• A Basco professional can help anyone designing or upgrading a bathroom to choose the perfect shower door.
• A high-quality shower door will last for decades. One should consider who will use the product for years to come before purchasing.
• Basco has a wide range of designs to offer clients, including unique custom made options, and they can assist you through the selection process.

Installing a new shower door can be just the finishing touch you need to upgrade an old bathroom. With so many styles and elements to consider, it is not always an easy decision. Basco, a leading manufacturer of glass shower doors, creates high-quality doors in a broad range of designs and price points to fit any style or budget. The company also offers customized products—including precision fit shower doors designed uniquely for clients.

We recently spoke with Brad Michaelson, Basco’s director of customer service, to discover what architects and designers need to consider before their next bathroom project.

1. Wall Material

It’s important to identify what support you have on which to hang your shower door—whether the shower wall is acrylic, fiberglass, tile, or any other material. Often you will need to install additional backing to support a heavy door style. Michaelson suggests having studs in the wall so choices are not limited and you can ensure your door has proper stability.

If a client prefers the luxury and sturdy feel a heavier door provides, Basco offers a beautiful selection through its RODA Collection, where the doors are manufactured with 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch glass.

2. Entry

Photo courtesy of Basco

How do you want the shower door to open? To start, consider the bathroom’s layout before you think about overall aesthetic. For instance, if you prefer a door that swings open over one that slides, you want to make sure the door won’t come in contact with anything in the room.

“It is important that you think about how you want the shower door to interact with the rest of the bathroom,” Michaelson says. “Consider the size of the door you want in relation to where your toilet or vanity is.”

Sliding or rolling doors are a stylish way to save space in a room. A stationary shower screen is another option that allows easy entry and a simplistic look.

The Celesta Series, part of the aforementioned RODA Collection, is available as a swing, door and panel, or sliding tub or shower configuration.

3. Tub or No Tub

For those who love to soak, including a tub in the bathroom design is an easy decision. If you’re not sure, Michaelson recommends considering who will be using the shower over the years. Families with small children might prefer a tub, while some people with limited mobility consider it a hassle to get in and out of.

4. Frame Options

Photo courtesy of Basco

Choosing between the options of frameless, semi-frameless, or framed for a shower door frame, one should consider style, budget, and intended usage. While the heavy frameless glass door is a popular design, it does come with a heftier price tag. However, Basco offers doors for every budget, and you can find something in a comparable style at your price point. For instance, if you are upgrading a hallway or basement shower that isn’t used often, you could spend less on a thinner glass and semi-frameless design that will still look similar.

5. Glass and Finishes

Photo courtesy of Basco

After you choose the overall feel and style of your shower door, you can decide on the finishing touches. Anyone looking for an extra layer of privacy might want to consider a patterned glass option. Michaelson says clear glass is the most popular choice.

“If you are putting in a decorative tile or pattern, a clear glass will show that off best,” he says. “It also gives the illusion that the bathroom is bigger than it is.”

Basco offers a diverse palette of metal finishes to complement any bathroom’s hardware, too.

6. Preserve with Coatings

Clients looking to maintain their shower door for the long haul while keeping maintenance and upkeep to a minimum may consider adding a special coating to the glass.

Basco’s AquaGlideXP and Guardian ShowerGuard are some of the options for protecting shower doors. These protective coatings eliminate the need for harsh cleaning chemicals; remove soap scum and hard water spots as easily as towel drying when wet.

These also prevent minerals from getting into microscopic cracks and crevices of the glass itself, so the shower door will still be beautiful decades later. The AquaGlideXP coatings can be applied to any glass option at the factory. ShowerGuard is available in Clear and Pure Clear glass options. Basco also offers an AquaGlide XP at-home kit if decided on after installation.

7. Critical Measurements

Photo courtesy of Basco

“The rule of thumb is always measure twice, cut once,” says Michaelson, stressing the importance of getting accurate measurements for your shower door.

Basco’s custom doors are made to be a perfect match, so accurate measurements are crucial. Michaelson recommends measuring your shower opening lengthwise in three spots—across the bottom, center, and top.

Measure your shower opening lengthwise in three spots—across the bottom, center, and top.

You should also make sure your walls and surfaces are level. If you do find your walls are out of plumb or your threshold is not level, Basco can customize a door to fit those unique needs.

Finally, measure for height. You can check for the maximum height available—from the top of your tub or threshold, or measure for your preferred door height.

8. DIY Possibilities

For the novice DIY-er, we’ll also note that it is possible to install a Basco shower door yourself, though Michaelson recommends enlisting a friend, as even a smaller door installation can be a two-person job. For Basco’s line of heavy custom doors, he recommends hiring a professional.

The post 8 Things to Consider When Choosing a Shower Door appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Comfortable, inviting environments are more important than ever in health care.
• Some hospitals are enhancing patient well-being with thoughtfully designed bathrooms.

When you think of health care facilities, particularly hospitals, you may assume they offer only a cold and clinical environment. However, that common perception is changing as health care facilities have recognized the importance of creating a comforting and welcoming atmosphere for their patients.

This notion also extends to hospital bathrooms, where design plays a vital role in improving the overall experience for patients and visitors.

Enhancing Patient Well-Being

Hospitals are not just places for medical treatments; they also serve as temporary homes for patients who require extended stays. Maintaining a sense of comfort and normalcy can greatly impact these individuals’ well-being and recovery. Hospital bathrooms, one of the patients’ most frequently used spaces, should be designed with their needs and preferences in mind.

While functionality and safety should remain the primary concerns when designing hospital bathrooms, it is often the case that these priorities result in a utilitarian and institutional appearance. Fortunately health care design has come a long way, and it is now possible to create bathrooms that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

With inspiration drawn from residential spaces, hospitals can now strike a balance between functionality and beauty, creating hospitable and welcoming environments that are also user-friendly.

Design Considerations

There are many solutions available to transform health care restrooms into spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Here are a few key considerations:

Curbless Shower or Wet Room Model for Enhanced Accessibility

The recent trend of combining two rooms into one larger room allows for a larger bathroom footprint. This not only accommodates the wheelchair accessibility requirements but also provides a more spacious area for installing QuickDrain linear drains.

Designing a curbless shower in hospital bathrooms can be challenging, especially when dealing with old standards or retrofit situations. QuickDrain’s product line offers solutions for both retrofits and new builds, accommodating these construction challenges.

QuickDrain linear drains are easy to construct, offering flexibility in floor recessing and drain placement. If the drain is at the back wall, recessing the floor for proper water drainage is necessary. On the other hand, if the drain is at the front threshold of the shower, there is no need to recess the floor.

This concept aligns with the wet room model, where the entire bathroom is one wet room. While a single linear drain can handle all the water drainage, wet room design often incorporates a secondary drain if needed. The broader dimensions of these wet rooms, typically up to 60 inches, make it easier for the nurse or aide to assist the patient during showering.

Cleanliness and Hygiene

Cleanliness and hygiene are essential for ensuring the well-being of patients in hospital bathrooms. Use materials that are easy to clean and resistant to bacterial growth.

Health care facilities often rely on stainless steel fixtures because of their durability and cleanliness. The QuickDrain ProLine linear drain system is the only drain constructed from 316 L marine-grade stainless steel, which resists corrosion, self-cleans, and is easy to clean, minimizing the risk of bacterial growth. Linear drain covers can be easily removed by hand and wiped down to eliminate soap scum, hair, and other obstructions that can hinder smooth and consistent drainage.

To further enhance cleanliness and safety, incorporating Dearborn Safety Series ADA-Compliant Lavatory Tubular Covers can provide a professional finished appearance to exposed under-the-sink pipes. These same covers also deliver much-needed safety and peace of mind for individuals in wheelchairs.

Made from an antimicrobial material that is highly durable yet lightweight and soft to the touch, these covers protect occupants against sharp corners, abrasive surfaces, and elevated temperatures, while softening accidental impacts to prevent injury.

Incorporating Wellness-Oriented Elements

Wellness-oriented design in health care bathrooms improves comfort and enhances safety, especially for patients recovering from major surgery. Dearborn grab bars, for example, can be installed to provide added support and stability, ensuring patients can navigate the bathroom safely.

Gone are the days of sterile and impersonal patient rooms. They are now designed to be warm, welcoming, and calming, with soft color palettes and the use of natural materials. The inclusion of natural lighting and comfortable furniture helps create spaces that reduce stress and anxiety, ultimately promoting faster healing and supporting the patient’s recovery journey. Taking cues from the overall design of the room, bathrooms can also be transformed by incorporating features like tile showers and linear drains, further enhancing their hospitable appearance.

Linear Drain Body for Efficient Water Drainage

Photo courtesy of Oatey

Linear drains are versatile and suitable for any situation, making them the go-to solution for health care applications. They allow for a seamless and efficient water flow, improving safety by reducing the risk of water pooling.

Selecting a linear drain that can be customized to provide wall-to-wall coverage and has integrated slopes to evacuate water from the drain body efficiently is crucial.

The QuickDrain linear drain’s wall-to-wall coverage and fully sloped troughs promote efficient water drainage, minimizing slip hazards and reducing mold, mildew, and bacteria growth. Its sleek design seamlessly integrates into the bathroom floor, creating a clean and modern look. These linear drains are perfect for curbless showers or universally accessible wet spaces, easily accommodating universal designs under ADA guidelines.

Using linear drains also offers cost and labor savings since installers need to create only a single slope, instead of the conventional four-direction slope required for center point drains. Eliminating the compound slope in the shower pan unlocks new design possibilities and enables a seamless flow from the bathroom to the shower and makes it easier to navigate for people with mobility issues.

Large Format Tiles for ADA Compliance and Comfort

Large format tiles offer the flexibility to meet ADA accessibility requirements while creating a more inviting atmosphere reminiscent of a home. These tiles enable the creation of full tile showers with 100% barrier-free entrances, eliminating the institutional look of traditional ADA showers and providing a sense of openness.

By utilizing large format tiles architects and designers can design accessible bathrooms for individuals with mobility challenges while maintaining a comfortable and nonclinical aesthetic. Integrating a linear drain with larger-format tiles also reduces the number of grout joints and seams where mold, mildew, and grime can accumulate. Finally, using large tiles throughout the room, from the floor into the shower, can make a small bath appear larger.

Welcoming Aesthetics

Creating a visually appealing environment can significantly enhance the overall atmosphere of a hospital bathroom. Beautiful drain covers in various colors and finishes can be incorporated, seamlessly integrating with other bathroom fixtures and shower systems. Tile and back wall installations can be designed to hide drains, further enhancing the overall aesthetics.

QuickDrain partnered with Michael Graves Studio to design decorative drain covers, and offer eight finishes: brushed or polished stainless steel, brushed or polished gold, matte or polished black, oil-rubbed bronze, and polished rose gold. Grave’s Cosmo and Stream cover designs are crafted from durable 18 gauge 304 stainless steel.

The post Developing a Holistic and Healing Bathroom Design in Health Care Applications appeared first on gb&d magazine.

The 2024 class of new Oatey Ambassadors includes Tucker Baney, Nick Hotujec, David Williams, Rob Lupton, Schuyler Mooney, and Grant Blundell, collectively representing a diverse range of plumbing and building expertise from across North America. The new Ambassadors join returning Oatey Ambassadors Evan Berns,Colin Luttrell, Nick Parlet, Jeff Keller, Nick Meritt, Justin Noftle, and Jesharelah (Shay) Lorette.

Oatey Ambassadors champion Oatey and its family of brands through unique, authentic multimedia content and advocacy across social media and beyond. As an extension of the Oatey team, Ambassadors partner with the company on social media events, giveaways, trade shows, podcasts and more to bring the story of Oatey brands and products to life.

Ambassadors also have the opportunity to travel to Oatey’s industry-leading training facility, Oatey University, for an annual two-day Ambassador Fest event that immerses them in the culture of Oatey and builds lasting connections to the brand, company and associates. During Ambassador Fest, Ambassadors participate in hands-on training, tour Oatey’s manufacturing facility and visit Oatey’s world headquarters for a meet-and-greet with associates. Through the many touchpoints of the program, Ambassadors benefit from expanded visibility and reach for their personal brand across the digital landscape.

Oatey’s newly designated All-Star Ambassadors include Danielle Browne, Thomas Young, Robert Broccolo, and Germaine Nelson. Each of these Ambassadors has been part of the Oatey Ambassador Program for several years, displaying an impressive passion for Oatey, as well as a commitment to the Ambassador Program and the plumbing community at large. As All-Star Ambassadors, the influencers can remain in the Ambassador Program beyond its standard two-year duration, continuing to enjoy program perks in addition to enhanced partnership opportunities with Oatey.

“It is a great privilege for Oatey to partner with so many talented plumbing influencers through our Ambassador Program,” says Katherine Lehtinen, senior vice president of marketing at Oatey. “As this program continues to grow, we remain incredibly grateful for our Ambassadors’ partnership and support.

“We are committed to amplifying their talents and love for all things Oatey while supporting their career growth in the markets they serve and the platforms on which they publish,” Lehtinen says. “We are especially pleased to welcome six new Ambassadors this year, as well as to recognize our All-Star Ambassadors, whose passion and support have been unparalleled over the past several years.”­­

Individuals interested in becoming a future Oatey Ambassador can submit their information on the Oatey website for consideration.

The post Oatey Unveils Newest Participants in its Award-Winning Social Media Ambassador Program, Introduces All-Star Ambassador Program Tier appeared first on gb&d magazine.

“We look forward to meeting with our customers and other attendees at this year’s Canadian Concrete Expo, and presenting our proven concrete solutions that are addressing some of the challenges facing the Canadian concrete market,” said CHRYSO & GCP’s Okun Duyar, district sales manager of Ontario. “We are focused on transforming the Canadian construction industry by delivering innovative solutions that allow our customers to reduce their carbon footprint. Our North American team works closely with each customer throughout the cement and concrete lifecycle enabling them to achieve their technical, business, and sustainable objectives. We are excited to share our expertise with the Canadian market.”

Together CHRYSO & GCP provide a vast portfolio of concrete admixtures and cement additives designed to help customers achieve carbon reduction through the efficient and cost-effective use of materials.

CHRYSO & GCP Solutions at Canadian Concrete Expo 2024 Deliver:

• Cement Reduction (Portland limestone cement and new types of blended cement)
• Cement Replacement with Locally Sourced SCMs
• Use of Locally Sourced Aggregates
• Synthetic Fiber Conversion from Steel
• Recycled and Returned Concrete
• Reduced Clinker and Energy Consumption
• Operational Efficiencies

“Sustainability in construction is about making informed choices,” said Isabelle Lord, CHRYSO & GCP’s district Manager of Canada East. “We invite you to stop by our booth to share your concrete challenges, learn about our solutions, and enable us to work together in pursuit of customer-driven innovation.”

Explore how CHRYSO & GCP’s inventive solutions reduce the CO2 footprint of cement and concrete, enhance durability, and contribute to the circular economy.

ABOUT SAINT-GOBAIN CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS

Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals offers cement additives, concrete admixtures, and the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system through the combined solutions of CHRYSO and GCP. The integration of the two companies creates a vast depth of R&D expertise and technical know-how, alongside recent technologies for sustainable construction that help reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint of cements and concrete, and foster the circular economy. Leveraging its global manufacturing presence, Saint-Gobain Construction Chemicals serves its customers through local sites in more than 40 countries, employing more than 2,700 people.

The post CHRYSO & GCP Present Low Carbon Concrete Innovations at Canadian Concrete Expo appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• The metal roof on a North Carolina school was in bad need of repair when experts recommended a fluoropolymer-based roof coating.
• Proper removal of existing coatings is crucial for the ability of a new coating to perform as intended.

The damage started to become apparent during a roof inspection in the spring of 2015. After 25 years of service life, the metal roof on Central Middle School in Dobson, North Carolina was showing its age. Back-to-back winters with heavier-than-average amounts of snow and ice caused the blue, factory-applied coating on the standing seam roof to flake and peel off, exposing large sections of gray primer and the underlying steel roof panels to the elements.

“As snow and ice slid off the roof, they took chunks of paint with them,” says Robert Draughn, director of Construction, Planning & Design for Surry County Schools. “The coating failure got worse and worse, to the point where we were concerned that the exposed metal panels could rust and create opportunities for leaks.”

Eager to avoid the expense and disruption of replacing the roof, Draughn reached out to the plant operations division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for advice. The division’s engineers inspected the roof and recommended recoating it with a fluoropolymer-based roof coating—a strategy that had been used successfully in other school districts in the state.

Assembling the Team

The engineers invited several coatings manufacturers to visit the school and provide recommendations for remediation. APV Engineered Coatings, maker of NeverFade® Exterior Coatings, was one of only two coatings suppliers to take them up on the offer. The company sent Product Application Engineer Ernie Porco to inspect the roof and evaluate the condition of the existing coating.

“We conducted a visual inspection as well as mil thickness readings and scratch testing,” Porco says. “In many areas you could easily scrape off the degraded coating with your finger.”

As the scope of the project revealed itself, it became apparent that all the existing coating would need to be removed—a process that involved more than just simple power washing. Custom Coatings was selected to manage the entire job—from removal of the existing coating to recoating with NeverFade. “We reached out to a couple of other contractors, but due to the complexity of the coating removal process, they wouldn’t touch the job,” Porco says. “Custom Coatings was ideally suited for the task.”

Custom Coatings is known for providing a range of commercial services throughout the southeastern United States, including expert sealing, restoration, and high-tech coatings for the entire structure, from roof to basement.

“We had successfully completed a prior roof coating removal and replacement project for the Department of Public Instruction, so there was a level of trust that we would also be successful with this job as well,” says Joe Brindle, president of Custom Coatings.

Draughn praised the project team’s dynamic, noting that everyone communicated well, worked well together, and responded quickly to concerns or issues throughout the project. “I couldn’t have asked for a better relationship, from start to finish,” he says.

Coating Removal Process: Eye on the Environment

This in-progress photo shows the lefthand side of the roof with primer and topcoat applied. On the right, prep work is happening before primer is applied. Photo courtesy of APV Engineered Coatings

Brindle says proper removal of existing coatings is crucial for the ability of a new coating to perform as intended. Without it the new primer and topcoat will fail. During the company’s 30-plus years of experience, it has developed advanced coating removal methods—including the use of a proprietary paint stripping material—that are both effective and cleaner than other methods. The stripping material works quickly; during an initial test it completely removed a patch of existing coating down to bare metal in under 15 minutes.

“I discussed options for removing the existing coating with our engineering team and asked each bidding contractor how they would address it,” Draughn says. “The chemical stripping recommended by Custom Coatings won out over options like bead blasting for the cleanest, most efficient, and environmentally safe way to remove the paint with minimal impact on students and staff.”

As part of its standard waste disposal policy, the Custom Coatings team took care throughout the removal process to keep the stripping chemical and coating residue from contaminating the environment—a special concern because a farm with a pond was located adjacent to the school property. They set up a series of drainage pipes and collection bins across the 125,000-foot roof to capture the chemical and solid waste so it would not get into the storm drain system and groundwater. Once captured, all the waste was placed in a dumpster and disposed of according to local waste disposal regulations.

PVDF-Based Coating Extends Roof Lifespan

The school has a fresh, new look after the roof coating project was completed. Photo courtesy of APV Engineered Coatings

After stripping the old paint from the roof, the Custom Coatings team thoroughly pressure-washed the entire surface to ensure no paint remover or residual materials remained. Then they sprayed a coat of APV’s W-1650 Bonding Primer at a thickness of 1.5 to 2.0 mils. The primer is designed to adhere to tough surfaces, including metal and pre-coated metal. Its water-based, low-VOC chemistry provides early water resistance, protects against corrosion, and applies with a smooth, uniform finish for optimum aesthetics.

Next they spray-applied two 2.5 to 3.0 mil layers of NeverFade Metal Restoration Topcoat in a custom-tinted blue color to perfectly match the roof panels’ original factory finish. Engineered for coated or uncoated ferrous and non-ferrous metal surfaces, the topcoat resists the harmful effects of UV degradation like fading, erosion, and chalking. It safeguards against salt spray and corrosion, protects against a wide range of abrasions, and has exceptional resistance to algae, mold and fungal growth, dirt pickup, and stains. It also is water-based and low in VOCs, meeting SCAQMD Rule 1113.

NeverFade Coatings contain Kynar Aquatec®, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin with super-strong carbon-fluorine bonds that do not break down under exposure to the elements, thus resisting the film erosion common with exterior-grade, acrylic-based latex coatings. When exposed to UV energy and environmental stressors, the additives, pigment, and resin in latex coatings break down, creating a chalky residue. Eventually the chalked coating wears away from the substrate—or is washed away by rain, wind, pressure washing or cleaning—until the coating film is gone and no longer protects the substrate. In addition, the chalky residue changes the coating’s surface energy and serves as a food source for mold and mildew growth, which further degrades a building’s appearance and creates cleaning and maintenance problems.

Kynar Aquatec also resists fading. It has a 20-plus year demonstrated record of performance in extreme conditions, allowing APV to offer a 15-year product-and-labor guarantee that the coating will not fade by a Delta E of five or higher. Transferable to future building owners, the guarantee is unique to the architectural coatings industry.

“For decades architects have trusted the long-term, fade-resistant performance of Kynar 500® solvent-based finishes, which are baked onto metal surfaces of exterior building products like aluminum doors and window frames at the factory,” Porco says. “Today Kynar Aquatec allows specifiers to get similar performance in a water-based resin formulated for field applications.”

Ensuring Quality at Every Step

Quality assurance was top of mind throughout the four-month project, which took place primarily during the school’s unoccupied summer months. Even before the job started the APV/Custom Coatings team conducted multiple installation mockups to test coating adhesion. During installation the team did adhesion testing and x-cut tests after each coating layer was applied. At the end of installation they inspected the coated roof, checking mil thickness to ensure the job complied with the terms of APV’s guarantee. Because the paint removal process caused some sealant degradation, the Custom Coatings team also replaced those sealants, re-waterproofing the entire roof, then coated over the sealant.

The project was Custom Coatings’ first time using NeverFade Coatings, and the company has since become a NeverFade Certified Applicator. The certification process includes special training to learn about the chemistry behind the product, details around pre-job testing, color matching, application mockups, on-the-job troubleshooting, and post-installation quality assurance—all steps that give customers the confidence that NeverFade will perform throughout its guaranteed life cycle.

“We’ve worked with other fluoropolymer coatings before, but NeverFade is by far the best,” Brindle says. “It’s easy to use, easy to spray, and has a phenomenal finish that looks just like a new, factory-coated metal roof.”

Draughn adds that between the performance of NeverFade and the skills of the Custom Coatings team, the roof coating project met the goals set out at the start. “We’re very pleased with the results. The coverage is impeccable, and it looks great all around.”

The post New Roof Coating Corrects Years of Weather Damage and Degradation appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Real-time rendering allows architects to analyze, process, and publish detailed 3D images and scenes instantly.
• Real-time renderings help design teams make informed decisions, saves time and resources, improves cost control, and betters clients’ understanding of a project.
• Enscape is a real-time rendering and virtual reality tool designed for architects that plugs directly into the modeling software a firm already uses.

Two-dimensional blueprints and three-dimensional models—both physical and digital—have long served architects well, but they aren’t always ideal for presenting design concepts to clients with a limited understanding of the technical aspects of the AEC industry.

As a result architects are increasingly turning to real-time rendering to better present their ideas through the creation of highly detailed, immersive, and interactive 3D representations.

Let’s explore the benefits of real-time renderings and more.

What is Real-Time Rendering?

Real-time rendering is a sub-field of computer graphics that lets the user render extremely detailed, immersive scenes extremely quickly and is used in everything from video games and film to architecture and design. Photo courtesy of Enscape

Real-time rendering, or real-time visualization, is a sub-field of computer graphics that is best described as the analyzing, processing, and publishing of data in real time. Real-time visualization allows detailed 3D images and animations to be rendered extremely quickly—under 33 milliseconds—and operates in a continuous feedback loop that responds to user input instantaneously. This is achieved through the efficient manipulation of key geometric data and expert replication of physical properties like texture, color, light, and shadow.

Technologically real-time rendering is nothing new; these renderings have been a staple in the video-game industry for decades and are key to immersive gaming experiences. Real-time rendering has also found a place in filmmaking as a visual-effects tool and has even helped spur advancements in virtual reality.

It is only fairly recently, however, that architects and engineers have begun using real-time rendering software in place of industry-standard pre-rendering programs to better present their ideas and designs to clients.

Pre-Rendering vs Real-Time Rendering

The most significant differences between pre- and real-time rendering are their speed and amount of interactivity. Pre-rendering refers to the creation of static images or videos in advance and saving them for further alteration. This method allows for the creation of a highly polished finished product but offers very little by way of interactivity and typically takes anywhere from minutes to hours to render.

Real-time rendering, on the other hand, allows the user to create highly interactive, easily manipulated 3D simulations that render in less than a second. Architects and their clients can then “walk through” spaces in real time and explore every single corner of a design as it would appear in context. “Real-time visualization has made the process of illustrating architectural designs easier and faster,” Dinnie Musilhat, part of the content team at Enscape, previously wrote for gb&dPRO. “It translates 3D models into something tangible and understandable for people with limited knowledge of technical architectural aspects.”

How Does Real-Time Rendering Work?

Real-time rendering is founded on what is referred to as the graphics rendering pipeline, a computer graphics framework that identifies the necessary steps for turning a three-dimensional scene or model into a two-dimensional representation on a screen. This pipeline can be divided into three core stages: application, geometry, and rasterization or ray tracing.

Application

Real-time rendering’s application stage prepares graphics data and produces rendering primitives for the following geometry stage. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

As the first stage in real-time rendering, the application stage is responsible for generating scenes, or 3D settings that are then drawn to a 2D display. Because this process is executed by software run by the CPU, the developer has full control over what happens during the application stage and can modify it to improve performance.

Common processing operations performed by the application stage include speed-up techniques, collision detection, animation and force feedback, as well as the handling of user input. This application stage is also responsible for preparing graphics data for the next stage by way of geometry morphing, animation of 3D models, animation via transforms, and texture animations.

The most important part of the application stage, however, is the production of rendering primitives—or the simplest geometric shapes the system can handle (e.g. lines, points, and triangles) and that might eventually end up on screen—based on scene information and feeding said primitives into the subsequent geometry stage.

Geometry

The geometry stage of real-time rendering is the most complex and is responsible for computing what to draw, how to draw it, and where to draw it. Image courtesy of Enscape

The second stage of real-time rendering, the geometry stage, is responsible for manipulating polygons and vertices to compute what, how, and where to draw. This stage encompasses multiple sub-stages: model and view transform, vertex shading, projection, clipping, and screen mapping.

Model & View Transform

Before they can be sent to the screen models must first be transformed into several different coordinate systems or spaces. Once a model has been created it is said to exist within its own model space, which essentially means it has yet to be transformed. Each model is then associated with its own model transform, a process that allows the model to be positioned and oriented.

During model transform the vertices and normals of the model are transformed, which in turn moves the model from its model coordinates to world space. All models exist in the same world space once they have been transformed with their respective model transforms and it is in this world space that the second stage of transformation—the view transform—happens.

View transform is applied to the camera—which also has a location and direction in world space—as well as the models themselves. The purpose of the view transform is to place the camera at an origin and aim it in the direction of the negative z-axis, with this new space referred to as the camera or eye space. Only those models within the eye space at any given point in time are rendered.

Vertex Shading

Vertex shading is the second geometry substage and is responsible for rendering the actual appearance of objects, including their material, texture, and shading. Of these, shading—or the effect of light on an object’s appearance—is arguably the most important to producing a realistic scene and is accomplished by using the material data stored at each vertex on a model to compute shading equations.

Most of these shading computations are performed during the geometry stage in world space, but some may be performed later on during the final rasterization or ray tracing stage. All vertex shading results—including vectors, colors, texture coordinates, et cetera—are then sent to the rasterization or ray tracing stage to be interpolated.

Projection

Once shading is complete real-time rendering programs perform projection—a process that transforms the view volume into a unit cube referred to as the canonical view volume. This sub-stage is ultimately responsible for turning three-dimensional objects into two-dimensional projections. Two types of projection methods are used in real-time rendering: orthographic and perspective.

Orthographic projections transform the rectangular view volume characteristic of orthographic viewing into the unit cube via a combination of scaling and translation. Using this method, parallel lines remain parallel even after the transformation.

Perspective projection, on the other hand, more closely mimics human sight by ensuring that, as the distance between the camera and model increases, the model appears to grow smaller and smaller—in this way, parallel lines may actually converge at the horizon. Rather than a rectangular box, the view volume of perspective viewing appears as a truncated pyramid with a rectangular base.

Clipping

After projection real-time rendering systems use the canonical view volume to determine which primitives need to be passed on to the next stage, as only those primitives that exist wholly or partially within the view volume need to be rendered. Primitives that are already entirely within the view volume are passed on as is, but partial primitives require clipping before moving on to the final rasterization or ray tracing stage.

Any vertices outside of the view volume, for example, must be clipped against the view volume, which requires the old vertices be replaced by new ones that are located at the intersection of their respective primitives and the view volume. This process is made relatively simple by the projection matrix from the previous stage, as it ensures all transformed primitives will be clipped against the unit cube in a consistent manner.

Screen Mapping

Only those clipped primitives are passed on to the screen mapping sub-stage. Screen mapping is responsible for converting the still-3D coordinates of clipped primitives into 2D coordinates. Each primitive’s x- and y-coordinates are transformed to form screen coordinates, with the z-coordinate being unaffected by the screen mapping process. Once mapped, these new coordinates are moved along to the rasterization or ray tracing stage.

Rasterization or Ray Tracing

Enscape uses ray tracing to better simulate reflections, soft shadows, and other optical effects in its real-time renders. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

The last stage of conventional real-time rendering is rasterization—a process that applies color to the graphics elements and turns them into pixels that are then displayed on screen. Rasterization is an object-based approach to rendering scenes, which means that all objects are painted with color ahead of time, after which point logic is applied to only show those pixels that are closest to the eye or camera.

There is, however, a more modern alternative to rasterization referred to as ray tracing, which colors each pixel before identifying them with objects. Ray tracing is capable of simulating a variety of optical effects—refraction, reflections, soft shadows, depth of field, etc.—with extreme accuracy, making for a more realistic and immersive final render. The downside of ray tracing is that it is slower than rasterization and typically requires a more advanced graphics card than what most firms already use.

Benefits of Real-Time Rendering in Architecture

Real-time renderings are an extremely useful tool in the modern architect’s toolkit. Here are some benefits.

Better Client Understanding

KeurK used real-time rendering and virtual reality to help their client—the European Medicines Agency—better understand the design of their new headquarters. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

Blueprints and 3D models have their place in architecture but they aren’t always the best tools for conveying information to clients who may not have the same technical understanding of the process. Size and scale, for instance, can be difficult to grasp when looking at a drawing or a static model on a screen, but real-time rendering remedies this by letting the client move freely through a to-scale representation of the space.

This is especially true if firms use real-time visualization in conjunction with VR technology, as it allows clients to physically walk through a 1:1 representation of the finished product and get an intimate feel for the space itself. When French architectural firm KeurK designed the new headquarters for the European Medicines Agency, it was this very same line of thinking that led them to use real-time rendering and VR to present their ideas to the client

“Using VR allowed us to make an impression. It helped us show small details and helped people who weren’t versed in construction understand it better,” Olivier Riatuté, founder of KeurK, previously told gb&dPRO. “For instance, we could show just how monumental the staircase would look in the atrium.” Using real-time rendering to better a client’s understanding of the design ultimately makes them more confident in both their personal and the team’s choices.

Collaboration & Informed Decision-Making

Highly detailed, immersive, and accurate simulations rendered in real time help facilitate informed decision making. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

Highly detailed, realistic, and immersive real-time renders also make it easier for design teams and their clients to communicate and make informed decisions regarding certain design considerations—like layout, placement of daylighting solutions, furniture ergonomics, et cetera—that may not be possible from a 2D blueprint or 3D model alone.

When Viewport Studio, an award-winning architecture and design studio based in London and Singapore, was tasked with designing Spaceport America—the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport—they used real-time rendering to help make essential design decisions. Real-time visualization of lighting conditions, for example, were used to evaluate the sunlight that would reflect from windows and monitors in the control room, leading to the design team choosing to implement curtains and opaque glass in the space.

Saves Time & Resources

Real-time rendering helps save projects time and resources. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

Perhaps the most significant benefit of real-time rendering is that it helps save time and project resources. “Real-time visualization tools save time and resources in two ways: reducing the resources needed to develop a design on the front end while reducing time lost to design changes on the back end,” Dan Monaghan, business leader for Enscape’s American market, previously wrote for gb&dPRO. “This is since it is quick and easy to make design changes, create visualizations, and incorporate client feedback.”

Improved Cost Control

Real-time visualization programs can help improve cost control by reducing communication and coordination issues, leading to fewer changes throughout the construction process. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

Using real-time rendering to save time and resources has the added benefit of improving a project’s overall cost control. “Architectural visualizations can be a key aid throughout the design process for resolving coordination issues across the various disciplines, resulting in designs that are more accurate and refined, ultimately leading to fewer changes in the construction process, where the budget impact is the greatest,” Roderick Bates, head of integrated practice at Enscape, previously wrote for gb&dPRO.

Challenges of Real-Time Rendering

Real-time rendering can be difficult to master and often comes with expensive equipment requirements. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

Real-time rendering can be incredibly beneficial to architects and engineers, but it isn’t without its challenges.

Learning Curve

While it’s true that some real-time rendering programs are more intuitive and user-friendly than others, the technology nevertheless comes with a learning curve that some may find daunting. This is especially true of standalone real-time rendering programs, as it requires the user to learn entirely new software that they may not have any prior experience working with.

Even real-time rendering plugins like Enscape that are compatible with most modeling and design applications come with new features that may take time for some to get used to. Effectively mastering the software can sometimes mean additional training.

Expensive System Requirements

Initial cost is often the main criticism of real-time rendering programs. Real-time rendering requires extremely powerful hardware and optimized hardware to run, which can be costly to purchase if a firm isn’t already using such equipment. Emerging cloud-based real-time rendering solutions may offer a more affordable solution by reducing these equipment costs, but still require firms to pay a subscription for the service.

Real-time rendering programs that use ray tracing rather than rasterization also require a more advanced graphics card—such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series or AMD Radeon RX 400 series—than what most BIM software requires, further adding to equipment expenses.

A Leader in Real-Time Rendering

Enscape is a real-time rendering plugin designed with architects and designers in mind. Rendering courtesy of Enscape

Architects and other AEC professionals looking to employ real-time rendering in their projects have a myriad of choices to choose from when it comes to software, programs, and plugins—so many, in fact, that it can be difficult to parse out which will be the most beneficial. Fortunately there’s one real-time rendering program designed especially for architects: Enscape.

Enscape is a real-time rendering and virtual reality tool that plugs directly into the modeling software an architectural firm already uses. Enscape is compatible with some of the most popular BIM and CAD programs, including ArchiCAD, Revit, Rhinoceros, SketchUp, and Vectorworks.

Some features offered by Enscape include:

• Real-time walkthroughs
• Virtual reality integration
• Collaborative annotations
• Material library with 392 materials
• Fine-tuned material editor
• Expansive 3D asset library
• Atmospheric settings
• Composition and lighting tools
• Variety of export options

Enscape is currently used by a wide range of architectural and design firms around the world and has helped improve projects of all kinds. When Intelligent City, a technology-enabled housing company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, created Platforms for Life—a technology platform that helps design and build sustainable mid-to-high-rise mixed-use urban housing developments—they turned to Enscape to help clients visualize their projects in 3D.

“We were looking for a way to visualize the buildings quickly. If we couldn’t keep up the iterations of the generated designs, then we wouldn’t be able to visualize them properly for our clients. We needed something fast, and Enscape met our requirements,” Timo Tsui, Intelligent City’s computational design architect, previously told gb&dPRO.

All in all, Enscape is one of the best real-time rendering programs currently available to architects, greatly streamlining the visualization process and reducing the learning curve by easily integrating into a firm’s existing BIM or CAD software. To learn more about Enscape, visit their website here.

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• Montgomery Sisam Architects designs Chelsea Gardens as a model for high-quality, sustainable affordable housing.
• The cost of living many places in North America is on the rise, while demand exceeds development.
• The team had to be very efficient in terms of gross floor area and layout to deliver 200 units, including many larger family units.

In Canada the challenge of providing sufficient affordable housing is pressing. As the costs of living have increased, demand has outpaced development, and cities are seeing the fallout in their shelter systems. To redress this deficit, governments are pouring billions of dollars into new, multi-year housing programs. These programs, responding to climate action goals and incentives, are set to herald a new generation of high-performance affordable housing projects.

Montgomery Sisam Architects was enlisted by the Region of Peel in Toronto in 2019 to deliver Chelsea Gardens, one such project. As a practice we are passionate about positive city-building and have had the privilege of working with many agencies and organizations to create housing opportunities for the communities they serve. This new 20-story residence will bring 200 new affordable housing units to Brampton. It is one of more than three dozen projects aiming to advance the 10-year Peel Housing and Homelessness Plan. In addition to its social mandate, Chelsea Gardens is set to become a benchmark for sustainable affordable housing design.

The Region of Peel, like many municipalities today, has adopted aggressive climate change policies. These policies have become key drivers in the administration of all municipal assets, including housing. Chelsea Gardens had as its targets the Zero Carbon Design under the CAGBC’s Zero Carbon Building Standard Version 3, Net Zero Emissions pursuant to the Region’s Net Zero Emission Standard as well as the CMHC’s energy efficiency standards.

In addition to meeting these sustainability goals, this new multi-unit residential building needed to be affordable to build, affordable to operate, and provide high-quality living spaces for families.
Our challenge was delivering this high-quality, high-performance building with an economy of means.

How We Did It

Multipurpose room at Chelsea Gardens. Rendering courtesy of Montgomery Sisam Architects

An important first step was adapting our workflow and schedule to accommodate an in-depth pre-design study of the various pathways to achieve the given targets. Naturally each pathway would require a different design approach, from wall assemblies to energy systems, and each design approach had its own capital and operational cost implications. Some pathways were deconstructed, reconstructed, and re-costed and short-term investments were weighed over long-term gains. Once a viable balance was found between sustainability and affordability, we proceeded with the design.

Chelsea Gardens infills a small parcel of vacant land north of two existing 13-story towers.

To deliver 200 units, including many larger family units, on a constrained site meant that our team had to be very efficient in terms of gross floor area and by extension layout. We developed a plan with three structural bay sizes—a 25-foot bay suited to one-bedroom unit, a 31-foot central bay suited to two-bedroom units and core elements (three elevators and a scissor stair), and 36-foot bay suited to three-bedroom units. This produced, in turn, three slender bars for a more compelling building profile.

In addition to these slender bars, the building was staggered at levels 1, 2, and then again at levels 6 and 7 to create variation in its vertical expression. The pedestrian scale was particularly important in making connections between the new residence and the existing fabric, including a children’s play area and adjoining parkland.

Reinforcing these connections is an outdoor patio space that extends out from the community room towards the park creating a new social space for residents from across the complex. The patio space is part of a larger site design strategy that strives to enhance the existing pedestrian network and create stronger relationships between the building and neighboring amenities, including a community center, grocer, and local trail system.

Sustainable Goals

The building orientation was predetermined by the small undeveloped plot connected to the overall complex by an existing ring road that will also serve as the building’s main access route. To achieve the ambitious net zero goal, the effectiveness of the building envelope was paramount. An airtight, thermally resistant assembly was designed to help manage heating and cooling loads. Meeting these high thermal resistance values, however, imposed certain constraints in terms of massing, materials, and the amount of glazing. The different volumes were clad in a combination of aluminum standing seam and architectural masonry block with wood-look metal soffits visible from grade for added warmth and character.

Generosity of light and views was achieved in each unit despite the building’s conservative 18% window-to-wall ratio, thanks to oversized windows in each family room. Bedrooms were fitted with smaller windows that offer more privacy without restricting access to light. The variation also gives visual interest in the facade.

Finally, to heed the Region’s energy policies, Chelsea Gardens is served by a geothermal loop with distributed geothermal heat pump system. The geo-thermal system eliminates almost all of the building’s natural gas consumption and offers some cost certainty to the operator when it comes to heating and cooling.

Our work on Chelsea Garden reinforces our belief that good design isn’t just for those who can afford it. In the context of affordable housing, high-quality, high-performance living spaces can be achieved with an economy of means. The challenges and opportunities lie in negotiating these different priorities. This starts with setting clear targets and finding the right design approach. And it evolves through creative interpretation and careful design moves that prioritize the occupant experience.

Outside Chelsea Gardens. Rendering courtesy of Montgomery Sisam Architects

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The post Chelsea Gardens is High-Quality, High-Performing Affordable Housing appeared first on gb&d magazine.

• Windows can account for up to 50% of the heating and cooling energy loss in a building.
• Fiberglass windows can stand up to extreme temperatures and last more than 50 years.
• Aluminum frame systems can help projects achieve LEED Gold or Platinum certifications.

Plentiful daylighting, thermal comfort, and views of nature—windows provide all of this and more. These benefits are just part of why windows are often at the top of the list of decisions architects and designers need to make. But how do you choose the best windows? And what are the biggest differences between aluminum vs. fiberglass windows?

The USGBC says it has become very important for architects to understand how to choose a sustainable window and window frame system that will promote comfort, energy efficiency, durability, and longevity through quality construction. They even offer a course on sustainable windows, exploring how choosing an ENERGY STAR–rated window can contribute toward the LEED for Homes credit.

The right windows not only let natural light in spaces in ways that make them more comfortable, making for healthier offices and more sustainable homes, but they can also improve indoor air quality. The options, though, can be overwhelming. These are the pros and cons of aluminum vs. fiberglass windows.

Fiberglass Windows

The Origin Apartments features high-performance fiberglass windows that helped the building win multiple awards for design and energy efficiency. Photo by Paul Grdina

Windows currently account for anywhere between 30 to 50% of the heating and cooling energy loss in a building, according to Cascadia Windows & Doors Technical Director Michael Bousfield. He previously told gb&d fiberglass windows improve building performance.

Fiberglass windows offer an avenue to deliver highly livable, long-lasting residential and commercial buildings, while improving energy efficiency and sustainability in general. Bousfield has called fiberglass an ideal structural material for window and door frames—specifically fiberglass with a high glass-fiber-to-resin formula.

“Nearly 10 times stronger than traditional vinyl, thermoset fiberglass is dimensionally stable, meaning it won’t creep and deflect over time. This stability and strength allow fiberglass frame windows to withstand higher wind load, resulting in larger possible windows—even on tall buildings with high wind loads,” he wrote for gb&d.

Fiberglass windows are impervious to decay, insect attack, and corrosion. They can also withstand extreme weather, including temperatures of -40°F through 350°F and higher, without becoming brittle or soft. Fiberglass windows can last 50 years or longer, more than twice the average lifespan of aluminum windows.

Bousfield has said that fiberglass also has an inherently low thermal conductivity, meaning that, without any additional thermal breaks or materials, fiberglass is 500 times less conductive than aluminum. That means a large-span double-glazed fiberglass window is more than 100% thermally efficient than a comparable aluminum window.

Pros of Fiberglass

Photo courtesy of Cascadia

Fiberglass windows have many benefits, from standing up to decay and pests to having a long lifetime. Here we explore some of those advantages in greater detail.

Impervious to Decay, Insects, and Corrosion

Fiberglass windows are essentially impenetrable to insects and stand up to decay for a longer time, according to Cascadia Windows & Doors. Plus, fiberglass doesn’t mind water. And because fiberglass isn’t affected by moisture, you don’t have to worry about rot, corrosion, mold, shrinking, and swelling.

Stand Up Extreme Temperatures

Fiberglass windows can also withstand more extreme temperatures than their counterparts—from -40°F all the way up to 350°F or more. Extreme heat nor cold has any impact, according to This Old House. Almost no matter the temp, fiberglass won’t change. This further reduces the risk of leaks.

Energy-Efficient

According to Cascadia Windows, fiberglass has an inherently low thermal conductivity. This means that with no additional thermal breaks or additional materials, fiberglass is 500 times less conductive than aluminum. Therefore, Cascadia says, a large-span double-glazed fiberglass window is more than 100% more thermally efficient than a comparable aluminum window.

Longer Lifespan

Fiberglass windows are estimated to have a lifespan of 50 to 80 years, or more than twice that of aluminum windows, according to Cascadia. That’s also more than four times the expected lifespan of vinyl/PVC windows, they report. They are inherently durable in nature, and fiberglass window frames put less stress on their adjacent glass units, meaning less failed seals and air gaps, too.

Cons of Fiberglass

Fiberglass windows are not without their disadvantages, though. From a sometimes higher cost to condensation, here we explore some of the cons of choosing fiberglass.

Cost

Fiberglass typically costs more than vinyl windows, for starters. Vinyl is appealing to many because of its low cost—often up to 30% less than fiberglass, according to Real Homes. This includes not just purchasing the window, but also the installation costs.

Installation

Experts say vinyl is an easier “do it yourself” option when it comes to installation. Fiberglass may be more cumbersome to install as it’s more rigid. It is recommended to hire a professional to install fiberglass windows.

Availability

Fiberglass windows are increasingly popular, perhaps affecting their availability. You also tend to have fewer design options than, say wood windows. Also worth considering is the fact that some fiberglass windows should not be painted.

Condensation

Although condensation may be worrisome, it’s mostly a cosmetic issue, according to Pella windows. The experts there say moisture on your windows doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem; on the contrary that may indicate that the windows are forming an airtight seal, reducing air leakage and keeping the moisture inside your home.

However, excess amounts of condensation may trickle elsewhere and cause blistering, cracking, or peeling paint, among other issues. In the instance of excess condensation, you should work to identify the root cause.

Aluminum Windows

The AECOM team chose YKK AP products to stand up to the cold. Photo courtesy of YKK AP

The experts at YKK AP have thoughts on the topic, too, saying upgrading a building’s framing system with aluminum frames is a cost-effective option for improving your project’s sustainability or even achieving LEED Gold or Platinum.

YKK AP America’s Steve Schohan previously wrote about the benefits in an article for gb&d, exploring how aluminum building framing systems in particular have evolved.

Aluminum framing systems were known for their high thermal conductivity, or vulnerability to heat gain and loss, but in general Schohan says their thermal performance and resistance to condensation have evolved to become considerable strengths.

He says a framing system’s thermal performance is less effective when the aluminum that sits inside the conditioned space connects with the outside unconditioned material. “In cold climates the aluminum acts like an ice cube in your building, which requires more energy to control interior temperature. This makes the type of framing system, and the performance of that system, critical when considering the energy performance of a building,” he wrote for gb&d.

Schohan says thermal breaks in aluminum framing systems were first introduced to help solve the issue of high thermal conductivity as part of the response to the energy crisis in the 1970s. Today thermal break technology is even more advanced, as the outside of the aluminum frame is thermally isolated from the inside of the aluminum within the glazing system. This process delivers strong energy savings economically.

Schohan says products like YKK AP’s ThermaBond Plus and MegaTherm further save energy and reduce condensation, delivering proven performance over the life of the building.

Thermal enhancement technologies in aluminum framing systems significantly reduce heat loss during cold weather yielding warmer interior surface temperatures on the frames, which helps to mitigate condensation and thereby increasing a building’s thermal performance.

Pros of Aluminum Windows

The Westin Tampa Waterside used NeverFade on both the structure’s masonry and aluminum window frames. Photo courtesy of APV Engineered Coatings

Aluminum windows have many advantages. Perhaps the most popular reasons people turn to aluminum for their windows is their long lifespan and low maintenance. Here are the benefits of choosing aluminum windows.

Low Maintenance

Aluminum windows are fairly low maintenance across their lifespan, though the same could most likely be said about fiberglass windows. Aluminum windows are easy to clean. Simply take a soft sponge and wash with warm water. Regular, light cleaning should keep them looking great for years in most environments.

Availability

Aluminum windows have been around a lot longer, and as such are typically easier to get your hands on than, say, fiberglass windows. Manufacturers like Milgard offer a wide variety. Their SDL (Simulated Divided Light) Grids give aluminum windows a fresh look for a spring renovation. “Customers often choose aluminum windows and doors to maximize their viewing area,” Kevin Anez, director of product management for Milgard Windows & Doors, previously told gb&d.

Cons of Aluminum Windows

We should also note the disadvantages of aluminum windows. From their inability to maintain heat in the same way to their tendency toward condensation and even corrosion, we explore some of the cons in more detail below.

Loss of Heat

Traditional aluminum framed windows often lose large amounts of heat. Aluminum may be strong, but it’s one of the least energy-efficient window frame materials. Like a lot of metals, aluminum conducts heat easily, making it a less effective insulator, according to Brennan.

Increased tendency for Condensation

Aluminum windows are prone to condensation. A lot of condensation can ultimately cause you to have to replace your windows. Trickling condensation can lead to peeling paint, for example, or even warped surfaces.

Corrosion

Metal windows, including aluminum windows are also more prone to corrosion. Aluminum windows in more coastal areas are particularly susceptible to damage in this manner.

Noise Transmission

Aluminum windows on their own are not soundproof, according to soundproofcentral.org. They have less air tightness than other windows, and therefore cannot block external noises. Their lack of dedicated gasket grooves also allow more noises to pass through than alternatives.

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• Sustainable plumbing aims to reduce a building’s overall environmental impact through a combination of eco-friendly materials and water- and energy-efficient fixtures.
• Using green plumbing solutions helps to conserve water, reduce waste, prevent water shortages, and lower a building’s operating costs.
• Some strategies—like rainwater-fed systems and integrated gray water recycling—force us to reconsider how we design and think about plumbing.

Many green building strategies focus on clean energy retrofits or energy-efficient upgrades, but there’s another crucial piece of building systems we must not ignore—their plumbing networks.

The need for sustainable plumbing solutions—and specifically those that prioritize water conservation—is obvious when one considers the increasing frequency and severity of both droughts and heat waves. By the year 2025 it’s estimated that water shortages arising from these conditions will affect over half of the world’s population, putting billions at risk of death by dehydration and heatstroke.

Fortunately there is much that can be done to improve plumbing infrastructure and facilitate conscientious water use in the built environment. In this article we’ll cover the basics of sustainable plumbing, its benefits, and explore 10 popular sustainable plumbing solutions.

What is Sustainable Plumbing?

Photo courtesy of Oatey Co.

Sustainable plumbing describes those plumbing systems that use a combination of green building materials and improved technology to reduce a building’s overall environmental impact, chiefly by way of water conservation, reduced energy waste, and responsible material use.

Most sustainable plumbing solutions focus on improving the water and energy efficiency of conventional plumbing system components, while others—such as rainwater-fed systems and integrated gray water recycling—force us to reconsider how we think about plumbing design in general.

Plumbing System Anatomy

Before we start exploring sustainable plumbing solutions, let’s explore the basic anatomy of a conventional plumbing system, of which typically include the following elements:

• Pipes. Responsible for the movement of all water—both fresh and wastewater—throughout a building’s plumbing system.
• Valves. Control and regulate the flow of water in a plumbing system; valves can be shut off in the event of a leak or a burst pipe.
• Fixtures. The physical components that actually dispense or drain water (e.g. faucets, showerheads, drains).
• Water Heater. Responsible for heating the water that is then delivered to various fixtures and appliances.
• Water Meter. Measures the amount of water consumed by a building; used to calculate utility bills and monitor water efficiency.
• Water Pressure Regulator. A device used to regulate a plumbing system’s water pressure and prevent damage caused by high water pressure; typically located near the main water supply.
• Drainage System. Drainage systems remove wastewater from a building’s main plumbing system and carry it to a sewer or septic system; wastewater is transported through pipes while vents serve to equalize the drainage system’s air pressure.
• Sewer/Septic System. As the final component in a building’s plumbing, a sewer system is responsible for removing wastewater from the premises and transporting it via a network of pipes to a municipal treatment facility; a septic system, on the other hand, removes the wastewater and treats it on-site before releasing it back into the environment.

Some plumbing systems will also include a backflow preventer, which serves to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into the system.

Benefits of Sustainable Plumbing

Sustainable plumbing solutions help conserve water, reduce waste, prevent water shortages, and lower operating costs. Photo courtesy of Oatey Co.

Making sustainable plumbing decisions is not only beneficial from an environmental standpoint but also helps property owners save money by reducing their utility expenses.

Conserves Water & Reduces Waste

As a nation the United States consumes 322 billion gallons of water each day, with roughly 47 billion gallons going towards the operation of buildings. The vast majority of that water, however, is improperly managed, resulting in significant water waste. Iit’s estimated that approximately 25% of all water that enters residential and commercial buildings is wasted.

Sustainable plumbing solutions like water-efficient fixtures and appliances help to conserve water by using less to begin with, while other strategies—such as recirculating hot water pumps and gray water recycling—reuse water that would otherwise be wasted.

Helps Prevent Water Shortages

When implemented at scale sustainable plumbing solutions that conserve water ultimately reduce demand on reservoirs and aquifers, helping to prevent water shortages during times of drought. This is especially important considering the world’s ongoing and ever-worsening water crisis—spurred on by increasing planetary temperatures and shifting climatic conditions—has put one fourth of the globe’s largest cities under water stress, stretching water-related infrastructure to its limit.

Approximately 80% of all state water managers in the US expect to have water shortages in the next decade, according to the EPA, with many states in the southwest already experiencing water shortages during the hottest months of the year. Sustainable plumbing solutions help prevent excessive water waste and ensure that communities are able to meet their water needs throughout the year.

Lower Operating Costs

Another benefit of sustainable plumbing is that it reduces a building’s operating costs. The average US household spends $876 annually on water and pays upwards of $1,740 in electric bills, with roughly 18% of that going towards water heating. All in all, water-related expenses cost the average household over $1,000 each year.

Sustainable plumbing solutions help lower these expenses by either reducing a building’s overall water use requirements (e.g. low-flow fixtures and pressure-reducing valves), reducing energy consumption by using less hot water (e.g. tankless water heaters and recirculating hot water pumps), or some combination of the two.

10 Sustainable Plumbing Solutions

Now that we’ve a better understanding of sustainable plumbing and its importance, let’s take a look at 10 popular sustainable plumbing solutions.

1. Low-Flow Toilets

The type of toilet you choose contributes greatly to a project’s overall water efficiency. Photo courtesy of Niagara

Estimates suggest that toilets account for roughly 30% of a household’s daily water consumption, according to the EPA. To help your household conserve water consider replacing your toilet with a low-flow alternative, such as one produced by Niagara, a leading manufacturer of high-performance bathroom fixtures.

In compliance with plumbing standards set by the US government, low-flow toilets use no more than 1.6 gallons of water to flush. If your home was constructed after 1994, chances are you already have one installed. If you live in an older house with a toilet that was constructed before 1994, however, you may be using up to 7 gallons of water per flush, meaning an upgrade is in order.

Of course, not all low-flow toilets are as effective as others. If you’re serious about saving water, select a highly efficient toilet that consumes no more than 1.28 gallons per flush. Ultra-efficient low-flow toilets can be recognized by their WaterSense certification, which denotes that they have successfully completed stringent independent laboratory testing with regard to performance and efficiency.

2. High-Efficiency Faucets

According to the EPA the standard flow rate of most faucets is 2.2 gallons per minute (GPM), which is generally more water than most sinks require—and while sink faucets typically consume the least water out of all a building’s plumbing fixtures, there is still room for improvement in terms of their water usage.

High-efficiency WaterSense-certified faucets, for example, reduce a sink’s water flow by at least 30%, bumping the flow rate down to 1.5 GPM or lower without sacrificing performance (adequate water pressure) in the process. Faucet efficiency can also be improved through the addition of a WaterSense-labeled aerator, a type of screw-on faucet accessory that mixes air into the flow of water, thereby reducing the amount that actually passes through the tap.

3. Low-Flow Showerheads

A low-flow showerhead uses 2 gallons of water or less per minute, helping to save thousands of gallons each year. Photo courtesy of Oatey Co.

Standard shower heads typically use 2.5 gallons of water per minute, but you may be consuming far more depending on the kind of shower system you have installed (such as one with several showerheads).

Showerheads with the WaterSense low-flow seal of approval, however, use no more than 2 gallons of water per minute. Once installed it’s estimated that these fixtures can help household’s save 2,700 gallons annually. Furthermore, a low-flow showerhead will help reduce demand on your water heater, saving you money on energy bills.

4. PEX Pipes

Because of its flexibility, PEX can bend around corners with each change of direction instead of having to add a connection. This reduces materials inside a building, while also improving water flow and reducing pressure loss for better system efficiencies and performance. Photo courtesy of Uponor

Sustainable plumbing solutions typically focus on reducing water usage and improving energy efficiency, but it’s also important to make smart material choices when manufacturing plumbing system components themselves. This is especially true of the pipes used to move water throughout a building, as they make up the majority of the plumbing system in terms of actual surface area.

Today PVC and copper are the most common pipe materials used in residential and commercial plumbing systems, respectively, but they are by no means the most sustainable. A 2008 life cycle inventory research project conducted by the Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association found that cross-linked polyethylene, or PEX, pipes have a lower lifetime impact than ABS, CPVC, PVC, polyethylene, and copper pipes.

PEX piping is extremely durable, is rust- and corrosion-resistant, and has an operational lifespan of approximately 100 years, greatly reducing the need for costly resource-intensive repairs and replacement work. PEX pipes are also incredibly flexible, a trait that allows them to bend around corners without the aid of connector pieces. “This reduces materials inside a building while also improving water flow and reducing pressure loss for better system efficiency and performance,” Devin Abellon, business development manager for engineering services at Uponor North America, previously wrote for gb&dPRO.

Uponor is one of the leading providers of PEX and uses sustainable manufacturing methods to reduce their overall environmental impact. Approximately 99% of the scrap material generated by the company is recycled and repurposed as filler for other products or is transformed via a clean incineration process to extract stored energy for heating purposes.

5. Drainage Systems

QuickDrain ShowerLine linear shower drain is seen here in a beautiful curbless shower. Photo courtesy of Oatey

Drain fixtures and systems are another area where conscientious material choices can help improve plumbing system sustainability. QuickDrain USA—a brand innovation under Oatey Co.—for example, uses 100% post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in all of their shower drain systems. “This environmentally friendly option is fabricated from recycled, plastic water and soda bottles,” Marlee Gannon, director of wholesale product and channel at Oatey, previously wrote for gb&d.

PET has a high strength and toughness as well as good heat and abrasion resistance, making it an ideal material for the conditions—that is, prolonged exposure to high temperatures and regular compression—shower drainage systems face on a day-to-day basis.

6. Tankless Water Heater

Switching to a tankless water heater eliminates the wait for hot water and helps reduce both water and energy waste. Photo courtesy of Oatey

A tankless water heater does not heat and store water in a tank but instead heats water as it is needed, either by way of an electric heating element or natural gas burner. Because they do not constantly heat water, tankless water heaters don’t generate the same standby energy losses that conventional storage water heaters do and are therefore much more energy-efficient.

The true efficiency of a tankless water heater depends on how much hot water a building uses in a day. A smaller household, for instance, or one that uses less than 41 gallons of hot water a day, can expect to use 24 to 34% less energy by switching to a tankless water heater. Larger households that use closer to 86 gallons of hot water a day, on the other hand, may only use 8 to 14% less energy—which still helps save money and energy in the long run.

This efficiency does, however, come at the trade off of a lower flow rate, which can make it difficult to supply hot water to multiple fixtures at once. Fortunately this can be mitigated by installing two or more tankless water heaters or by installing separate tankless heaters for certain appliances that require a large amount of hot water.

7. Recirculating Hot-Water Pump

Recirculating hot-water pumps help reduce water waste by circulating cooled, static water that would otherwise be wasted in the wait for hot water to the farthest fixture before recirculating it back to the water heater via the cool-water line. Photo courtesy of Oatey

In most non-commercial buildings with one-way plumbing, hot water is pumped from a hot water heater and delivered to the appropriate fixture. Once that fixture is shut off, any excess hot water already in the pipes stays in the pipes and cools down over time, resulting in a warm-up period—rather than instant hot water—the next time the fixture is turned on. All of this cool, static water is then wasted in the wait for hot water.

Installing a recirculating hot-water pump eliminates this wait time and prevents water/energy waste by circulating water through the cooled pipes from the heater to the farthest fixture before recirculating said water back to the heater via the cool-water line. Such a system delivers hot water instantly, eliminates static water waste, and uses less energy than operating a 25-watt light bulb.

8. Pressure-Reducing Valves

Pressure-reducing valves automatically reduce the high unregulated pressure of incoming water to a lower, constant pressure that is better suited to residential and commercial water distribution. Most regional plumbing codes require that pressure-reducing valves be installed whenever the city main’s water pressure exceeds 80 psi, but they are recommended regardless of local regulations as they help to reduce water consumption and save energy.

In reducing water pressure pressure-reducing valves lower the rate of flow, resulting in less water being used to accomplish the same tasks. Lowering incoming water pressure by as little as 10 to 20 psi can save the average building thousands of gallons each year, drastically reducing operation costs. A lower rate of flow also means less energy is required to effectively heat said water, further reducing a building’s utility expenses.

Another benefit of pressure-reducing valves is that they help protect pipes and plumbing fittings from being damaged by high water pressure. Most plumbing fixtures and appliances are only designed to handle water pressure between 50 to 80 psi, but some municipal water lines pump water as high as 150 psi. Installing pressure-reducing valves greatly lowers the risk of leaks or breakage and increases the operational lifespan of plumbing system components, resulting in lower plumbing maintenance/repair costs over the system’s life-cycle.

9. Rainwater Harvesting

The Rain Harvest Home project is made up of three buildings that each collect rainwater to integrate with an above- and below-ground reservoir system. Photo by Jaime Navarro

Most modern buildings source their water from one of two places: a well or a municipal water treatment facility. There is, however, a third option that has seen a steady resurgence over the last few decades: the age-old practice of rainwater harvesting.

There exists several different types of integrated rainwater harvesting-to-plumbing systems, including:

• Gravity-only. Functions purely through gravity and require no energy to operate, as there is no pump involved; in order for a gravity-only system to work, however, rainwater can only be collected in containers that are located below gutter-level and above the outlets they feed into.
• Indirect-gravity. Operates similarly to gravity-only systems, but relies on a pump to first transfer the collected water to a high-level header tank, where it is then allowed to free-flow by way of gravity alone; indirect gravity systems are more versatile than gravity-only systems, as the main rainwater collection container does not need to be in an elevated position.
• Direct-pumped. Uses pumps to transfer collected rainwater from an underground storage tank directly to the point of use; direct-pumped systems may use either a submersible or suction pump, with the former being the most efficient and most popular.
• Indirect-pumped. Works similarly to indirect-gravity systems in that water is pumped from the storage tank to an internal secondary tank, but uses a booster pump instead of gravity to pressurize the water and send it through pipes; as a result, indirect-pumped systems can be located at any level in a building.

It is possible for rainwater harvesting to fulfill all of a building’s plumbing needs—as evidenced by the Rain Harvest Home in Temascaltepec, Mexico or the Urban Frontier House in Billings, Montana—but it is much more common for rainwater to replace 40 to 50% of a building’s mains water usage. This not only saves the building owner a large sum in utilities but also helps mitigate stormwater runoff and prevent sewer system overflow.

One of the most efficient uses for harvested rainwater is filling and flushing toilet tanks, as these systems typically only require a basic sediment filter—rather than full treatment or purification—before the water can be used. Rainwater-to-flush systems are incredibly simple in design and pump rainwater directly from a storage tank to the toilets themselves. There are also more involved rainwater plumbing systems that filter, treat, and purify collected water to supply a building’s faucets, showers, and appliances with potable water.

10. Gray Water Recycling

The Urban Frontier House in Billings, Montana recycles all of its gray water for use in toilets, the dishwasher, washing machine, and irrigation. Photo by Clark Marten

Wastewater from commercial and residential buildings is divided into two categories: gray water (wastewater from bathroom sinks, showers, and certain appliances) and blackwater (wastewater from toilets). Most homes and buildings dispose of their wastewater via a municipal sewer system or, in more rural areas, a septic tank that drains into a leach field. Gray water, however, can easily be recycled on-site to serve a myriad of landscaping purposes and may even be reintegrated into a building’s plumbing system.

One of the most common uses for recycled gray water is landscape irrigation, in which case the water is filtered through a multi-stage filtration system to remove hair, lint, and other impurities before being diverted directly to landscaping features or into sprinklers and/or drip-line irrigation hoses. Recycled gray water can also be reused to flush toilets, a common practice in commercial buildings or multi-family residential buildings with minimal irrigation requirements. Gray water-to-flush systems are, however, much more complex and require regular maintenance in order to work properly.

Blackwater can also be treated and recycled onsite but requires more advanced, intensive systems than gray water recycling. Most municipalities and zoning boards, however, have very strict regulations for—or simply do not allow—onsite blackwater treatment and recycling, as it carries a higher risk of pathogen transmission that may cause sickness or harm to the environment.

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• Air loss through duct leakage in buildings is one of the biggest contributors to energy waste in US buildings today.
• Research from ASHRAE indicates that 75% of ducts leak 10 to 25%.
• Aeroseal audits buildings and solves leaks fast, improving IAQ and temperature control.

Indoor air quality is more important than ever. What started in 1993—when engineer and HVAC expert Mark Modera invented a breakthrough aerosol-based sealing technology in a garage—is now widely recognized as a critical step in building design.

Hospitals, offices, K-12, universities, you name it—project teams all over the world are turning to Aeroseal for help, as up to 75% of buildings have leaky ductwork, according to ASHRAE.

April Frakes, director of commercial business development at Aeroseal, works with customers to make existing commercial buildings better and eliminate that costly leakage. She’s been with the company for eight years and seen it grow from 38 to 200-plus employees. She says it’s different from any role she’s been in before because it centers on helping people understand what’s happening. “A lot of times people know they have a problem, and they go to find a solution. With Aeroseal technology, it’s a lot of education. People know the building is problematic, but they don’t know exactly what’s causing it,” she says.

Because ductwork is hidden behind walls or above ceilings, people often don’t think about it once it’s installed—out of sight, out of mind. “A lot of what our company does is educate people about the importance of having tight ductwork and why it’s important that your exhaust system works as designed,” Frakes said.

We recently talked with Frakes more to find out how Aeroseal can help buildings improve their indoor air quality, temperature, comfort, and more.

When does Aeroseal get involved with a building?

A lot of times we’re called in because there’s a problem—especially for indoor air quality issues.

We worked on an office building that had a morgue on the first floor in the basement. The smells were making it all the way through the building. They put in a new exhaust fan and did all the things they thought they could to solve that problem. People were moving out of that building all the time; they weren’t able to keep tenants. Finally somebody said, “What about Aeroseal?” We were able to come in and seal up that exhaust duct.

If your exhaust ductwork is leaking, all of those smells you are trying to exhaust out are actually leaking through to other floors. We were able to seal that exhaust ductwork and solve their problem.

We also worked with a children’s hospital in Florida. They were having trouble with contaminants, with viruses making it throughout the hospital, and they weren’t sure how this was happening. This was even before Covid. There was a leaky exhaust; the things that were supposed to be taking contaminated air out of the hospital were not working properly. By sealing up that ductwork we were able to solve a lot of those problems.

Those are extreme cases, but even if you’re in an office building with multiple floors and somebody’s cooking on one floor, that can be a problem.

How does Aeroseal help with other issues—like temperature control?

We work with a lot of schools, and we see a lot of space heaters. Or in hotter months you see teachers trying to speak over a fan. We see kids wearing coats in classrooms in winter. It’s all because the air is not making it to where it’s supposed to go. That’s all due to duct leakage.

How common is duct leakage?

HVAC system with unsealed ductwork. Illustration courtesy of Aeroseal

HVAC system with sealed ductwork. Illustration courtesy of Aeroseal

ASHRAE tells us that up to 75% of ducts leak 10 to 25%. We find that to be true in the tens of thousands of commercial buildings we have dealt with throughout Aeroseal’s history. Those are common numbers.

You can imagine, especially with Covid and people trying to make sure they’re bringing the right amount of fresh air into a space, if you’re leaking out 20% and you’re only bringing in 20% of fresh air, a significant amount is not making it into that space to dilute all those contaminants. There’s a huge problem people don’t even realize is happening because it’s hidden above the ceiling or behind the wall.

How does the sealing process work?

When Aeroseal comes in, whether we’re doing an exhaust system or supply ductwork, I compare it to painting a room. You have to prepare your room for that paint. You spend time putting that blue tape over all of the trim and doors—anywhere you don’t want to get paint on. It’s the same with Aeroseal. The majority of our process is preparing the system so we don’t get sealant where we don’t want it to go. We pressurize that duct system so the sealant comes in and fills up all those holes and gaps.

Most of our labor is really blocking off those exhaust grills or, in a supply system, some of the VAV boxes in the air handling. We’re making sure we create that duct run that we can inject the air seal into. That is a non-invasive process.

We like to work after-hours and on weekends so we’re not intrusive, since we do have to shut down the air handling unit for a small period of time. Our goal is that by the time everybody turns on the air handling unit for the next day of work nobody knows we were there, and the problems are all fixed.

When should Aeroseal be part of the design conversation?

We’re working really hard for Aeroseal to be part of the specifications of new buildings and in renovation. That is a great time to spec Aeroseal and make sure we’re part of that process from the very beginning so we can ensure ducts are tight.

Then if you’re working with your customers and you find any of these problems, whether it’s indoor air quality or you feel like they’re using too much energy or there are mold issues and you’re not sure where it’s coming from, Aeroseal is able to come in and do a no-risk audit to the facility and really inspect that ductwork to come up with a plan for how to fix it.

How does this work for a retrofit?

It’s difficult to go back and fix a building that’s been around for 100 years and really improve it. That is really rare. But Aerosol can do that, and in a way that doesn’t disrupt the occupants.

How does Aeroseal work with new construction?

We do this in new construction all around the world. We have a lot of work in the Middle East, where it’s so important to make sure all of those new high-rises are able to cool the occupants.

We also do a lot of new construction in the United States. For that application, it’s a lot easier because there’s not as much prep involved.

We do a lot of work with universities, for example, in classrooms and dorms. We make sure we’re diluting any contaminants [through proper ventilation] that may be there like viruses and ensure everybody in that space is getting the correct amount of fresh air but also that it’s temperature controlled, so they’re comfortable in their space as well. In a university lab environment, where you’re working with materials that are very toxic and need to be exhausted properly, that is another great application of Aeroseal.

What misconceptions exist about air sealing technology?

I get a lot of questions about whether the sealant is safe. People don’t want to put something in their nursing facility that’s going to create more problems, for example. Aeroseal has no VOCs off-gassing after it’s cured. It’s a vinyl acetate polymer, so it’s very safe. It’s the same thing used in baby pacifiers and hairspray. It’s not going to burn anyone or have any toxicity.

Another question is about longevity of the sealing. People want to know if this has to be done every year or every five years. Aeroseal has been shown to last for more than 30 years. We don’t have to come back and do it again. As long as there are no changes to the ductwork in the HVAC system, it’s a one and done kind of measure.

What does the future look like for air sealing?

People are focusing on indoor air quality in their facilities more than ever before. It’s really important. We see a lot of problems in buildings that I think before would have been brushed under the rug or put off for years. Now there really is a focus on making sure indoor air quality is safe for occupants. People are much more educated on how healthy a building should be and what impact it has on them. An educated public is really helping make sure buildings are healthy and safe for everyone involved.

The post Check Your Ductwork: Improving Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation appeared first on gb&d magazine.