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NREL's CAZ depressurization quick guide sets a 5 Pa limit as the trigger for combustion safety remediation

CAZ depressurization testing determines whether atmospherically vented furnaces and water heaters can backdraft under worst-case conditions. Here is how the NREL procedure works and what happens when the 5 Pa limit is breached.

17 Aug 2026
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RenewAire's Aeri MT brings a 25 lb EPP foam cabinet to residential ERV specification

RenewAire's Aeri MT (ET-255MF-P340-XC0) is North America's first ERV in an EPP foam enclosure, weighing 25 lb and rated at 2.11 CFM/watt under HVI/CSA C439 testing.

16 Aug 2026
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Polyglass adds patent-pending Tri-Strata Technology to steep-slope portfolio with two new modified bitumen underlayments

Polyglass U.S.A. has launched Polyanchor HU and HU PLUS, two modified bitumen hybrid underlayments built on patent-pending Tri-Strata Technology for mechanically attached tile roofing.

15 Aug 2026
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Thermal expansion is the primary driver of popping sounds in wood-framed wall assemblies

Popping and cracking in wall cavities traces to a predictable physics problem: dissimilar materials expanding and contracting at different rates. Here's how specifiers and contractors can diagnose and address it.

13 Aug 2026
Abstract green duotone graphic: layered ground strata and a foundation wall in flat section, with the insulation layer picked out as a distinct band and a single yellow marker on the insulated slot.Materials

University of Minnesota hydrovac technique cuts exterior foundation insulation cost by up to 50%

The University of Minnesota's NorthernSTAR team used a water-knife and truck-mounted vacuum to trench a 4-inch slot around a Minneapolis home's foundation, cutting retrofit cost by 23-50% versus conventional excavation.

12 Aug 2026

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