About Us
ECP Building Envelope Specialists, Inc. was created by Randall and Mary Ann Whisher. The original concept for ECP began in 1990, when Randy attended a class at the Florida Solar Research Center in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The instructor, John Tooley, is commonly referred to as the “Duct Doctor”.
John Tooley impressed upon Randy (and the rest of the students) the concepts behind Building Science. Building Science was at that time, still in its infancy and not widely practiced. Until this time, Blower Door usage had been regulated to find (a hole-fix a hole). A new world of instrumented audits and pressure diagnostics began to kindle the need to know for practitioners.
In May of 1992, ECP began operating with the idea that buildings could become energy efficient by utilizing Building Science. Over the last 17 years, ECP has grown dramatically. Our focus is to utilize available technology to provide air leakage control in all types of structures.
Lower Energy Costs:
Rapidly increasing costs for heating and air conditioning made building owners pay more attention to energy conservation during the late seventies. It was discovered that heat loss caused by uncontrolled air leakage through the building envelope could be responsible for more than 40 per cent of the cost.
ECP has since developed air leakage control and envelope repair techniques, which have enabled building owners to reduce energy costs, while enjoying the benefits of controlled ventilation.
Longer Building Life:
Research has shown that inadequate building envelopes, whether caused by incorrect design or poor construction practices, can be responsible for severe decay and damage to the fabric of a building. This is often caused by the exfiltration of airborne moisture and pollutants, which proper air barrier and vapor diffusion retarder systems would normally prevent.
ECP has been active in developing and applying repair measures which stop this uncontrolled migration, and prevent such problems as efflorescence, spalling, or even complete breakdown of exterior cladding materials. The result is increased life expectancy for buildings.
Improved Comfort:
Building occupants have demanded increased comfort. They expect not only to be warm enough, or cool enough, but also to enjoy a draft-free and pollution-free indoor environment.
ECP has extensive experience of addressing comfort problems in both the home and the workplace, from industrial plants and hospitals to high-rise apartment buildings and single-family homes.
Insulation:
In addition to air leakage control, ECP can provide virtually any type of insulation. The appropriate question is “what type of insulation best suits the application? Our years of experience with insulation materials can aid in the proper selection.