The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) has established a new Special Technical Group (STG) dedicated to building physics.
It has been ratified by the AIRAH board and brings together professionals from the discipline to better understand issues, identify necessary actions, and collaborate on efforts to move the industry forward.
The AIRAH Building Physics STG will join others dedicated to resilience, ESD, solar cooling, backflow prevention, and refrigeration.
AIRAH CEO Tony Gleeson, said the group has clear intent.
“For too long issues affecting the building envelope have not received the priority they deserve,” Gleeson said.
“The purpose of AIRAH’s Building Physics STG is to bring building science principles, guidance and standardisation to the mainstream Australian construction industry.”
Gleeson said that the Institute’s STGs perform a crucial function of syphoning critical technical information to the wider AIRAH membership.
“AIRAH is committed to providing members and stakeholders with technically accurate, unbiased information relating to industry issues,” he said.
“The STGs provide a vehicle for our industry leaders to understand, interpret, and provide guidance to members and stakeholders in an unbiased and fact-based manner.
"The Building Physics STG will look to carry on this tradition, and will add to the expanding line-up of groups.”
The AIRAH Building Physics STG aims to provide members with a platform for involvement in issues that affect their industry in relation to air infiltration, including policy advice, regulation development, and the development of – and access to – industry-leading advice.
“Over recent years there have been many issues raised about building envelopes, and their construction and integrity in relation to air leakage and moisture control,”according to Phil Wilkinson, AIRAH executive manager – government relations and technical services.
“With a considerable amount of research and work happening in isolation around the country and overseas, this new STG can help consolidate and promulgate some pretty high-level information.”
The Building Physics STG has already released its first report titled “Improving Australian Housing Envelope Integrity”, which deals with correct building sealing for residential projects.
The report aims to unlock the ability of Australia to deliver increasingly better-performing building enclosures that can meet or exceed their design intent. It is available free on the AIRAH website.
Jesse Clarke was elected STG president while Sean Maxwell was elected vice president. Outgoing AIRAH board director Nathan Groenhout, will serve as secretary.
Clarke said the STG needs to be clear about its scope, purpose and output.
“We will be focusing on air-flow and moisture migration through the building enclosure, with correct integration with HVAC systems to maintain thermal performance, acoustic performance, water ingress and healthy conditions in all classes of buildings,” he said.
To access “Improving Australian Housing Envelope Integrity” go to www.airah.org.au/research
For more information about AIRAH’s STGs, or to get involved, go to www.airah.org.au/STG