Northern Colorado AeroBarrier

Architect:

Chris Benedict, R.A.

Scope Of Work

AeroBarrier Allows Engineers to Easily Attain Desired Tightness for Energy Efficiency, Comfort, Livability

For New York-based architect Chris Benedict, compartmentalization is the holy grail of apartment building design. As a recognized pioneer in energy-efficient building, she understands that effectively sealing the envelope that exists between apartments is not only critical for maximum energy efficiency, but it’s also key to ensuring high indoor air quality and limiting the migration of bugs, smoke, noise and other common tenant discomforts that can travel from one unit to another. For this reason, Benedict was not happy to learn that her latest project, a newly constructed 6-story apartment building on Manhattan’s upper west did not meet the passive house-levels of compartmental tightness targeted by her design. While the manual caulking applied by contractors got them close, it did not meet the industry’s highest standard. Now with plumbing, electrical and sheet rock installation finished, the building was nearing completion and further manual sealing was deemed impractical. Fortunately, Benedict had heard colleagues talk about an innovative new envelope sealing technology developed at the University of California, Davis that could be applied after construction was completed. AeroBarrier was not only highly effective, she was told, but also the single-step computerized process could be dialed in to reach specific desired results. After AeroBarrier proved successful at sealing a test unit, contractors were given the thumbs up to seal the remaining apartments within the building. It took the AeroBarrier team just 8 days to compartmentally seal all 34 units to well below levels of tightness required for passive house certification. Blower door tests conducted after the application of the sealing technology confirmed the results – AeroBarrier was a project-saving success.