fire resilience and demonstrates how selecting assemblies through a systematic approach can improve design efficiency while reducing errors and omissions. Throughout the course, a mass timber structure serves as a case study to illustrate best practices in building envelope detailing.Upon completion of this course, the Learner should be able to:
- Discuss the importance of a high-performing building envelope and the role of each control layer in supporting WELL v2 goals for occupant comfort, indoor environmental quality, and moisture management.
- Evaluate the impact of fastener and anchor penetrations on building envelope performance, particularly related to moisture control, air leakage, thermal bridging, and long-term durability.
- Explore attachment solutions, such as tube-seal fasteners and anchors, that reduce thermal bridging and maintain the continuity of the AWRB and insulation, helping preserve structural integrity while supporting LEED v5 and WELL v2 goals for energy efficiency and mitigation of moisture-related deterioration.
- Examine full-system testing used to assess thermal efficiency, air and water penetration resistance, and fire propagation, supporting long-term building safety, resilience, and compliance.
Attendees of this session are eligible for 1 hour of AIA credit. Please provide your contact information to the presenters for credit.
more sessions

The Globeville Mixed-Use Development in Denver represents a convergence of community need, environmental equity, and structural innovation.

Cost per square foot doesn't work for mass timber. So how do you know if a project pencils before you spend a year and a small fortune?

Mass timber projects succeed or fail on the design decisions made early. Member sizing and bay geometry drive structural performance, fabrication cost, and erection speed.

Join this expert panel as industry leaders explore how hybrid mass timber construction is shaping the future of building in North America.

This session explores the growing shift from site-built construction to factory-driven delivery in mass timber projects.

In the 5 to 10 story accommodation market (hotels, student housing, residential, social housing), light frame wall systems can't reach that height leaving concrete as the default.

This panel explores the real-world coordination required to deliver a complex mass timber project, using Ullrhof in Aspen as a case study.

Mass timber doesn't have to be the primary structural system to show up in a building
.avif)
.png)