Durability of Water-Resistive Barriers as a Factor in Litigation

Problems with manufacturing, design, and construction cause countless premature failures of water-resistive barriers; therefore, durability is a central factor in construction litigation. This presentation will synthesize a practical understanding of durability based on theoretical behavior, observations from failure case studies, and research and test results from The Durability Lab, a research establishment at The University of Texas at Austin. The durability concepts that support an allegation of “premature failure” will be explained. Improving durability is also closely related to sustainability; preventing premature failure keeps building materials out of the landfill longer.

The Durability Lab has tested dozens of air barriers and accessory products, including hundreds of combinations of adhesion testing of one product to another, fastener sealability, crack-bridging ability, coverage rate on sheathing, UV resistance, and water resistance. New findings will be presented on these subjects, including remarkable findings regarding durability behind cladding. Some products re-emulsified and washed away behind cladding, and others fused to the cladding so that it could not be removed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the factors that affect initial performance of air barriers, including coverage rate on different sheathings and fastener sealability.
2. Understand the factors that affect durability of air barriers before cladding, including UV resistance and crack bridging.
3. Understand the factors that continue to affect durability of air barriers after cladding, including heat resistance, water resistance, and long-term adhesion of tapes and accessories.
4. Understand different ways of testing tapes and self-adhered flashing products, and why the industry-adopted pull-off method is the least predictive of durability.

Speaker: David H. Nicastro, P.E., F.ASTM

Speaker Bio: David H. Nicastro, P.E., F.ASTM, is a licensed professional engineer specializing in durability and failure causation theory. He analyzes existing buildings and designs remedies. He is the founder of Building Diagnostics and Engineering Diagnostics, which grew to be an Inc. 500 firm by 2000. He also founded The Durability Lab, a testing center housed at The University of Texas at Austin to study the durability of building components, identifying factors causing premature failure. Mr. Nicastro is the past chairman of ASTM Committee C24 on Building Seals and Sealants, and has published over 50 articles and books on durability and failure of building materials.

Meeting Location:      The Ranch at Las Colinas

Meeting Address:       857 W. John Carpenter Fwy, Irving, Texas 75039

Registration start time:   11:30 am. 

Presentation begins:       12:00 pm. 

(please arrive before noon so the servers can take your order prior to the start of the presentation)

​Member/Friend of the Chapter Cost:         $15 online or $20 at the door
Non-Member/Guest Cost:                            $25 online or $30 at the door