There are often several solutions to building envelope problems. energy.īut at the root of any building envelope design or repair exercise there are common threads: communication and education. Improving energy performance is huge: the building envelope is responsible for 25% of all building energy use, and buildings consume 40% of all U.S. Problems from water leakage make up a huge percentage of construction litigation, so getting these technical details right can save a lot of headaches down the road. There are of course technical problems to solve related to the building envelope.ĭiagnosing the source of a leaking roof, designing a flashing detail that will keep a replacement window water- and airtight for many years to come, or evaluating options to add insulation to an historic building are some tasks that pop up frequently. Why would someone want a building envelope engineer as a consultant? "The devil is in the details" applies here. The tricks come in understanding where those control layers go, identifying what materials perform what function, and figuring out how to keep them all continuous in the messy and hectic world of construction. These are the four "loads" that must be controlled by the four barriers: If you keep those layers continuous and in the right places you're golden. There are four barriers, or control layers, in the building envelope ( Lstiburek again from Building Science Corporation - smart guy). The short answer is: it's not, in concept. We apply principles of structural engineering, physics, and materials science, as well as knowledge of architecture and construction to solve problems related to the building envelope. Engineers of all types apply scientific principles and methods to solve a variety of real world problems.īuilding envelope engineers are no different. I've applied building envelope design principles to other structures too - like the Weeks Footbridge across the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge, MA.and the engineering part?Īt its heart, engineering means problem solving. ![]() The "building" part of building envelope is a misnomer. ![]() The building envelope keeps the inside in and the outside out. The Building Envelope Design Guide and other industry sources offer a bunch of definitions of the building envelope (also known as the building enclosure).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |