Introduction: Integration of interprofessional education (IPE) activities into health professions curricula aims to promote collaborative practice with a goal of improving patient care. Methods: Through intercollegiate collaborations involving four different educational organizations and an academic health center, an interprofessional stroke simulation involving standardized patients was developed and instituted for IPE-naive student learners from medicine, nursing, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and physical therapy programs with additional involvement from pharmacy and social work learners. Herein, we describe the design of the IPE simulation and examine its impact on students' interprofessional development as assessed by students' completion of a validated IPE competency self-assessment tool and written reflective comments after the simulation. Results: Self-assessed interprofessional interaction and values domains were evaluated before and after the activity using the shortened 16-question Interprofessional Education Collaborative Competency Self-Assessment tool; data revealed significant changes in both the values and interaction domains of the tool from pre-to postsimulation experience (p < .0001). The qualitative student reflections revealed new student realizations around the concepts of collaboration, leadership, roles of different professions, and the importance of communication after participating in the simulation. Discussion: Quantitative data coupled with qualitative reflections from learners support the effectiveness of this activity for facilitating development of interprofessional competencies among health professions students.

Current methods of evaluating the risk of condensation on fenestration systems generally include two-dimensional computer modeling and sometimes laboratory testing. This is not sufficient for curtain wall systems that incorporate areas of insulated spandrel. In most curtain walls, mullions can extend from a warmer interior environment into a colder insulated spandrel. The mullions function as thermal bridges and may increase the potential for condensation on or within the system. The impact will vary depending on several factors such as the type of vision and spandrel glazing, insulating glass unit (IGU) spacer type, insulation thickness, location of the insulation, and vapor barrier methodology. Industry standard evaluation methods do not address this heat transfer. Two-dimensional computer modeling can be used to assess transitions between vision and spandrel areas. Because it is only a two-dimensional evaluation, it cannot determine the heat flow in the third dimension. Laboratory testing such as the American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s AAMA 1503, Voluntary Test Method for Thermal Transmittance and Condensation Resistance of Windows, Doors, and Glazed Wall Sections, is sometimes used to provide measured results of condensation resistance. Manufacturers typically do not include spandrel conditions when testing the performance of a system. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the relative impact of three-dimensional heat flow through curtain wall vision/spandrel conditions related to the potential for condensation to determine if there is an increased risk of condensation at the vision/spandrel interface and to demonstrate that the use of three-dimensional thermal modeling can be readily repeated for multiple project specific variables without the cost of laboratory testing.

Special building occupancies, those with a high interior relative humidity, have a specific set of performance requirements to control condensation for exterior window and curtain wall systems. High levels of humidity, if not properly accommodated by glazed exterior wall systems, can result in condensation on and within glazing systems and adjacent construction. The performance of glazing has typically been viewed and analyzed based on overall system performance that generally results in a set of values that do not apply to project specific applications. With this approach, important aspects of a system, as applied to specific buildings, are often overlooked. In this circumstance, the result too often is unacceptable levels of condensation. Unfortunately, many within the design, manufacture, and construction communities do not fully understand the importance of treating each building for the unique set of conditions that it is, and the resultant consequence of not analyzing and treating each humidified building as a unique set of materials, systems, and environmental conditions. Similarly, the analysis methods and tools necessary to predict and prevent condensation are even less familiar within the design and construction industry. As a result, deficient systems and materials may often be installed in these applications, resulting in failures ranging from minor inconvenience to complete loss of service. There are, however, methods that can be used to reduce or eliminate such problems. This paper describes methods and procedures that can be utilized to understand and identify the performance levels required for high humidity spaces and analysis methods (including computer modeling) to predict performance of systems and materials, and this paper also describes both active and passive technologies that have been successful in meeting these needs. Passive design, through the use of high performance glazing, and active technologies, such as heat tracing and heated glass, are considered. Benefits, risks, and appropriate uses of each are identified. Examples are included to illustrate these approaches.

Current design trends often result in extending curtain wall systems beyond the thermal boundary of the exterior enclosure. A common example of this condition is where a curtain wall system extends above the roof and becomes the parapet. Other examples of this type of situation include where the curtain wall extends past a floor line to create a soffit enclosure or past an adjacent perpendicular wall to create what is often referred to as a “wing wall.” These types of conditions are not considered in the standard test methods that define the system's thermal performance and condensation resistance and can often lead to installations with increased heat loss and reduced condensation resistance. These types of conditions may deviate from the published performance of the system and impact the overall energy efficiency of the building enclosure. The current industry standard computer modeling methods to determine the thermal performance and condensation resistance only include two-dimensional computer modeling. Although this may be sufficient for the performance in the field of a curtain wall system, it may not adequately address these unique conditions. The two-dimensional nature of the evaluation cannot include the linear transfer of heat flow in the third dimension through the mullions extending beyond the thermal envelope. Laboratory testing of these complex project-specific conditions is often impractical due to cost and schedule. Additionally, once the condition is installed it is often too late to change the design. This paper evaluates the three-dimensional effects of heat flow through curtain walls using three-dimensional modeling. The relative impact on thermal performance and condensation resistance is compared with the published performance of standard curtain wall systems. The paper also reviews installation methods to decrease the heat loss and produce more resilient systems. Two-dimensional computer modeling is utilized to compare the results with the three-dimensional modeling procedures.