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Water control and drainage continuity · Lesson 3 of 4

Water control and drainage continuity: methods and worked application

An eight-step continuity check, the installation checks for through-wall flashing, six worked examples with every input labelled, and the continuity schedule that records the result.

You will be able to: Run an eight-step continuity check on a drawing set, run the IMI installation checks for through-wall flashing, and work the numbers for weeps, laps, head flashing length, flashing height, sill slope and metal thickness.

12 min · 12 slides · 8 questions

All lessons in this module
Slide 1 of 12

A continuity check in eight steps

Run the check on the drawings before the wall is built:

  • Name the code edition and referenced standards
  • Trace the water control layer on every elevation and section
  • List each interruption
  • Name the piece that hands water out
  • Check lap direction and sequence
  • Check the ends
  • Check the exit: weeps and drip
  • Check the metal; then write the continuity schedule
The eight-step continuity checkA vertical flow of eight steps in four phases: set up by naming the code edition and tracing the water control layer; find by listing every interruption and naming the piece that hands water out; check laps and sequence, the ends, and weeps, drip and metal; and record by writing the continuity schedule.The continuity checkEight steps, in orderName the code editionSet upTrace the water control layerSet upList every interruptionFindName the piece that hands water outFindCheck laps and sequenceCheckCheck the ends: end damsCheckCheck weeps, drip and metalCheckWrite the continuity scheduleRecordThe designer decides each detail.AFS fabricates the metal drawn.

A vertical flow of eight steps in four phases: name the code edition and trace the water control layer; list every interruption and name the piece that hands water out; check laps and sequence, the ends, and weeps, drip and metal; then write the continuity schedule.

The method for a drawing set, adapted from the sources in this module. The designer decides each detail; AFS fabricates the metal drawn.

Sources

Videos for this lesson

What this video shows: An International Masonry Institute clip. Its description says flashing in lengths means laps and seams, that installers should follow the flashing maker, and that IMI trains for 6 in overlaps made watertight with compatible sealant.

Video: A.17 Masonry flashing laps by International Masonry Institute, on YouTube. Chosen from the video's published description.

Glossary

Continuity schedule
A table with one line for each interruption in the water control layer, recording the detail, the lap and seal, the end condition and the exit so each can be checked and photographed.
Termination bar
A narrow plate with predrilled holes that fastens the top of a flexible flashing's vertical leg to the wall. BIA Technical Note 7 prefers one for flexible flashing.
Lap
The overlap where one flashing piece covers the next. The AFS rule is that the upper piece laps over the lower one, in the direction water flows.
Open head joint
A vertical mortar joint left open just above the flashing so water can drain out as a weep.