If you are in the construction business or need a new tool that can help identify structural foundations and see through liquids, then this new sensor is an absolute must have. The WalabotDIY is a new 3D-vision smartphone compatible sensor that will let you see inside your walls and detect wires, studs, pipes, plastic, rodents […]
USI Blog
What is whole-building design?
Architects, engineers and project management leaders continually strive to find innovative ways to design and produce efficient and environmentally friendly spaces. Whole-Building design treats a building as a single system. Whole-building design has become the gold-standard in creating a sustainable building design that works as a symbiotic system, fostering full integration, seamless workflow, and a […]
Trends in Rainwater management – How builders use and install gutters
Rainwater management has become an important factor in commercial building and urban planning for a number of reasons. In regions with drought, water conservation has become especially important. In coastal freshwater and saltwater communities, stormwater runoff must meet a certain quality standard to be safely returned to this delicate ecosystem without harming wildlife. Because of […]
What are building enclosures responsible for doing?
Building enclosures, also known as building envelopes, are a design concept that is used to make it easier to heat and cool the area inside a building, manage water and control the flow of air. They consist of different features above, below and along the sides of the house. This is not the same as […]
What is the difference between a structural insulated panel (SIP) and an insulated concrete forms (ICF)?
Builders and property owners are increasingly interested in energy-efficient green construction techniques like those using structural insulated panels or insulated concrete forms. Therefore, it is important to establish the difference between a structural insulated panel (SIP) and an insulated concrete form (ICF). Structural Insulated Panels A structural insulated panel (SIP) consists of two structural facings […]
What does building science have to do with building safety?
Building science is a discipline that combines elements of architecture, engineering and physics for the purpose of creating protocols to improve building performance. In essence, building science studies phenomena that affects the efficiency of a building as it relates to the good use it should provide to occupants, tenants, visitors, and neighbors. One of the […]
Why does material performance depend on your climate?
The performance of materials such as insulation depends heavily on the climate in which your structure is located. Your climate affects the R-value of your insulation. While these ratings, which are stamped on all packages of insulation, have become the standard for determining thermal performance. However, it does not give you the whole story. Let’s […]
What are the code requirements for various IECC climate zones?
Energy conservation requirements have become a more important issue in the past few years. The regulations, created by the International Energy Conservation Code, or IECC, is designed to keep buildings as energy-efficient as possible when it comes to heating and cooling. Here is a look at the different insulation and window factors they consider, and […]
What are building enclosures responsible for doing?
Building enclosures, also known as building envelopes, are a design concept that is used to make it easier to heat and cool the area inside a building, manage water, and control the flow of air. They consist of different features above, below, and along the sides of the house. This is not the same as […]
Why do builders hire architects?
An architect plays an important role in creating a building that is aesthetically pleasing, structurally sound, and meets the needs of a customer. In many cases, a builder will hire an architect to help a customer fit a building to an architectural style or to create an innovative concept. Builders understand the importance of the […]