www.energystarhomesamerica.com

Issue 8, Volume 2

August 25, 2004

In an effort to inform our clients of some of the latest trends and advancements in technology for building materials, GWSSI will be inviting guest authors to write articles informing our clients of technology to improve the “house as a system.” We believe that good building science practices can be best achieved when our clients stay informed. Following is the first article written by one of our guest authors, Tom Tamlyn, of R.H. Tamlyn & Sons, LP.

Weep Hole Covers- Simple Technology for a Complex Problem
by Tom Tamlyn

Residential masonry wall systems absorb a lot of water with natural rainfall, sprinkler systems, etc. To prevent mold development within the wall system and home, it is necessary for the system to dry out. The Tamlyn Weep Hole Cover was designed to keep masonry mortar from blocking the flow of moisture out of the weeps or open head joints, allowing water and air to properly move from the wall system to the outdoors, while keeping bugs and other unwanted creatures from entering the home.  Most weeps are blocked by mortar falling behind the wall during construction, meaning water and moisture are trapped inside the wall system encouraging mold development within the wall assembly. Some designers and builders design weep holes or open head joints at each joint for maximum drainage of water and air movement from the house wall.   This is excessive. We recommend the weep hole cover every 24 inches.

In order for any product to provide the maximum benefit, it is important to inform and train your trade contractors to be diligent when installing brick or other masonry veneers. Excessive mortar during installation will reduce the performance of this product and block the drainage plane of the wall system. The Weep Hole Cover is a simple technology solution to the sometimes complex problems associated with moisture management and is designed to improve the performance of your wall systems through good building science.

Texas is Laying Down the Law on Mold
by Jennifer Boyle

The Texas Department of Health has issued new rules and regulations to ensure the safe and efficient practice of all mold-related activities. The development of these rules was required in 2003 by House Bill 329 in an effort to control untrained consultants from offering their services as mold specialists.

“Everyone from carpet installers and landscape contractors to used car salesmen were calling themselves mold experts and the result was hundreds of mold remediation projects that were overcharged, poorly managed, and improperly performed, often putting a building’s occupants at risk.”
             -Travis West, President, BAQ, Inc.

The new rules are very detailed and specific, but generally address training, certification, and insurance requirements for mold specialists as well as minimum performance standards for the licensees. The regulations also define the various titles that may be held, such as Mold Assessment Consultant or Mold Remediation Contractor and the processes involved for certification.  Licensing and registration will now be required for anyone who performs mold assessments or remediation. The only exception is made for small-scale projects that are defined by contamination affecting a surface area of less than 25 contiguous feet. These rules will not apply to routine cleaning, repairs and maintenance that may lead to the incidental discovery and/or emergency containment of mold contamination.

The Texas mold assessment and remediation rule will reduce the amount of companies performing mold assessments in Texas.  Companies that continue in the field will have to account for additional training and licensing and no one is sure yet how this will affect pricing. One thing that hasn’t changed is the need for smarter building practices and an understanding of water management issues as they pertain to the “house as a system.”

Additional information and a copy of the assessment are available at: http://www.baq1.com/txmold.pdf

Book Review
Sustainable Architecture
White Papers
Earth Pledge Foundation,
New York, 2001.

Sustainable Architecture White Papers is a collection of more than 50 essays describing a variety of sustainable building and design practices, products and resources. The essays are written by a wide range of environmental building experts from around the world. From the first philosophical essay by William McDonough and Michael Braungart to essays on pretreating fat, oil & grease or energy efficient mortgages, the reader is presented with a broad spectrum of ideas. It is an excellent resource for anyone in the building or design profession who is interested in learning more about environmentally considerate practices. And each essay is only a few pages long, so if you’re not particularly interested in solar power, you can read about “responsible windows” a few pages later.  If you would like to learn more about any of the topics, names and contact information are included, as well as a final section dedicated to resources.

Announcements...

Attention GWSSI Builders:
You may have noticed in the last month that you are receiving ENERGY STAR labels along with your ENERGY STAR certificates.  This is a new EPA requirement.  All certified homes will get a label so that the homeowner or builder can affix them to the electrical panel on the home. These labels will correspond to the addresses on the ES certificates you already receive. If you have questions please contact your GWSSI Market Manager.

Also...
We are participating in the Greater San Antonio Builders Show from Sept. 29 thru Oct. 3 and exhibiting at the Noche Verde event on September 23.

The EEBA/Sunbelt Builders Show will be taking place October 20-23. We will be cooking at a BBQ for the Zero Energy House Tour during this show.  If you are interested in attending, please sign up at their web site at http://www.sunbeltbuildersshow.com/

Updating our credentials...
Donney Dorton, Technical Supervisor-Quality Control, Ed Jacobi, Senior Engineer, Rogge Miller, Oklahoma Operations Manager & Certified Microbial Consultant and Kelly Parker, Professional Engineer & President GWSSI, have all passed their LEED accreditation exams and are now considered LEED accredited professionals.  LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It is the most widely recognized green building rating system to date. Recently a standard has also been developed for residential structures.  Look for LEED rated homes coming soon. Congratulations, guys.
 

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