The Building Enclosure Moisture Management Institute was recently formed and officially began operation this year. BEMMI is organized to represent manufacturers and suppliers of drainage space materials used in exterior walls in the residential and commercial building construction markets. The mission of the organization is to promote the growth of the engineered rainscreen products industry to improve moisture management in building enclosures through technical advocacy.

The BEMMI members have already formed a Technical Committee which is working on several industry issues, and have identified several national and state code issues as top priorities for the Institute. John Woestman, a member of the BEMMI staff with extensive experience in the codes and standards and building products arena, will serve as BEMMI’s Technical Director.

“The formation of the BEMMI in January will assist manufacturers with representation in the major code and standards organizations,” said Executive Director Michael D. Fischer. “As an industry, rainscreen producers will be able to speak with one voice to the regulators, code officials and in the standards bodies to promote this rapidly growing building product used to provide both drainage and ventilation in high-performance building enclosure systems.”

The BEMMI membership recently elected Michael Coulton, the director of marketing and product development for Benjamin Obdyke as President of the Board. Others named to officer positions include Vice-President Marcus Jablonka of Cosella-Dörken and Steve Samec of Masonry Technology, who was tabbed to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

Richard Lolley, CEO of Advanced Building Products, applauded efforts by industry members to collaborate on technical issues, saying “working together in a consensus process will allow the industry to succeed at a level we could never do by going it alone.” Lolley added that this collaboration will accelerate acceptance of rainscreen science into mainstream building practice.

BEMMI is the North American trade association that represents the rainscreen industry’s manufacturing and marketing companies and their material suppliers. BEMMI is headquartered in New York, NY. The founding member companies of BEMMI include: Benjamin Obdyke, Cosella-Dörken Products, Masonry Technology, and Advanced Building Products.