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Building science is a young science, crafting its own identity only in the 20th century.
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Here’s why I think it does matter, though. Another contingent said it doesn’t really matter what you call it as long as the meaning is clear to all parties. Some also proposed a compromise approach using a combination word: envelosure or enclolope. After reading the many comments from readers here in the Energy Vanguard Blog and in the two LinkedIn groups where I posted the article as well, I have indeed decided that we should go with one of the two terms and abandon the other.Īlthough I’ve framed this debate as being between only the two terms I mentioned above, some of the commenters suggested other terms as well: building fabric, building shell, and building perimeter. “building enclosure” recently, I favored the former but overall felt agnostic on whether we should choose one over the other. Each barrier is responsible for controlling the transfer of moisture, heat, air, light and noise between the interior and exterior environments.When I wrote about the debate over the terms “building envelope” vs. There are three basic elements of a building envelope – the weather barrier, air barrier and thermal barrier. The building envelope is usually defined as any physical components that separate the occupied internal spaces and the unoccupied internal spaces or exterior of the building. It also provides a logical risk assessment for selecting a cladding based on a range of risks, including the level of seismicity. Acceptable Solution E2/AS1, for example, provides details for a range of prescriptive cladding options for residential houses.
Definition building envelope verification#
The Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods for Building Code clause E2 External moisture are the primary source of guidance for the design of the building envelope’s weather barrier in New Zealand buildings. This requirement extends the concept of low-damage design to non-structural systems, and the seismic performance of the building envelope is therefore an important consideration in any low-damage building design. There is also an expectation by the public that buildings should sustain only minimal damage and be usable shortly after a moderate event. There is an expectation that any structure will preserve life in a major seismic event, a concept that is central to the Building Code. In some cases it can also worsen structural damage sustained during the earthquake. If not repaired immediately, this can damage furnishings and other non-structural building components, which can be costly and time-consuming to repair or replace. When it is compromised by earthquake damage, the environment can penetrate into the building, which can lead to damage in a building that is otherwise structurally sound.Ī damaged roof or wall cladding, for example, can compromise the building’s weathertightness, allowing wind, rain and other elements into the building’s interior. In any building, the building envelope is the primary defence against the external environment.