Glazing Decoded: Practical Assessment, Failures, and Future-Proofing
SPEAKER: Mallory Buckley, Walter P Moore & Jo Madrid, WJE
Glazing systems are among the most visible and high-performing components of the modern building enclosure, yet their long-term success depends on far more than aesthetics alone. Material properties, fabrication methods, environmental exposure, movement, installation quality, and maintenance all influence how glazing systems perform over time. This presentation provides a practical, field-informed examination of glazing performance through the lens of assessment, failure investigation, and lifecycle management. Attendees will explore common distress conditions in glazing systems—including glass breakage, seal failure, gasket deterioration, moisture infiltration, and insulating glass unit degradation—while gaining a clearer understanding of how these issues develop and impact durability, safety, and building performance. The session will also review practical assessment methodologies, relevant industry standards, and real-world lessons learned from forensic investigations to help participants distinguish cosmetic concerns from functional deficiencies. By connecting field observations with proactive maintenance and future design considerations, this presentation equips building enclosure professionals with actionable strategies to better evaluate, maintain, and improve glazing systems in both existing buildings and new construction.
Objective 1: Identify common glazing system failure modes, including breakage patterns, seal degradation, moisture intrusion, and component deterioration, and understand their impact on long-term performance.
Objective 2: Differentiate between cosmetic and functional glazing deficiencies through practical field assessment techniques and relevant industry standards.
Objective 3: Evaluate the service life and maintenance considerations of glazing system components—including glass, sealants, gaskets, and insulating glass units—to support proactive asset management strategies.
Objective 4: Apply lessons learned from glazing investigations to inform better design, detailing, and maintenance planning for improved durability and long-term building enclosure performance.
SPEAKER BIO: Mallory Buckley is a project manager in Walter P Moore’s diagnostics group in Dallas, Texas, and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in multiple states. Specializing in building enclosure diagnostics, she brings expertise in facade assessments, repair, recladding, and waterproofing and roofing system rehabilitation and design. Her portfolio includes assisting with litigation and insurance claims consulting, developing facade access and maintenance strategies, and providing innovative building enclosure solutions for both existing structures and new builds. She currently serves on the IIBEC Board of Directors as the Region IV Director. A frequent speaker, published author, and educator, Mallory is passionate about sharing practical lessons learned from the field to help elevate industry standards and support the next generation of building enclosure professionals. LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallory-buckley/
Jo Madrid is a building enclosure consultant at Wiss, Janney, Elstner. She is involved in a broad range of services encompassing new and existing building enclosures. Her projects include investigation, testing, analysis, repair design, services during design, and construction. Madrid has valuable experience in assessing building facades using nondestructive and destructive testing techniques for analysis. She has also consulted on water testing investigations of building enclosures and has conducted detailed glass assessments to review performance, durability, and failures in glazing systems. Prior to becoming a building enclosure consultant Madrid co-owned an architectural firm in Mexico that specialized in design-build buildings. She currently serves on the IIBEC Emerging Professionals Committee and is a past president of the IIBEC North Texas chapter.
Meeting Location: Grapevine Chamber of Commerce
Meeting Address: 200 Vine St E, Grapevine, TX 76051
Registration start time: 11:30 am
Presentation begins: 12:00 pm
Cost: $30 (chapter members) $40 (non-members)
Lunch Sponsor: Shield Works
