There will be considerable change ahead, he notes, as only three states have adopted the 2015 ICC code that requires tighter energy control. “There is reason to be optimistic that code changes are coming that will improve energy efficiency, but it’s a slow process.”
The changes are impacting housewrap too. “We are really seeing a shift from customers using a low-quality, split-woven housewrap that just gets them by into a more premium, science-based housewrap,” says Scott L. Tennison, global director of building materials at Kimberly Clark. “No longer can you just look to hold out some moisture; housewraps today have evolved with excellent breathability to help dry the structure, outstanding water holdout, strength and durability.”
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Some builders also are taking a closer look at structural insulated panels (SIPs), which offer more functions in one panel and can help achieve higher energy ratings. “We see real benefits for SIPs in construction,” says Joe Pasma, technical manager for Premier Building Systems. “They condense a number of building processes into a few steps and one product. SIPs truly are a building system.”(For more on these panels, see part 12 of this article.)