Northeast

Credit type: 1 AIA HSW LU
Provider: Northern Facades

Thermal bridging is a well-understood concept within the building-envelope industry, yet the conversation surrounding its mitigation has evolved significantly over the past decade. In 2026, thermal bridging is no longer addressed solely as an energy-efficiency concern, but as a critical factor in thermal resilience, durability, climate adaptation, and long-term building performance.

As energy codes and standards across the United States and Canada continue to advance toward higher performance targets, designers, developers, and contractors are increasingly required to evaluate whole-assembly thermal performance, including the impact of clear-field cladding support attachments. At the same time, regional climate risks—such as extreme cold, prolonged heat waves, and increased wildfire exposure in western regions—are reshaping how exterior wall assemblies are designed and detailed.

This course provides a current overview of the codes, standards, and regional drivers influencing thermal bridging mitigation today, including energy codes, resilience frameworks, and emerging wildfire-related requirements such as Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) standards. Participants will explore how thermally broken cladding attachment systems (thermal clips) support continuous insulation strategies while contributing to assemblies that address energy performance, fire exposure, constructability, and durability.

The presentation also examines regional adoption patterns, industry pushback, and affordability pressures, highlighting the importance of avoiding short-term value engineering that can lead to long-term envelope failures. Attendees will gain practical insight into performance-based compliance pathways, freely available calculation tools, and how to critically evaluate the growing range of thermal clip products in a market where not all solutions perform equally under real-world conditions.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how thermal bridging mitigation has evolved from a prescriptive insulation consideration to a key driver of thermal resilience, durability, and whole-assembly performance in contemporary exterior wall design.
• Identify the primary U.S. and Canadian building codes, energy standards, and regional requirements influencing thermal performance in 2026, including how state, provincial, and municipal adoption varies across climates, risk profiles, and enforcement environments.
• Recognize how regional climate risks—including extreme cold, prolonged heat, and increased wildfire exposure in western regions—are influencing exterior wall assembly design, material selection, and attachment strategies, including considerations related to Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI) standards.
• Differentiate between prescriptive and performance-based compliance pathways and understand how thermal bridging impacts each approach, particularly within clear-field cladding support assemblies.
• Apply a critical lens when evaluating and selecting thermally broken cladding attachment systems (thermal clips), considering thermal performance, constructability, durability, structural behavior, fire considerations, and long-term risk to support reliable, repeatable exterior wall assemblies.
• Define passive resilience and explain how envelope design decisions including the mitigation of thermal bridging contribute to occupant comfort, building survivability, and reduced reliance on mechanical systems during extreme weather events and power outages.
• Recognize common industry challenges, regional push-back, and affordability pressures related to advanced envelope design, and understand how thoughtful thermal bridging mitigation can help avoid long-term performance failures and unintended consequences associated with short-term value engineering.

Presenters

Hector Ortega

Architectural Product Consultant

Hector Ortega

Hector is a professional engineer with over 10 years of experience in curtain wall systems and building enclosures consulting. Formerly with Morrison Hershfield, he also served as a BECX authority for multiple projects in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), focusing on performance and sustainability.

Credit type: 1 AIA HSW LU
Provider: Safti First

Architects have always pushed the limits of what building products can do, and fire rated glazing is no exception. This program shows how fire rated glazing has evolved from small doorlites and openings using wired glass and ceramics to floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, multi-tasking fire resistive glazing systems. Case studies showing these innovative design applications in real-word settings will be used to show participants how architects continue to push the boundaries of what fire rated glass can do.

Learning Objectives

• Review updated IBC and fire and safety requirements when designing for life safety
• Provide you with the latest fire rated glazing product information
• Clarify the difference between fire protective vs. fire resistive glazing products as it relates to protecting people and property
• Identify the correct, code-approved glazing products based on the application

Presenters

Mike Augustine

Director of Architectural Promotion

Mike Augustine

Mike Augustine has over 20 years of experience in the architectural glazing industry. As the Director of Architectural Promotion at SAFTI FIRST, he brings his extensive knowledge and expertise of fire rated glazing systems and fenestration in general when working closely with architects, specifiers, glazing contractors and code officials. Mike is a dynamic presenter and speaker who has been delivering the company’s AIA-registered presentation to various architecture firms, AIA local chapters, CSI local chapters, and at other architectural and glazing industry events.

Credit type: 1 AIA HSW LU
Provider: Tenmat

This course provides an introduction to topics related to fireblocking in exterior wall covering assemblies. Attendees will learn specific requirements in the IBC, as well as how to balance compliance with these and other performance expectations of exterior wall assemblies.

Learning Objectives

• Develop an understanding of basic rainscreen design for proper water and air management
• Learn about existing fireblocking requirements for the exterior wall covering in the IBC language
• Compare and contrast the use of intumescent fire block materials vs other materials listed in the IBC
• Explore potential wall details for proper incorporation of intumescent fire block in rainscreen assemblies

Presenters

Mirka Carlson

Sales Representative

Mirka Carlson

Credit type: 1 AIA HSW LU
Provider: Equitone

This presentation provides detailed information on high-density fiber cement facade materials available and how they can be specified/designed to meet the needs of various project types.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what through-colored fiber cement cladding materials are, their most important characteristics, and how they can benefit the health of the building
• Understand the material application, fastening techniques, and function of the cladding
• Understand the history of fiber cement and architectural facades with fiber cement materials
• Understand the general design possibilities with through-colored fiber cement facade materials in ventilated rainscreen applications

Presenters

Tom Adams

Business Development Manager

Tom Adams

Tom Adams, a New Jersey native, has been in the construction materials industry since 2018 and joined EQUITONE in April 2024. His experience with commercial roofing and building‐envelope systems gave him a strong technical foundation that now supports his work with fiber cement façade materials. Tom thrives in a fast‐moving industry where collaboration, problem‐solving, and learning from diverse project stakeholders drive his passion. He represents EQUITONE across the Northeast and Mid‐Atlantic, working closely with architects, specifiers, and contractors throughout the design and construction process.