APST 470: Building Envelope and Assemblies Report a Broken Link

Applied Studies 470 examines high-performance building envelope design and construction processes: site investigations, excavations and foundations, walls, windows, and roofs.

Unit 1

Quirouette, R.L. (1985.)  Building practice note no. 54: The difference between a vapour barrier and an air barrier. National Research Council Canada. https://www.healthyheating.com/HH_Integrated_Design/Week%204/The%20Difference%20Between%20a%20Vapor%20Barrier%20and%20an%20Air%20Barrier.pdf


Required Readings

Read the following sections in Volume 2, Part 5, Environmental Separation:

·       5.1 General

·       5.2 Loads and Procedures

·       5.3 Heat Transfer

·       5.4 Air Leakage

·       5.5 Vapour Diffusion

·       Appendix C Climatic and Seismic Information for Building Design in Canada

Unit 2


Required Readings
Holladay, M. (2010). Are dew-point calculations really necessary? Green Building Advisor website. [Blog.]

Unit 3


Required Readings

Note: This is a great, free and comprehensive resource—albeit in American units. Download it and save it in your Personal Archive.

Unit 10


Required Readings
Straube, J. (2013). High performing precast concrete building enclosures: Rain control. © Building Science Corporation.

Pay close attention to the sections on joints and joint sealants.

Unit 11


Required Readings
Straube, J., & Burnett, E. (2005). Enclosure design: Guiding principles. Building science for building enclosures. Westford, MA: Building Science Press.

This document was Required Reading for Unit 3, but please review it again as it is a good summary of the principles behind this course.

Supplementary Readings
Pope, Stephen. (2014). Bluffer’s guide to wall sections. Athabasca University.