MaterialsNREL'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
MaterialsRenewAire'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
MaterialsPolyglass 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
MaterialsThermal 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
MaterialsUniversity 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