Definition of "dry in"

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 26 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 08:03 am:    Does anyone have a source that can be cited for a definition of "dry-in" as in pertains to the building envelope? We have a GC who wants to start drywall installation before the walls are installed (yes, I know, a very bad idea). I have had GCs install drywall before the building was “dried in” after getting permission from the owner (and over my objections) but this is the first experience I can recall with a contractor questioning what “dry-in” means. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 210 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 09:06 am:    I don't think there is an industry-established consensus definition of "dry-in;" it is whatever the Design Team defines it as in the Contract Documents. ARCOM MasterSpec provides the following definition in their Section 01 50 00 - Temporary Facilities: "A. Permanent Enclosure: As determined by Architect, permanent or temporary roofing is complete, insulated, and weathertight; exterior walls are insulated and weathertight; and all openings are closed with permanent construction or substantial temporary closures." Regarding the drywall installation, we have a provision in our specifications that requires the contractor to use GP's DensArmour Plus for all "Interior partitions where Contractor desires to install gypsum board prior to building dry-in." We also stipulate that any [plain] gypsum board that gets wet, for any reason (i.e. roof leak, water pipe leak, spill, etc.), shall be completely removed and replaced with new material. No other options will be entertained. The potential risk for mold is simply too high. You may also want to take a look at the environmental requirements that may be spelled out in ASTM C 840 and GA-216. Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 490 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 02:22 pm:    David: have you been effective at enforcing the "you have to use DensArmour Plus" clause -- or does it make them reconsider what they think they are going to do? I've also seen the contractors who want the wallboard and studs installed before the exterior wall and my former office made them pull it out.... but I expect that this will be a more common occurrence as long as they keep hiring young project managers. when you remove the wet gypsum board, how do you make sure the slab below is dry? have you asked for a dessicant in the stud space? (thanks; I've got a project coming up in Florida which is a totally different climate for me) Ellis C. Whitby, AIA, PE, CSI, LEED® AP Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 27 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 03:59 pm:    David: Thanks for response. We have similar requirements for moisture resistant board to be used if building is not "dried-in". Even if moisture resistant board is used I am still concerned about moisture and debris trapped between the framing and the drywall. Julie Root Senior Member Username: julie_root Post Number: 78 Registered: 02-2004 Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 04:55 pm:    A hospital here in Pasadena, CA used some type of shrink wrap system all over the tower that was being added. I understand that it was so they could start with the interior before the exterior was complete. The architecture firm was HDR. If anyone has contacts I would be interested to understand more. Nathan Woods, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 185 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 - 04:58 pm:    Contact me off list "nathan" AT "woodsfamily.com" Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 336 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 02:15 am:    I sought out a definition of "dry in" from a trusted colleague with extensive experience in highrise construction: This is a term which means exactly what it says. General contractors use it to define that time during construction when the envelope is sufficiently “dried-in” to allow installation of weather sensitive materials, such as dry wall. Further, on high rise construction, the term does not mean that the entire envelope need be in place, but that a given floor, being sufficiently “dried-in” that dry wall can begin; i.e. the G.C. is pouring floor 40, floor 36 has had the shoring removed, the exterior envelope is installed through floor 26 and the G.C. has taken temporary protective measures at floor 20 to control rain penetration through shafts and other floor penetrations so that from floor 19 downward the drywall can be installed. David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: davidcombs Post Number: 211 Registered: 08-2004 Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 09:12 am:    Anne, Admitedly, we have been rather fortunate: The DensArmour Plus requirement initially came from one of our large hospital clients a few years ago, and we have since adopted it for the majority of all of our other projects. I don't know of any contractors who have balked at the requirement; I think they truly realize the benefit of having something more mold- and moisture-resistant in the event they need to start the drywall work early. (We also require it for the gypsum board shaft walls, since the elevator hoistways are often constructed early.) As for the residual moisture on the slab and in the stud cavity, we have not addressed that issue in the specifications. I guess I see it more of a construction contract administration issue, something we will address when or if it happens. I don't think we would end up with a situation where there is so much water that the HVAC system couldn't handle it during the normal building dry-out process (most of the moisture will have dissipated by then anyway). The dessicant is a good idea, though.