As energy codes such as ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC evolve to require stricter building enclosure and air leakage requirements, the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) and the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA) are working to keep up with the latest changes. An article in the latest edition of the NEBB Professional highlights these efforts.

Members of the Metal Building Manufactures Association (MBMA) spearheaded an effort to create a student design competition to help graduate and undergraduate architecture students understand the value and potential of metal building systems as a practical and powerful way to bring design excellence to low-rise architecture. Two volunteer committees within MBMA, the Education Committee and the Architect Committee, joined forces to develop a highly robust design competition format. In 2022, the top two winning entries in the inaugural competition were submitted by students from the University of New Mexico and both winners were coached by a faculty sponsor, Kristina Yu, AIA, LEED GA, NCARB, DBIA.

Each year the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) honors member companies that demonstrate exceptional performance in maintaining workplace safety. These awards are given to Building Systems members as well as Associate members for their performance during the previous calendar year. Safety awards for the 2021 year were presented during the 2022 MBMA Spring Meeting held April 27-29 in Tucson, Arizona.

A good friend in the industry likes to point out that in every vehicle you drive, you’ll always see one thing that never changes—the rearview mirror is only a fraction of the size of the windshield. That analogy reminds us to remember what’s behind us, and that our focus clearly needs to be on what is in front of us, on the bigger picture—and plan strategically to deal with whatever is ahead.

Changes to building codes are a fact of life for architects and designers and air leakage testing is currently a hot topic. Energy standard and code writers are currently looking at lowering air leakage limits while also requiring testing to ensure compliance. Both ASHRAE 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) are spearheading such efforts. In most areas, whole-building air leakage testing is now an alternative compliance path, while it is required in only a few specific areas such as the state of Washington. With the coming updates, more states will require on-site testing of new buildings to meet the code.

To increase energy conservation, energy codes and standards have been stepping up the effort to reduce air leakage, moving toward a requirement for whole-building tests to ensure an adequate air barrier in addition to, or in place of, the prescriptive requirements for materials and assemblies. This recognizes that prescriptive requirements alone are only effective if good installation is practiced. The table below summarizes the key air leakage test requirements for multiple editions of various codes and standards of interest, including the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), ASHRAE 90.1, state of Washington (WSEC), state of California (Title 24), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE).

Metal buildings are predominantly made of steel, which is the most recycled material in North America. Steel can be used in a building to comply with the requirements of sustainable design standards and ratings systems. The typical design elements of a metal building consist of primary and secondary framing members, metal walls and roofs, which are all made of steel. This makes a metal building more sustainable because steel is 100% recyclable and can be recycled into the same material of the same quality again and again.

The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) knows that many metal building industry companies are looking for information about how best to get back to business and work in the age of COVID-19. MBMA’s legal counsel, Venable LLP, has created a series of videos that address key business and legal issues that companies should keep top of mind when considering a return to full operation.

MBMA’s Technical Committee advances metal building systems design to ensure safe, resilient and code-compliant structures. Many of the recent projects we’ve completed enhance the resiliency of metal building systems when they are subjected to seismic and wind events. Here are a few examples.

My path to learn about metal building systems began by first being interested in metal exterior surfaces. I have used metal panels to clad various building designs due to their functional qualities such as durability, light weight, ability to reflect heat, and low long-term maintenance requirements. I also appreciate the aesthetic qualities of metal; I enjoy the reflective qualities of metal, allowing shadows and light to play across the surfaces of a building.