| Location | Harris Bank Auditorium, 115 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois |
| Event web page |
The impact and continually changing interaction of air pressure within buildings and on building systems is complex; and when not properly managed, can create significant problems. For example, the continual increases in energy efficiency in recent years has resulted in tighter buildings, which can provide many benefits, but sometimes creates unanticipated consequences due in part to building pressures. The art and science of successfully managing building pressures is the confluence of many disciplines and building systems; including natural and mechanical ventilation; exterior envelope design and performance; fire and life safety; elevator operations in both normal and emergency modes; design of stairwell, shaft and elevator enclosures; and sustainability. This seminar will examine the dynamics of building air pressures within buildings. Although the focus will be on high rise buildings (which is where the impact of building pressures approach extremes, including but not limited to stack effect and reverse stack effect) much of what will be reviewed is also applicable in varying degrees to mid-rise and low rise buildings. This half day seminar will cover four distinct and critical topics of building pressures: 1) mechanical and natural ventilation approaches, including a brief review of modeling systems utilized to predict and design systems; 2) exterior envelope design and performance, including current and emerging understandings; 3) issues of and responses to life safety, including a brief review of air-movement modeling systems utilized, recent and proposed code changes, and recent and current research; and 4) utilizing building pressure in ways that support goals of sustainability. Presentations will be by individuals with exceptional knowledge of these issues, and will be available to respond to questions from seminar attendees. Who Should Attend: Architects, mechanical engineers, mechanical subcontractors, general contractors, fire protection engineers, developers, building owners, property managers, building and fire officials, sustainability professionals, and those involved in the planning, design, construction, and
