BUILDING ENVELOPE

WHAT THE BUILDING ENVELOPE DOES

The building shell that part of the building that serves as an interface between the interior and exterior environments. This includes the foundation (vertical wall and horizontal slab), the abovegrade wall and the roof.

WHAT THE BUILDING ENVELOPE DOES

It plays a critical role in solar gain management, thermal load control, air infiltration, ventilation, moisture management, fenestration support, impact and disaster resistance, noise control, air quality management, design value and aesthetic definition. the exterior envelope plays a major role in determining the aesthetic quality of the building exterior, in its form color, texture and cultural associations.

 "The envelope has to respond both to natural forces and human values. The natural forces include rain, snow, wind and sun. Human concerns include safety, security, and task success. The envelope provides protection by enclosure and by balancing internal and external environmental forces. To achieve protection it allows for careful control of penetrations. A symbol of the envelope might be a large bubble that would keep the weather out and the interior climate in." Chris Arnold, FAIA, RIBA Building Systems Development Inc.

Figure 1. The building envelope systems: Left, the 4 systems; Right, a portion of the envelope showing some of the other systems that integrate with the envelope.

Below Grade Building Systems

Wall Systems

Basic Elements of the Exterior Wall 1. Exterior Cladding (Natural or Synthetic) 2. Drainage Plane(s) 3. Air Barrier System(s) 4. Vapor Retarder(s) 5. Insulating Element(s) 6. Structural Elements

Fenestration Systems
Glazing Windows Curtain Walls Sloping Glazing Exterior Doors

Roofing Systems

Roofs are fundamental in protecting buildings from moisture infiltration and other outside weather conditions. Commercial buildings typically use low-slope or flat roofs, and the choice of roofing material affects issues regarding moisture, standing water, durability and appearance.

Atria Systems

The following performance issues are examined for each of the envelope systems: Thermal performance Moisture protection Fire safety Acoustics Daylighting and perimeter visual environment System maintainability Material durability

Additional performances Seismic safety Safety against blast and chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) attack Safety against extreme wind Safety against flood Indoor air quality and mold prevention Sustainability and HVAC integration

The Evolution of the Building Envelope

2A A dome shaped hut in Ethiopia combines wall and roof in one material; 2B Timber frame and thatched roof, Solomon Islands; 2C Masonry wall, Machu Picchu, Peru; 2D Packed mud dwellings, Yemen Arab Republic.

The ancient and medieval wall on the left attempts to provide all the envelope functions with one material. Later, right, decorative finishes were added to the exterior and interior of the wall.

The performance of each layer is variable. Some materials may perform more than one function, and their position in the layer may change according to the climate.

This section through a typical non structural exterior wall within a steel frame building structure shows the complexity of the layered approach in its application.

Functional Requirements
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Structural: If the wall is not part of the main building structure, support own weight and transfer lateral loads to building frame. Water: Resist water penetration. Air: Resist excessive air infiltration. Condensation: Resist condensation on interior surfaces under service conditions. Movement: Accommodate differential movement (caused by moisture, seasonal or diurnal temperature variations, and structural movement). Energy conservation: Resist thermal transfer through radiation, convection and conduction. Sound: Attenuate sound transmission. Fire safety: Provide rated resistance to heat and smoke. Security: Protect occupants from outside threats. Maintainability: Allow access to components for maintenance, restoration and replacement. Constructability: Provide adequate clearances, alignments and sequencing to allow integration of many components during construction using available components and attainable workmanship. Durability: Provide functional and aesthetic characteristics for a long time. Aesthetics: Do all of the above and look attractive. Economy: Do all of the above inexpensively.

7. 8. 9. 10.
11. 12. 13. 14.

EXTERNAL ENVELOPE
STAGE 1 Consideration to be given to the following: Building type and usage; Building owners requirements and preferences; Local planning restrictions; Legal restrictions and requirements; Site restrictions; Capital resources; Future policy in terms of maintenance and adaptation.

EXTERNAL ENVELOPE
STAGE 2 Decide on positions, sizes and shapes of openings. STAGE 3 Decide on style, character and materials for openings.

EXTERNAL ENVELOPE
STAGE 4 Decide on basic materials for fabric of roof and walls. STAGE 5 Review all decisions and make changes if required.

FUNCTIONS OF ENVELOPE
CONNECTOR (INSIDE N OUTSIDE)

FUNCTIONS OF ENVELOPE
FILTER

FUNCTIONS OF ENVELOPE
BARRIER

FUNCTIONS OF ENVELOPE
SWITCH

DESIGN CONCEPT
Open Frame -let outer and effects to inner environment

DESIGN CONCEPT
Close Shell - Block inner environment from outer environment

DESIGN CONCEPT
Mix Mode - Both concepts are used in design process, depend on usage

REQUIREMENTS
Thermal Conductivity (k)

REQUIREMENTS
Thermal Conductance (C) C = k/x (W/m2 C) ; x = thickness Thermal Resistance (R-value) R = x/k (m2 C/W) ; x = thickness Coeffient of Heat Transmission (U-value) U = 1/R (W/m2 C) U = 1/R

REQUIREMENTS
Specific Heat (c) Time Lag

Surface Absorption & Emission

Volume

FENESTRATION
Visible light transmission Visible light reflecton Solar energy transmission Solar energy reflecton Solar energy absorption UV U-value (Summer / Winter) Solar heat gain coefficient Shading coefficient (SC)

BUILDING ENVELOPE

Q = energy flow (W) U = U-Value (W/m2 C) A = Area (m2) DETD = Deign Equivalent Temperature Differences (C)

TYPE OF GLAZING
FLOAT GLASS Float glass : Clear Float Glass
Low-surface temperature

TYPE OF GLAZING
Tinted Heat Absorbing Glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
TREATED GLASS Heat Strengthened Glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
Tempered Glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
SURFACE COATING GLASS Mirror glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
Reflective Glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
Low Emissivity Glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
PROCESS GLASS Insulated glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
Laminated glass

TYPE OF GLAZING
Application glass: wired, pattern glass

BUILDING INSULATION
Method of heat transfer Conduction Convection Radiation

BUILDING INSULATION
POSITION OF INSULATION Ceiling & Roof Insulation Wall Insulation Floor & Foundation Insulation

BUILDING INSULATION
MATERIALS OF INSULATION Mineral fibrous material Mineral cellular material Organic fibrous material Organic cellular material

TYPE OF INSULATION
CELLULAR GLASS

TYPE OF INSULATION
CELLULOSE FIBER: SHORT AND LONG

TYPE OF INSULATION
GLASS FIBER

TYPE OF INSULATION
MINERAL FIBER

TYPE OF INSULATION
POLYYURETHANE FOAM

TYPE OF INSULATION
REFLECTED INSULATION: ALUMINIUM FOIL

Bitumen is poured and aggregate surfacing is shovelled onto a built-up roof.

APP modified bitumen was field-coated. The coating is weathering away as expected. If a system with a field-applied coating were to be specified, periodic re-coating would be required throughout the roof's life. If re-coating is not performed, the roof's service life and or other properties such as fire resistance will be reduced.

CRITERIA OF CHOOSING INSULATION

Thermal Conductivity Physical Forms Bulk Density Suitability for Service Temperature Thermal Expansion Resistance to Water Penetration Resistance to Compaction

CRITERIA OF CHOOSING INSULATION

Fore & Explosion Hazards Resistance to Vermin & Fungus Health Hazards Heat Capacity Freedom from Odor Corrosion Maintenance Requirements Chemical Resistance

Innovation has been most significant in the wall and fenestration systems of the envelope and has been driven by four main influences: Cost reduction for a competitive market Enhanced performance Material innovation and industrial research & development Aesthetics

Building Envelope Innovations

All-glass office buildings, conceived (but never constructed) by architect Mies van de Rohe in 1919 (left) and 1921(right).

Curtain wall development: (clockwise from top-left) 8A Pavilion Suisse, Paris, Le Corbusier, 1930; 8B United Nations Secretariat, New York, Architectural Consortium, 1950; 8C Lever House, New York, Skidmore Owings and Merrill, 1952; 8D Curtain wall office building, any city, USA 19651985.

Future innovations still in their infancy are the double-skin curtain wall that aims to provide controlled natural ventilation and hybrid systems that aim to achieve substantial energy savings as a hedge against an uncertain energy future.

Hybrid mechanical and natural ventilation with double skin faade. Minerva Tower, London. Nicholas Grimshaw