Avoiding Common Mistakes in Multifamily Passive Buildings

Presented by David Salamon, CPHC, CPHD, Re:Vision Architecture

Designing a Passive House is not easy and yet it is actually the easy part when considering the entire design and construction process! Drawing ideal details in the controlled environment of a comfortable office with favorite playlists and fresh coffee on demand pale in face of the difficulties encountered in the field. Weather, sequencing, materials, low skilled workers, apathy, inertia, as well as common mistakes all conspire against achieving Passive House certification throughout the many months of construction.

Though this presentation focuses on helping passive house designers, builders, and developers avoid common mistakes on multifamily residences, the lessons presented will be relevant for other project types as well. Additionally, this presentation will illustrate where corners are often cut and seemingly innocuous decisions that can have a substantial ripple effect through the rest of the project. Covered topics include material continuity and sequencing at the thermal and airtight boundaries, substitutions and unintended consequences, specifications and coordination. The lessons presented were learned on actual projects and are intended to illuminate common pitfalls in order to help the industry as a whole to realize successful passive house projects.