Show Notes
How can builders enhance fire safety and lower a building’s environmental footprint? In the latest episode of Building Science Digest, we sit down with Remi Goulet—a specialist in heat transfer with over 12 years at Saint-Gobain—to explore more sustainable, science-backed approaches to fire safety. Remi highlights how a systems-thinking approach—evaluating entire assemblies rather than isolated products—can reduce embodied carbon while still meeting fire resistance and code requirements, including growing concerns like the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code. From the role of compartmentalization in passive fire protection to innovations like lightweight fire-rated gypsum boards and gypsum-based spray for structural steel, this conversation dives into real strategies that may change how you think about fire-rated assemblies.
More from Building Science Digest
The Pacific Northwest is facing a new generation of environmental challenges, and the way we design homes is changing with it. Host Stan Gatland sits down with Chrissi Antonopoulos, a Chief Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, to discuss what residential resiliency looks like in one of North America's most demanding climates. From managing relentless moisture and preventing enclosure failures to preparing homes for heat domes, wildfire smoke, and power outages, they explore the building science principles that help homes perform under pressure. If you're interested in creating healthier, more durable, and higher-performing homes, this episode is packed with practical insights you can put to work immediately. Key Takeaways
What does resiliency really mean in a hot and humid climate? In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Rémi Goulet sits down with Ryan Atlee to explore how homes perform under the unique demands of the Gulf Coast climate. Recorded in Houston, Texas, the conversation dives into the daily challenges that heat, humidity, and moisture create for residential buildings, and why traditional building science principles developed for cold climates don't always apply in hot and humid regions. Ryan shares insights from years of forensic investigations and high-performance home design, covering topics such as vapor drive, moisture management, rain screens, continuous insulation, mold prevention, and the importance of treating resiliency as a whole-building system rather than a collection of individual products. The discussion also explores how homes can be designed to better withstand extreme weather events, including hurricanes, by first addressing the day-to-day environmental stresses that slowly degrade building assemblies over time. Whether you're a builder, architect, remodeler, or building science professional, this episode offers practical insights into creating tougher, more durable homes in some of North America's most challenging climates.
In the Rocky Mountains, building resiliency means managing multiple climate risks at once. Homes must withstand wildfire exposure, extreme cold, heavy snow loads, and year‑round moisture challenges, often within the same structure. In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Galen Burrell sits down with Teran Foster, Director of Building Science and Innovation at Cornerstone Management Services in Big Sky, Montana, to explore how builders design for durability in high‑risk mountain environments. The conversation highlights how wildfire mitigation strategies must work alongside cold‑climate design principles, and why getting the building assembly right is critical when risks begin to overlap. From ember exposure and roofing systems to vapor control and moisture management, the episode offers a practical look at how these challenges interact in the real world. Whether you are designing in wildfire‑prone regions or cold climates with heavy snow and moisture exposure, this episode provides insight into building systems that can perform under pressure. Key Topics Covered - How embers, not flames, drive most wildfire‑related building losses - The role of roofing systems in both fire protection and ice dam prevention - Why vapor control is critical in cold, high‑altitude climates - How overlapping climate risks impact building design decisions - The importance of system‑level thinking in resilient construction
In the Southeast United States, residential resiliency isn’t only about preparing for extreme weather. It is about managing moisture, humidity, and system performance every day. In this episode of Building Science Digest, Stan Gatland is joined by Theresa A Weston, President at The Holt Weston Consultancy, to explore how homes in the Southeast perform under constant environmental stress. From high humidity and intense rainfall to flooding and power outages, the conversation focuses on what it takes to keep homes durable, healthy, and livable after the storm passes. They discuss how moisture control, continuity of control layers, and HVAC performance all play a role in long-term resiliency. The episode also highlights why many common failures happen at transitions and details, and how small design or installation decisions can have major downstream impacts. Whether you are designing new homes or evaluating existing ones, this episode offers practical insight into building more resilient homes in hot, humid climates.
New England’s residential buildings are under increasing stress. Heavier rain events, wetter snow, rising temperatures, and an aging housing stock are exposing durability weaknesses that often go unnoticed. In most cases, water sits at the center of the problem. In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Lucas Hamilton is joined by Kohta Ueno of Building Science Corporation to examine how rain, drainage, and moisture management define residential resiliency in the Northeast. Drawing on forensic research and real‑world building failures, they break down why traditional details such as gutters, downspouts, wall assemblies, and basements are struggling under modern climate conditions. The conversation explores how increased water concentration, limited drying potential, and overlooked details frequently matter more than extreme events themselves. You will also hear practical guidance on rainscreens, enclosure design, and why seemingly small moisture issues escalate faster in older New England homes. For anyone designing, renovating, or maintaining residential buildings, this episode reinforces a core building science truth: resiliency starts with controlling water. Additional Resources:BSD‑013: Rain Control in Buildings https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-013-rain-control-in-buildings BSI‑095: How Buildings Age https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/building-science-insights-newsletters/bsi-095-how-buildings-age BSI‑110: Keeping the Water Out of Basements https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/building-science-insights-newsletters/bsi-110-keeping-water-out-basements BSD‑006: Can Highly Glazed Building Façades Be Green? https://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-006-can-fully-glazed-curtainwalls-be-green Gutters and Downspouts: Historic New England https://www.historicnewengland.org/preservation/for-professionals-students/property-care-white-papers/gutters-and-downspouts/