RAiNA Hosted Member Webinar - Smoketight Envelope Design for Performance And Durability
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM) (EDT)
Description
Presented by Nick Shaw, 475 High Performance Building Supply
High-performance building envelopes depend on two systems working together: a well-designed rainscreen assembly and a continuous, properly installed water-resistive barrier (WRB) that doubles as the air barrier.
This session examines how rainscreen design, drainage plane continuity, and WRB selection work together to control bulk water, manage vapor drive, and reduce the risk of moisture-related failures in the wall assembly. As wildfire smoke and air pollutants become increasingly common, homes need to address these concerns with an exterior complete and continuous air barrier to create healthy indoor air quality. Attendees will learn how a properly detailed rainscreen paired with a continuous air barrier addresses these risks at the assembly level, not just the material level.
This presentation offers a practical framework for specifying and detailing to achieve durable water management, airtightness, and long-term building health. Drawing on real-world detailing challenges, we’ll discuss transition details, sequencing, and installation methods to specify with confidence, whether working on new construction or retrofit projects.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the qualities that differentiate durable, high-performing WRB and rainscreen assemblies from common sources of moisture and air leakage failure.
- Describe critical WRB and rainscreen transition details, and review methods to execute them in ways that minimize risk and maximize performance.
- Discuss how a continuous exterior air barrier, integrated with a properly drained and vented rainscreen, supports healthy indoor air quality for building occupants.
- Review practical detailing and installation methodologies that practitioners can specify and implement to achieve a smoke-tight high-performance building envelope.