The Building Performance section of the Saskatchewan Research Council has facilities to perform research for the construction industry, building owners and managers. The Building Performance section will provide expertise and research on a fee-for-service basis. The staff will investigate problems, provide testing services, and perform research and development, in the residential, commercial, industrial, educational, and health sectors.
The Building Performance section's main areas of focus are:
- Energy Efficient Buildings
- Building Envelopes and Humidity Control
- Energy Audits
- Indoor Environment Quality
- Weatherization Testing
- Research Services and Technology Transfer
Energy Efficient Buildings
The Building Performance section has experience in monitoring and evaluating energy use in residential, commercial, industrial, educational, health, and recreational facilities. The section can provide guidance during the design phase of the proposed construction. The section has developed techniques and technologies to assist in improving the energy efficiency of buildings and can provide air tightness testing of facilities during construction or as operated.
Building Envelopes and Humidity Control
Air leakage or excess humidity in buildings can lead to serious problems. The Building Performance section can evaluate a building at any stage, from design through construction to operation. The section can assess air leakage, field test building envelope prototypes, test the effects of humidity on construction materials, and evaluate moisture performance of construction and finishing materials.
Energy Audits
The Building Performance section has experience performing energy audits of existing buildings. The section can also provide educational materials and training to improve the energy performance of existing buildings.
Indoor Environment Quality
To ensure a high indoor environment quality it is necessary to control the sources of contaminants and to provide adequate ventilation. The Building Performance section can evaluate ventilation systems and test for pollutants, measure volatile organic emissions from a wide range of products using environmental chambers, and evaluate control methods.
Collected samples can be analyzed, on site, by SRC's Analytical Laboratories, a Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories certified facility.
Weatherization Testing
The Building Performance section has a secure facility that is capable of testing the effects of outdoor exposure on various building materials.
Research Services and Technology Transfer
The Building Performance section provides clients with 'one-stop-shopping' for complex research that demands the integration of resources. The section also offers seminars and clinics on building performance.
The Building Performance section staff lead by example and live as energy efficiently as possible. This article talks about the home of one of the section's staff.
Home Energy The Best-Insulated House in the World
