City of Vancouver Building By-law

A-5.6.1.3. (4) Draining Moisture with Protective Materials
Exterior Insulation Finish Systems over Light Structural Steel Framing

Subject to specific limitations, the required cavities in Exterior Insulation Finish Systems may be reduced in dimension provided they form part of a pressure equalized rainscreen system. This approach would not be acceptable where the application is over wood framing.

As there are no standards for EIFS listed in Section 5.6.1, specific reviews would be required to qualify for this approach. Material systems are required to conform to the CCMC Technical Guide for "Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Class PB Masterformat Section 07240" and a listing at CCMC is required to be obtained. Pressure equalization is required to be demonstrated by testing as defined by the Institute for Research in Construction, Construction Technology Update No. 17; "Pressure Equalization in Rainscreen Wall Systems," July 1998.

Design review and enhanced field review is required to be conducted by a Building Envelope Professional who has specialized training and experience with EIFS. The professional is required to review the project specific design, and confirm that the whole system including the required thermal expansion/contraction joints, joints around doors or windows, or any other penetrations of the finish will allow for drainage back to the exterior, without reliance on surface sealing. The professional is also responsible for reviewing the pressure equalization system including compartmentalization, vent location and sizing and confirm the required stiffness of the substrate using calculations based on the manufacturer's data.

The quality provisions of the CCMC Technical Guide for "Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems (EIFS) Class PB Masterformat Section 07240," Section 7.0 "Quality Assurance Program" must be adhered to. Buildings are required to be designed incorporating devices such as davit bases or other design elements so that any required maintenance could be provided without causing undue damage to the EIFS. [See Article 4.1.10.8]