By ROCKWOOL. 

The Ken Soble Tower project goal was to completely upgrade a post-war apartment to achieve Passive House standard, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 94%. 

The Ken Soble Tower is exemplary of the way that low-energy retrofits are revolutionizing how we think about upgrading our buildings. Both green and cost-effective, this building retrofit helps reduce carbon in urban areas, proving that it is possible to improve upon an existing building while adding in the many benefits that come with eco-friendly buildings. 

The goal 

Built in 1967 at 18 stories and 80,000 square feet, the Ken Soble Tower had been in a state of deterioration for some time as the oldest high-rise multi-residential building in CityHousing Hamilton’s portfolio. 

The goal was to retrofit the building to achieve EnerPHit certification, a branch of the Passive House (PassivHaus) standard designed specifically for retrofits. The building overhaul would include nearly every facet of the building from the building envelope, mechanical systems, electrical, plumbing and safety systems to interior upgrades to its 146 units to support aging in place, accessibility, comfort and overall improvement of the occupant experience. As public housing, cost was a key consideration, and the team set out to complete the retrofit at a fraction of the cost of a new build. 

The challenge 

The current building had significant challenges including a deteriorating envelope, lack of insulation, inadequate ventilation, and lack of thermal controls. While ERA Architects was originally going to re-clad the building with an entire wall assembly outside the existing brick, a visit to the ROCKWOOL booth at the Construct Canada exhibition changed everything. 

The solution 

After introducing the architect to the DuROCK PUCCS NC EIFS system incorporating ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation, the entire plan for the building envelope was revised. The resulting cladding design includes a six-inch thick stone wool EIFS system. ERA Architects liked three main things about the system: first, and most obviously, the non-combustibility (important given the vulnerability of the senior-aged occupants); second, the excellent moisture control offered by the stone wool and the unique, built-in drainage layer cut into the back side of the insulation; and third, the liquid applied water resistive barrier (LAWRB). 

In all, 50,000 square feet of ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation was incorporated into the new façade, helping to realize the R-38 effective R-value required to achieve EnerPHIT certification. The EIFS system fit the need for cost effectiveness (the system helped reduce labor costs), ease of install, high-quality composition, a favorable sustainability profile as well the top-notch technical support, provided by ROCKWOOL and DuROCK. 

The upgraded building envelope with inorganic stone wool will also help contribute to better air quality, since mold was previously an issue. Additionally, it created a more resilient building, able to stand up to harsher conditions as a result of climate change in the region, effectively future-proofing the building and better protecting its senior residents. In fact, thanks in part to its tight and super-insulated building envelope, ERA Architects notes that Ken Soble Tower “demonstrates passive resilience to extreme conditions: In case of failure of active systems, the building will stay warm in winter for up to two days (compared to two hours in a typical building) and below dangerous heat levels in summer for up to four days (compared to half a day in a typical building).” 

Overall, Ken Soble Tower will now provide residents with improved comfort and control of their indoor environments while substantially reducing energy demand. At its peak, the total energy needed to heat or cool each unit will be equal to the energy needed to run three incandescent light bulbs (100W). The retrofit now positions Ken Soble Tower as a true asset as well as a proud and prominent landmark in Hamilton’s waterfront — fitting, as it now stands as one of the world’s largest EnerPHit certified projects. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com. 

Original article source: ROCKWOOL 

By Cass Jacoby.  

Building acoustics are worth thinking hard about! Join us for a conversation with a building engineer who inform us about a solution to mitigating sound: fibrous insulation 

Heidi J. Ellsworth visits with Antoine Habellion, the head of technical for ROCKWOOL North America in the RLW, All About Roof and Wall Acoustics, for a conversation about how roof consultants and contractors can thoughtfully go about adding sound reduction to our buildings. 

Antoine previously worked in Paris, France as a building science engineer for ROCKWOOL France. Now he is part of the ROCKWOOL Building Science Team. “It is basically a team of building science specialists, which is dedicated to help designers, builders, consultants with their projects,” says Antonine. It is his job to address parts of the building we tend to forget — like sound.  

We don’t typically think about the ways that buildings work to protect us from sound. It is often something we take for granted, especially in spaces near highways or airports. “It makes a very big difference,” says Antione. “If you’re always exposed to noise, it can reduce productivity of course. But even more importantly, it can interfere with communication and concentration.” 

With stakes these high, it is of value for all contractors to learn about sound assemblies and how buildings work to mitigate sound. He says that a crucial element in going about something as complex and multi-faceted as soundproofing is to define a goal that you are trying to achieve. “You need to know specifically what you want to achieve, or at least get help from someone who can help you define what you need to achieve,” says Antoine. “Then looking for tested assemblies that exist already, which may meet that requirement.” 

Antoine tells RCS that designing an assembly that helps mitigate sound is largely about considering the factors of the job, choosing the right materials and proper installation. He notes that fibrous insulation, like stone wool, is ideal for insulating material from the roof to the façade and everything in between. ROCKWOOL, is volcanic rock that has been transformed into stone wool, and has insulation and acoustic performance capabilities to diminish noise.   

As building codes push for greater performance in the area of sound, these conversations only grow more pertinent. “I think there are very little buildings where acoustic doesn't matter,” says Antoine. “All the buildings which have occupants in them like extended period of times, of course, will benefit.” 

Read, Listen, or Watch this informative RLW about roof and wall acoustics today and start learning more about acoustics, sound and what fibrous insulation can do for a building. 

Learn more about ROCKWOOL in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit rockwool.com.

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.  

With the number of fires across the country it seems to be a year-round concern.  But late summer through fall is one of the worst times for wildfires. 

According to Fire Loss in the United States in 2018 NFPA.org, “In the United States, an estimated 1.3 million fires caused more than $25.6 billion in property damage, including $12 billion from wildfires, in 2018 alone.” And today according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, house fires are estimated to spread five to 10 times faster than 50 years ago due to increased use of synthetic materials.” 

Wildfires don’t only affect communities located in forested areas; they often spread to homes and businesses located on the edge of wildlands. Studies show that one in three houses and one in 10 hectares of land are now located in wildland–urban interface zones, and WUI zones are the fastest-growing land use type in the contiguous U.S. 

It is not just in the wild lands that fire is causing problems but, in every city, too.  According to the ROCKWOOL website, “After several large-scale hotel and nightclub fires in the mid-20th century that resulted in the tragic loss of life, fire safety and building design professional organizations created testing methods to rate materials based on how quickly they burn and develop smoke. Today, model codes developed by the International Code Council (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reference NFPA 285 as the test standard for exterior wall assemblies." 

ROCKWOOL continues to explain the development of NFPA 285, “It started in the 1970s in response to the increasing use of foam plastic exterior insulation in exterior wall assemblies to achieve compliance with increasingly strict energy codes. The test method evaluates how flames propagate on an exterior wall assembly subjected to a standardized fire exposure. It simulates a two-story wall assembly with an opening to simulate a window on the first-story wall, and the floors are separated by a floor assembly.  

The NFPA 285 assesses flame propagation in the following ways:  

1. Over the exterior wall surface 

2. Within the combustible core or components 

3. Over the interior surface from one floor to the next 

4. Laterally to adjacent compartments 

It is becoming more important than ever to look at the construction of buildings using noncombustible materials.  ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation has taken the lead providing information to help specifiers, contractors and building owners understand fire safety.   

“We’re here to help you better understand fire safety regulations in building codes, fire safety testing standards and design requirements for wildland–urban interface zones,” states Dave Lawlor, VP Sales for ROCKWOOL North America.  “Mitigating fire risk is key to designing homes, commercial spaces and multifamily residential buildings that provide safe places for families to live, work, attend school, shop and recreate.” 

ROCKWOOL is committed to reducing the human and economic loss associated with fire through long-term partnerships with fire safety organizations. They advocate for new fire safety technologies and stronger fire-safety regulations based on research and real-world experience.  

Learn more about ROCKWOOL’S fire safety advocacy work. 

Heidi J. Ellsworth is the president of RoofersCoffeeShop.

By Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS President. 

Attendees will experience networking, educational opportunities, fun events and great speakers. 

Those who are attending the 2022 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show will experience some of the best networking, education and hospitality in the roofing industry. The conference will welcome building enclosure professionals from across North America to the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida March 17 – 22, 2022. 

“Our 2021 convention, which took place in September, was a success, but we’re pleased to be holding our 2022 convention at the normal time in the spring,” said Brian Pallasch, executive vice president and chief executive officer at IIBEC. “IIBEC members are looking forward to the networking, educational opportunities and great speakers that make our international convention and trade show the premier event for building enclosure consultants and industry professionals.” 

“Exhibitors are excited to be returning to in-person events like the 2022 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show,” said Karen McElroy, vice president of events at IIBEC. “We know the strong interest we’re seeing among exhibitors will be matched by the interest in their products and services among the building enclosure professionals who will attend the trade show.” 

Several RoofersCoffeeShop partners will be at the show including: 

1. Duro-Last 819 

2. SOPREMA 713 

3. EVERROOF 417 

4. FlashCo 908 

5. Metal-Era 332 

6. S-5! 626 

7. Sika 600, 601 

8. Western Colloid 514 

9. Leister 110 

10. ATAS International 411 

11. CertainTeed  821 

12. IB Roof Systems 229 

13. Johns Manville  201 

14. Master Builders Solutions  518 

15. ROCKWOOL  501 

16. Roof Hugger 415 

17. National Women in Roofing (NWiR)  113 

18. Nations Roof 106 

19. National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) 316 

20. Single Ply Roofing Institute (SPRI) 215 

In addition, Johns Manville will be hosting a hospitality event to celebrate their 50th Bursi Anniversary on March 18, 2022, from 7:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at Conway Room, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. There will be cocktails and appetizers served during the reception. They are excited to celebrate their 50th Anniversary for the BURSI Program and would love to hear any stories attendees may have to share from attending past BURSI events. Be sure to RSVP here. 

According to IIBEC, the education will be off the charts, “Those looking to boost their continuing education hours (CEHs) at the show will earn 2.0 CEHs for spending up to four hours on the trade show floor and 3.0 CEHs for spending more than four hours at the trade show. The convention also includes more than 17 hours of live, in-person educational seminars. Kicking off the educational content on Friday, March 18 is an auxiliary seminar, “Florida’s High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) Product-Approval Process,” presented in three sections: the history of the Florida Building Code’s HVHZ section; Miami-Dade product-control requirements for fenestration and cladding components and systems; and Miami-Dade product-control requirements for roofing components and systems.” 

The opening general session will feature Duncan Wardle, founder of iD8 & innov8, who will share how he created magical consumer experiences while head of innovation and creativity at Disney, and how his unique Design Thinking process can help embed a culture of innovation into today’s workforce. 

Whether you are already attending or still thinking about attending, there is time to register and make a great plan for the 2022 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show. Simply visit their website for full event details. 

Learn more about IIBEC in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or visit iibec.org