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The South Atlantic region experiences tough climatic extremes, from high humidity levels and hot temperatures to hurricane-force winds. A look at specification trends for this region, which extends from Delaware all the way down the Atlantic seaboard to Florida, provides telling clues about how buildings are being designed to retain value and protect their occupants. This is especially true in the health care sector, which is highlighted in several charts, at left.
The data suggests a notably swift adoption of air barriers in the Southeast, which likely reflects interest in reducing energy use and HVAC costs. Air barriers also help limit moisture intrusion and condensation within exterior wall assemblies, increasing their useful life.
Other data is presented on skylights, sheathing, air barriers, and fencing, all gathered by McGraw-Hill Construction (MHC) from plans and specifications for approximately 60,000 projects annually, through various public and private sources. The specifications are indexed into a database from which MHC’s Research and Analytics team can extract and identify selected products, brands, and manufacturers, and then calculate “spec rates” across geographies and project types, over time, and by firm. For more details, contact MHC’s Research and Analytics Group at 800/591-4462.
