Exterior insulation and finish systems, or EIFS, are proprietary wall cladding assemblies that combine rigid insulation board with a water-resistant exterior coating. EIFS are popular chiefly for their low cost and high insulating values, and they are used in a range of construction types, from hotels to office parks to multifamily housing.
Unlike traditional stucco, which is composed of inorganic cement-bonded sand and water, EIFS uses organic polymeric finishes reinforced with glass mesh. As an energy-efficient, economical wall covering, EIFS can be effective for both new construction and recladding applications.
However, successful use of EIFS is highly dependent on proper design and sound construction practices. Without correct design and detailing, EIFS wall systems have been known to fail dramatically.
This course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS failures and how to prevent them; and EIFS and sustainability.
After reading this article, you should be able to:
• Describe the components of a typical Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) and differentiate among the classes of EIFS in terms of materials, properties, and usage, so as to evaluate existing systems and specify EIFS for new construction.
• Identify signs of distress in EIFS wall systems and associated sealant joints, flashings, and accessories, applying principles of EIFS construction to deducing the underlying causes of premature failure.
• Apply green building codes and standards to the design and specification of EIFS, implementing updated energy code requirements for continuous exterior insulation, so as to meet or exceed standards for building envelope thermal regulation and moisture control.
• Implement maintenance and repair practices to address staining, impact damage, punctures, cracks, and other signs of injury, using appropriate strategies that comply with industry standards, manufacturers’ requirements, aesthetic goals, and the client’s restoration objectives.
Take this AIA CES Discovery course at BDCUniversity.com
Related Stories
| Feb 1, 2012
Replacement windows eliminate weak link in the building envelope
Replacement or retrofit can help keep energy costs from going out the window.
| Jan 3, 2012
Gensler: 'The One Firm Firm'
The giant architecture firm succeeds by giving each of its more than 3,000 employees the opportunity for career growth and professional leadership.
| Dec 20, 2011
BCA’s Best Practices in New Construction available online
This publicly available document is applicable to most building types and distills the long list of guidelines, and longer list of tasks, into easy-to-navigate activities that represent the ideal commissioning process.
| Dec 14, 2011
Belfer Research Building tops out in New York
Hundreds of construction trades people celebrate reaching the top of concrete structure for facility that will accelerate treatments and cures at world-renowned institution.
| Dec 10, 2011
Energy performance starts at the building envelope
Rainscreen system installed at the west building expansion of the University of Arizona’s Meinel Optical Sciences Center in Tucson, with its folded glass wall and copper-paneled, breathable cladding over precast concrete.
| Dec 10, 2011
Turning Balconies Outside In
Operable glass balcony glazing systems provide solution to increase usable space in residential and commercial structures.
| Dec 5, 2011
Summit Design+Build begins renovation of Chicago’s Esquire Theatre
The 33,000 square foot building will undergo an extensive structural remodel and core & shell build-out changing the building’s use from a movie theater to a high-end retail center.
| Dec 2, 2011
What are you waiting for? BD+C's 2012 40 Under 40 nominations are due Friday, Jan. 20
Nominate a colleague, peer, or even yourself. Applications available here.
| Nov 29, 2011
First EPD awarded to exterior roof and wall products manufacturer
EPD is a standardized, internationally recognized tool for providing information on a product’s environmental impact.
| Nov 28, 2011
Leo A Daly and McCarthy Building complete Casino Del Sol expansion in Tucson, Ariz.
Firms partner with Pascua Yaqui Tribe to bring new $130 million Hotel, Spa & Convention Center to the Tucson, Ariz., community.
