|
Join us for our first Dinner Program of the year on January 21, 2026 at Zio Fraedos in Pleasant Hill! Start the evening off right at our exclusive Member Happy Hour from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. Enjoy one complimentary drink ticket and the opportunity to connect with fellow members in a relaxed, scenic setting.
We're diving into "Cladding Fundamentals" Presented by Kristin Andersen.
This technical session provides an in-depth examination of cladding as the water-shedding surface within the exterior wall assembly, tracing its evolution from historic mass walls to modern concealed barrier and rainscreen systems. The presentation will analyze material behavior, differential movement, and failure mechanisms that influence cladding performance, with focused discussion on masonry cavity walls, wood-frame structures, and contemporary façade systems. Attendees will gain a working understanding of engineered versus gravity-driven rainscreen designs (AAMA 508 and 509), along with practical application of the 4 D’s of Cladding Design—Deflection, Drainage, Drying, and Durability—to improve building performance, mitigate water intrusion, and reduce long-term risk in both design and forensic contexts.
Key Learning Objectives
After attending this session, participants will be able to:
- Differentiate cladding system types by understanding the functional role of cladding as the primary water-shedding surface and how joints, components, and proximity to structure affect moisture management and performance.
- Evaluate cladding movement and material behavior, including differential expansion and shrinkage of masonry, wood, steel, and cement plaster, and assess how inadequate accommodation of movement contributes to cracking and system failure.
- Compare AAMA 508 and AAMA 509 rainscreen systems, identifying when pressure-equalized versus drained and back-ventilated assemblies are appropriate based on wind loads, drainage strategy, air barrier requirements, and detailing complexity.
- Apply the 4 D’s of cladding design—Deflection, Drainage, Drying, and Durability—to diagnose performance issues, improve detailing at openings and penetrations, and enhance long-term enclosure resilience.
- Assess cladding support and cavity drainage strategies, including furring, standoff clips, drainage mats, flashing, and fastener detailing, with consideration for weight, wind pressure, fire code requirements, and constructability.
SPONSOR:
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just beginning your journey in the field, this engaging session promises to be informative and impactful. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today!
*Early bird pricing ENDS January 14th - price goes up $20 after that! Get your ticket early to avoid the increase
Speaker Biography:
Ms. Andersen has a background in design and construction comprising building envelope review, defect investigations and remediation, litigation support, code analysis, project development, material specifications, and contract administration. Ms. Andersen works with a wide range of project types and sizes, and is a licensed architect in California, Oregon and Washington, and a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1981 and held a LEED BD + C certificate from 2005-2019. Her career history includes custom corporate projects and single family residences, high security laboratories and military facilities in all climate zones. She has completed work with both historical and modernist buildings. Since 2011 the focus of her work is the technical aspects of the building enclosure, investigation of building performance problems and contract disputes. Ms. Andersen provides litigation support services as an expert witness; conducting investigations, producing reports, negotiating scopes of repair and testifying.
|