Andrew Äsk Building Science Symposium'.

Andy's twenty seven year tradition of bringing world class building science education to Florida continues in 2027. The Andrew Ask Building Science Symposium features renowned speakers and engaging topics. AABSS-2027 brings leading construction industry knowledge presented by todays most relevant experts and influencers that you won’t see or hear anywhere else.

Andrew Ask

"That was our mission in 1998 when we started this and that’s what you can expect at AABSS-2027"

Joseph Lstiburek

Joseph Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. Dr. Lstiburek’s work ranges widely, from providing expert witness testimony to overseeing research and development projects, to writing for the ASHRAE Journal and buildingscience.com. Dr. Lstiburek’s commitment to advancing the building industry has had a lasting impact on building codes and practices throughout the world, particularly in the areas of air barriers, vapor barriers, and vented and unvented roof assemblies.

Dr. Lstiburek is also an acclaimed educator who has taught thousands of professionals over the past three decades and written countless papers as well as the best-selling Builder Guides. Fittingly, the Wall Street Journal has described him as "the dean of North American building science." He has a joy for telling tall tales to his protégés and audiences.

Dr. Lstiburek holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering, a Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)in Building Science. While still an undergrad, Dr. Lstiburek worked as a residential construction manager; during his Master’s degree, he developed the Air Drywall Approach to air barriers.

Dr. Lstiburek  with his business partner Betsy Pettit, established one of the most influential, innovative, and respected building science authorities in North America.

John Straube is an Associate Professor joint-appointed to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo. He researches and teaches building science, building materials, and engineering design with a focus on high-performance low-energy sustainable buildings. A registered professional engineer he is also a Principal at RDH Building Science Inc., where he leads forensic investigations, hygrothermal measurement and analysis research projects, and design projects in the areas of low energy building design, highly durable building enclosures, new building materials and systems, and extreme climate buildingsProfessor Straube authored “High Performance Enclosures” and co-authored “Building Science for Building Enclosures” with Eric Burnett. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Building Science Education from the National Consortium of Housing Research Centers (NCHRC).Professor Straube is a member of the CSA A371 Masonry Construction Standards Committee, the CAN/ULC S741-08 Standard for Air Barrier Materials, the American Society of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers and the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) Canada among others.

2 Days of world class building science training in Naples Florida

ATTICS

Comparison of attic enclosure configurations.
Moisture infiltration associated with vented spaces.
Standards and Code requirements for attic construction.
Construction of vented attic and design limitations.
Ducts, air handlers and chilled components in attics.
Open and Closed Cell spray foam for sealed attic spaces.
Do I need an attic dehumidifier? What is "ping-pong" effect ? Alternatives to control by dedicated attic dehumidifiers.
What can be done to resist condensation formation on ducts?

ROOFS

Roof types and materials; requirements and limitations.
Placement of moisture control barriers in roof assemblies.
Geometric challenges of overlaps, valleys and joints.
Identifying potential fail points during design phase.
Heat and moisture behavior; identify forces and stressors.
Attributes of properly constructed roof assemblies.
How to identify the causes of failed roofing issues.
Roof performance effects on other building systems.

WALLS

Wall construction types for climate zones 1 and 2.
Identify control layers; rain vs vapor barriers.
Compare various wall construction strategies for CZ1.
Examine heat and moisture behavior within wall assemblies.
Dealing with wall penetrations, windows and apertures.
What is a drainage plane? Does my wall needs one?
Stucco, siding, brick, stone and other claddings.
Insulation and vapor barriers inside of walls.

WINDOWS

Identify window installation attributes and challenges.
Windows installed flush with exterior wall plane (outies).
Windows installed recessed in exterior wall (innies).
Windows positioned partially recessed in wall ( tweenies).
What to look for in prepping opening for window install.
Common failures.

SYSTEMS

Role of HVAC systems; common issues and pitfalls.
Strategies utilizing environmental control equipment.
Mechanical systems protecting building materials.
Mechanical systems located in or out of conditioned space.
Duct issues; condensation, duct leakage and infiltration.
Dedicated dehumidifiers; when and where to use them.
Ventilation for humans and challenges for CZ1.

TESTING

Investigating causes of building science related issues.
Identifying forces exerted upon various building systems.
Finding causation of failure points; testing to confirm.
Preventing or abating building science failures.

DESIGN

Proven time saving pro-tips for architects and engineers.
Built-in resilience and durability starting with design.
Communication failures between design and construction.
Best practices for built-in building science safeguards.

FUNDAMENTALS

Heat behavior and control; methods and strategies.
Moisture control priorities for bulk rain systems.
Vapor infiltration and condensation issues.
Identify and properly utilize control layers.

HIGHRISE BUILDINGS

Unique building science for multistory buildings.
Forces exerted upon high rise structures in CZ1.
Interior compartments and infiltration pathways.
Avoiding or, identifying and abating issues.

PARTICIPATE

Questions & Answers following each session.
Come early and get started with breakfast and coffee.
Network with AABSS25 sponsors and attendees.
Meet Dr. Lstiburek and Dr. Straube.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18th

BREAKFAST                          7:00 AM to 8 AM
MORNING SESSION             8:00 AM to Noon
LUNCH                                   Noon to 1:00 PM
AFTERNOON SESSION       1:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Happy Hour with Andy Ask     5:30 PM
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19th

BREAKFAST                          7:00 AM to 8 AM
MORNING SESSION             8:00 AM to Noon
LUNCH                                   Noon to 1:00 PM
AFTERNOON SESSION       1:00 PM to 5:30 PM

THURSDAY 18th 5:30PM      Immediately following Afternoon
Sessions for drinks and treats courtesy of Joyce Owens Architecture.
Meet Joe Lstiburek and John Straube.
Checkout Sponsor Exhibits.

5111 Tamiami Trail North Naples, Florida 34103

Naples Hilton Logo

AABSS 2025 - Post Conference Downloads:

AABSS - Other Downloads:

Pioneers of Building Science

AABSS23 - PIONEERS OF BUILDING SCIENCE
Video of 2023 reunion of Joe Lstiburek, Gary Nelson, John Tooley and Neal Moyer ; includes Gary Nelson's history of blower doors.

THANK YOU AABSS 2025 SPONSORS

Quantum Cooling LogoTom Barrow Company LogoTramex LogoB and I Contractors Logo
Andy Ask and Pete Consigli