Story at a glance:
- GCP and CertainTeed are delivering a seamless building envelope system, providing environmental protection for a health lab in New England.
- The building envelope will play a critical role in the future LEED Silver building, as it will protect against air and water infiltration.
A state-of-the-art lab facility is being constructed in New England to replace a 40-year-old laboratory. This new 212,000-square-foot facility will provide essential public health testing services, including genomic sequencing, environmental assessments, and forensic investigations.
The lab is set to be a hub for cutting-edge scientific work. The project will be LEED Silver–certified and serve as a critical resource for the state public health department’s life sciences labs. Given the nature of the research conducted within the building, the structure must be designed to be secure from environmental contamination, ensuring the safety and integrity of its research. The facility’s building envelope plays a crucial role in achieving this objective by protecting against air and water infiltration, maintaining interior air quality, and preserving controlled laboratory environments.
The Challenges
Location is one significant challenge in constructing the state public health laboratory. The facility is being built on an area previously occupied by a highway. The site had a history of industrial activity and potential environmental contamination. As a result the building required a highly effective waterproofing and air barrier system to prevent any infiltration of contaminants from the ground and surrounding environment.
The need for complete air and water sealing was also intensified due to the nature of the facility. Labs handling sensitive biological and chemical materials require a strict contamination-free environment, making it imperative that the building envelope be designed to the highest standards of security and performance.
The Solutions
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- Photo courtesy of GCP
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- Photo courtesy of GCP
To address these challenges the construction team relied on a suite of advanced building envelope solutions from GCP and CertainTeed, ensuring a seamless and high-performance system. These products provided a comprehensive approach to waterproofing, potential contamination protection, and air sealing. The project uses the following products for these purposes.
GCP’s PREPRUFE® 275: Subgrade Contamination Protection
- A fully bonded pre-applied waterproofing membrane designed to protect against contaminants and moisture infiltration.
- Acts as a robust contamination barrier, preventing the ingress of hazardous substances from the soil into the building structure.
- Successfully passed rigorous smoke testing to ensure airtight performance.
GCP’s BITUTHENE® Waterproofing System: Foundation Protection
- A trusted post-applied waterproofing membrane designed for below-grade protection.
- Used to connect seamlessly with the PREPRUFE 275 to ensure full waterproofing and contamination defense.
- Provides long-term durability and protection against water intrusion.
GCP’s PERM-A-BARRIER® NPS Membrane: Air and Moisture Barrier
- A high-performance air barrier system that prevents uncontrolled air leakage and moisture infiltration.
- Essential for ensuring an airtight building envelope, reducing energy loss, and enhancing indoor air quality.
- Works seamlessly with CertainTeed’s exterior gypsum sheathing.
CertainTeed Gypsum Drywall: Finishing the Envelope
- Installed over the PERM-A-BARRIER NPS to provide a durable, fire-resistant, and stable building surface.
- Complements the air barrier system, ensuring a complete and resilient building envelope.
“Working with GCP and their technical support team was a smooth and efficient experience,” says Brunca Waterproofing Corp President Ken Parisi. “The performance of both the PREPRUFE and BITUTHENE membranes have a proven track record, and GCP’s expertise gave us confidence that we were delivering the highest level of protection for this critical facility.”
The Result
The integration of GCP and CertainTeed products on the state public health laboratory project demonstrated the advantage of using a single-source provider for critical building envelope solutions. With all components working together seamlessly, the project benefited from:
- A unified waterproofing and air barrier system with no compatibility issues.
- Enhanced durability and long-term performance against environmental threats.
- Streamlined procurement and installation processes, reducing project complexity.
The state public health laboratory is not just a new facility; it is a commitment to the health and safety of the community. With world-class building envelope solutions, the project ensures a secure environment for public health research and testing, safeguarding against environmental contaminants while enhancing energy efficiency and building integrity. By utilizing GCP and CertainTeed’s high-performance products, the facility is well-equipped to serve its mission for decades to come.
