IAQ26

Evidence, Buildings, and Human Impact

2026 Building Science workshop

Date: August 31 – September 1

Led by Joseph Lstiburek

Building Science workshop

This workshop is intended to establish the physical realities that underpin IAQ outcomes.

Buildings should be designed, constructed, and operated to safeguard both their occupants and the building itself. They should promote health, safety, durability, and long-term performance. For centuries, the priorities of building design have remained fundamentally consistent. Fire safety is the foremost consideration, followed by structural integrity. These areas are generally well understood and effectively addressed within the industry. Increasingly, however, challenges are emerging in the areas that extend beyond fire and structure.

This two-day Building Science workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and application of building science. Topics include rainwater management, thermal performance, heating and cooling, humidity control, indoor air quality, mould and contaminants, traditional and emerging building materials, energy efficiency, and the unique requirements of specialised facilities.

The workshop will also examinethe challenges associated with existing buildings. While incorporating building science principles into new construction can be relatively straightforward, retrofitting existing buildings requires careful consideration of existing conditions, performance objectives, and heritage or conservation requirements. Achieving successful outcomes demands a thorough understanding of how buildings function and how improvements can be implemented while preserving their value, character, and long-term performance.

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Workshop Program

7:30 am – 8:00 am
Registration Opens
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Environmental Separation, Definition of a Building, The Effect of Climate, The Perfect Wall

10:00 am – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
The Water Molecule, Relative Humidity and Vapor Pressure, Air Flow and Vapor Diffusion, Rain, Capillarity

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Break
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The Myth of the Dew Point, Roofs Vented and Unvented, Hygric Buoyancy

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Break
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Ice Dams, Foundations (Slabs, Basements, Crawl Spaces)

7:30 am – 8:00 am
Registration and Exhibition Opens
8:00 am – 10:00 am
Stucco, Pressures and IAQ, Buildings as 3-D Airflow Networks, Controlling Pressures and Pathways

10:00 am – 10:30 am
Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Stack Effect and Compartmentalization, HVAC, Part Load and Humidity Control

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Break
1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Retrofits, Mass Buildings, Foundation Retrofits

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Break
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Historic Building Limitations, Deep Energy Retrofits

The two-day Building Science course concludes on Tuesday afternoon. The Moisture Identity workshop begins immediately afterwards with a practical psychrometrics refresher, bridging the building science fundamentals covered in the course into the moisture and humidity focus of the following day.

Registration details for the workshop are available here

IAQ26

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