Find your Copper Architectural Details at Copper.org (Part 2)

Summary: Looking for Copper Architectural Details? This post provides an overview of the free resources provided by the Copper Development Association at Copper.org. These resources include case studies, educational videos, free details, free specifications, and reference standards.

Introduction

In the previous post (we hope you read), we introduced you to the Copper Development Association.

We did so because, as you know, copper is an important material in the building enclosure industry and therefore an important material for you to know about.

As my mentor used to say “If you don’t know copper you don’t know anything…” so we made it our mission for today to make sure we all know something.

“If you don’t know copper you don’t know anything…”

-My Mentor

This post gives an overview of the resources at CDA most relevant to you as an Enclosurist.

Catching you up

We explained in the previous post that the CDA’s wealth of information is contained in a publication called the Copper in Architecture – Design Handbook which can be downloaded here, free of charge. We recommend grabbing your copy now. The remainder of this post will explain what it contains.

What is in the Handbook

The handbook contains:

• Technical information
• Case Studies
• Architectural Details
• Specifications and Tests
• Reference for further reading

In addition to the Handbook, the CDA also provides free training resources we will briefly look at.

Technical Information

The technical section provides a broad background of copper knowledge which serves as a foundation of technical information for the specifier or designer of copper installations.

It is divided into four parts namely:

• Fundamentals
• Copper Alloys
• Finishes
• Rehabilitation of Copper

The fundamentals section deals with everything you need to know including the types of copper, dimensions of copper, and design considerations.

For example, did you know there are six tempers available for 99.9% copper according to ASTM B370? Neither did we!

From an architectural standpoint, the most interesting section in the fundamentals section was the architectural considerations that deal with topics such as weathering and patination, corrosion, staining, and substrate preparation.

In case you were wondering, patina (the result of patination) is the greenish-brown film that appears on a metal’s surface due to oxidation over time.

The use of copper as a decorative element is strongly influenced by the patina with many architects favoring the green color over the snottish brown. Copper is truly an important element in green architecture.

Related to the weathering of copper is corrosion, and specifically the corrosion between two metals in contact with each other, e.g. a steel fastener in a copper sheet.

We think that corrosion is a bad bad thing, and unless your client paid for a dissolving building this should be your opinion as well.

According to the Handbook, all metals have a property called nobility which is a measure of the metal’s resistance to corrosion when in contact with another metal. The greater the difference in nobility the higher the potential for corrosion. We will discuss this further in a future post.

The technical section provides information on a vast number of other useful and important topics we can’t get into here but we trust that you will find this section in the Handbook helpful

Featured Projects and Case studies

The featured projects section features case studies of various copper building projects. Projects are organized by project type, e.g. standing seam roofs and walls, flat seam roofs and walls, interiors, etc.

Each project listing provides a summary of the project as well as the Architect, Contractor, copper manufacturer, and envelope consultant involved with the project. You can also see the unique Copper Architectural Details in these projects

On a side note, this section appears to accept submissions so if you are looking to share your copper work for the greater good (and to satisfy your marketing and self-promotion impulses) consider this opportunity.

We know it is obvious, but given that this is a database, this section is only available online so don’t spend hours looking for the featured projects in your pdf.

Copper Architectural Details

This is the most exciting section that got us excited; most excited indeed.

While this section will be of use to experienced Enclosurists, we think this would be most helpful for the young ones who are still learning how A attaches to B after C slips into D.

This section starts with a general discussion of design issues and provides detailed information for multiple enclosure conditions and how to address these.

For example, the basic details section describes attachment details by referring to cleating, nailing, and screwing.

While we all like to cleat, nail, and screw from time to time we don’t always know how and when, so having a resource that tells you how is invaluable.

This Architectural Detail section is further broken down by category and addresses:

• Roofing Systems
• Flashing and Copings
• Gutters and Downspouts
• Building Expansion Joints
• Wall Cladding
• Dome, Spire, and Vaults

That is practically everything you ever needed to know fully described and beautifully illustrated.

What we like about this section is that the detailed drawings are clear and concise. Best of all is that the drawings are available for download as either individual files or as a full collection of CAD files for Copper Architectural Details.

Specifications and Tests

The Specifications and Tests section provides exactly what it says: Specifications and Tests related to Copper Architectural Details.

The specifications are available for download as word documents and cover many copper components of relevance to the building industry including Copper Wall Cladding, Flashing, and Trim, Gutters and Downspouts, etc.

If you do not have a solid specification for your copper project, these should be a good foundation for you to build on.

The Test reports section lists tests for various assemblies including standing seam roof panels, uplift resistance for roof assemblies, and performance testing for copper wall cladding.

ASTM and UL standards are listed as well as the performance requirements associated with the various tests.

This section is not recommended as easy reading due to the nature of the content but the CDA has done a great job in compiling a reference resource that can also be used for education.

Glossary, Index, and References

We love Glossaries, and we know you (secretly) do too!

-Us

Few other documents can instantly expose your ignorance as quickly as a good glossary. Where else will you find hundreds of words you’ve never heard of (with definition) all nicely organized alphabetically?

That is the reason we smiled shyly when we noticed the Handbook’s complete glossary. A must-read.

In addition to the glossary, you will find a full index and a list of helpful reference sources in this final section.

Educational resources

You have consumed and digested all the information presented so far and you are hungry for more?

If so the final thing we want to point out at Copper.org is the additional educational resources that include videos.

These videos cover a wide range of copper-related topics and are not limited to only the building industry. If you’ve canceled your Netflix and Prime subscriptions and need something to watch on a Saturday night, we found it here. No need to thank us.

This completes our introduction to the Copper Development Association and the resources most relevant to Enclosurists.

If we missed something, got something wrong, or if you would like to share your thoughts please leave a comment below.

Our content is shaped by our readers so if there is a topic you want to know more about, comment below, or send us a message.