North American Building Compliance Testing Association
INdustry Insights
Stay ahead of the curve. From field expertise to emerging techniques, Industry Insights from NABCTA keeps building envelope professionals informed, equipped, and ready for what’s next.
What Testing Protocols Separate Standard Buildings From World-Class Performance?
By: Jordan Kleinecke There is a saying around our shop that sums up a lot of how we see the industry: a building does not perform because you say it
What Role Does Forensic Architecture Play in Resolving Building Failures?
By: NABCTA Forensic architecture is not about blame. It is about cause. When a building starts misbehaving, someone has to do the detective work, and that work happens on
Why Building Enclosure Testing Certification Matters
By: NABCTA Building enclosure testing plays a critical role in verifying that walls, roofs, windows, and air barriers perform as designed. Without proper training, even experienced professionals may interpret test
Envelope Consulting vs. Envelope Commissioning: Are You Getting What You Asked For?
By: Bill Coltzer, Jr. Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) and building envelope consulting are not the same thing. One involves a defined, comprehensive process with real accountability. The other does not.
Air Barrier vs. Water Resistive Barrier: What Is the Difference?
By Bill Coltzer, Jr. The two most abused terms in building envelope design are air barrier and water resistive barrier (WRB). They are not interchangeable, and confusing them is one
Designing and Building Using the Premier Wall System: The Case for Insulated Masonry Cavity Walls
By: Tony Topping Why the Premier Wall System Outperforms the Competition What have we learned? Some things never change — structural, or loadbearing, masonry is one of those things. Masonry
You Complete Me: Why Your WRB Is Incomplete Without Flashings at Every Penetration
By: Bill Coltzer, Jr., AIA, BERM Weather Seals vs. Beauty Seals: Where the Real Defense Happens We may finally be getting beyond that time in life where designers and builders
The UK Is Entering a New Period of Air Barriers: Why Dry Lining Alone Is Not Going to Work
By: Barry Cope Why Dry Lining Has Reached Its Limit For decades, the internal plasterboard lining — commonly known as dry lining — has served as the primary air barrier
Call Me Sasquatch: Why Technical Architects Are the Bigfoot of Building Envelope Work
By: Bill Coltzer, Jr., AIA, BERM Way back when, when I was a little dude, I wanted to be an architect. In fact, my dad (Pop) wanted me to be
Controlling Cracks in Cement Stucco and Plaster: A Contractor’s 6-Point Program
By: Mike Boyd Why Stucco Cracks: The Engineering Reality Cracking in Stucco is an issue as old as the use of Portland Cement Plaster (Stucco). Engineers recognize the inherent
Overcoming Waterproofing Challenges in Texas Construction: Climate, Soil, and Workforce Solutions
By: Michael Garza & Kevin Kardos At Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, we strive to lead with forward-thinking solutions in the A/E/C industry, and the topic of waterproofing and its challenges
Waterproofing: What Can Go Wrong at Every Phase of a Construction Project
By: Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing Design Phase This is where it all begins. If the design and detailing are not properly drawn and communicated, the probability of failure with a quality