Slipping through the Cracks

We construct building enclosures to keep the elements out, but sometimes air and water infiltrate the building envelope, causing several problems for the building’s function and the structure itself. In this paper, we will present a case study of the exterior envelope of a high-rise Courthouse in the Midwestern United States, built in 1998, and analyze destressed curtainwall issues, including water leakage, air leakage, and condensation. To gather data, our team conducted a partial visual survey of the building’s interior and exterior, an assessment and water testing via rope access, an infrared thermographic scan of the building exterior systems, and a hygrothermal analysis of the as-built construction at select locations.

This presentation covers the systematic procedures used to diagnose the leakage characteristics of the building. We will discuss our facade investigation and water infiltration testing, demonstrated through accompanying photographs of the conditions encountered. Finally, we will assess the thermographic readings collected to identify areas of temperature differentials between cladding components and, in some cases, within the given component. This will include infrared images and the corresponding observations of anomalies.