When a listener wrote asking to learn more about insulation, I immediately thought to ask building scientist Christine Williamson to be a guest on the show. Maybe the listener was originally hoping for information about the common types of insulation used in residential projects – fiberglass batt, cellulose, foam insulation, and so on. Christine goes beyond that to explain why we are doing what we are doing, how it needs to be done, and the reasoning behind that. Christine is an accomplished building scientist who has a large following on Instagram through her account Building Science Fight Club (@buildingsciencefightclub). She can also be reached through her website christine-williamson.com
Christine’s Building Science Fight Club is intended for architects and other building professionals, but of course homeowners are welcome to investigate the building science she presents. Her Instagram account @buildingsciencefightclub is full of helpful information for those interested in an in-depth look. Christine is generous with her time and knowledge.
All images from Building Science Fight Club on Instagram. Check out the account!
About this week’s guest:
Christine Williamson offers new-construction risk-mitigation consulting for residential towers, mid-rise mixed-use buildings, and production homes, as well as some of the most extraordinary private residences in the world. She has worked across North America from the Canadian Arctic to the Caribbean.
In her current practice, she reviews drawings and makes recommendations that promote appropriate water control, air control, energy efficiency, constructability, and durability. For clients with a portfolio of upcoming projects, she assists in developing design standards commensurate with their tolerance for risk. During the construction phase, she reviews work in progress and addresses conditions or changes in sequence or scope that were not anticipated during the design phase.
In existing buildings, she investigates failures related to enclosure design and mechanical systems as well as material and installation defects. Failures include leaks, corrosion, rot, mold, odors, poor indoor air quality, and discomfort due to poor temperature or humidity control. Her experience in new construction and attendant understanding of the division of labor among the trades, and typical sequencing and construction practices inform not just her analysis in forensic cases, but also her repair and retrofit recommendations, which are designed to minimize disruption in occupied buildings.
Christine Williamson is a member and former chair of ASHRAE Technical Committee 1.12, Moisture Management in Buildings. She is an associate member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and is a member of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA). She is the founder of @buildingsciencefightclub (BSFC), an Instagram community dedicated to teaching building science and construction to architects and other building professionals.
She received her bachelor of arts from Princeton University and her master of architecture from New School of Architecture + Design.