ABAA - Designing Rough Openings for Drainage & Drying

Rough openings are penetrations in the building enclosure, fitted with fenestrations that leak or will leak. It is critical to properly direct those leaks out of the enclosure. Materials specified for rough opening details. These include tapes, sealants or flashing materials that are water, air, water vapor tight or vapor open. When detailed and installed correctly, most of these materials prevent water from entering into the interstitial wall cavities. This allows the “leaks” to drain out of the building enclosure. Tapes, sealants and flashing components can fail over time. Improper installation allows water intrusion, trapped by vapor impermeable systems. By utilizing vapor open systems for rough opening materials, water that was once trapped by impermeable flashing systems can escape via vapor diffusive drying. This presentation will describe failures, correct installation methods and testing of rough opening flashing systems. Addresses current research on vapor permeable rough opening systems and how permeability enhances rough opening assembly performance.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explain rough opening installation systems as described by published guidelines
2. Understand rough opening testing
3. Determine proper sequencing, installation and products used for rough opening installations
4. Recognize drainage and drying mechanisms and the benefits of permeable rough opening systems.
5. Know the differences between vapor tight and highly permeable rough opening systems for fenestration flashing installation

REGISTER NOW