The Science Behind Building Envelopes: What Homeowners Should Know

When we think about building envelopes, we may envision a jacket or wrapper around a structure. The envelope is definitely that, but it is much more than that. In today’s blog article we want to talk about the fundamental science behind building envelopes and why they are important to every building, not just large commercial structures, but a home residence as well.

The purpose and function of a building envelope is four-fold: the envelope controls heat transfer, air movement, moisture control, and structural integrity and performance.

Heat Transfer

Heat transfer as it relates to building envelope means keeping warm air inside in the winter and cool air inside in the summer. The envelope offers insulation to regulate temperature and determines how energy efficient the building is. The energy efficiency affects your energy costs and how “green” your building is. 

Air Movement

The building envelope controls how much fresh air comes in and how much stale air goes out. This is important for the health of the occupants as well as contributing to moisture control and heat transfer. 

Moisture Control

Moisture control is not just keeping rain and snow and ice outside, but it is also controlling the humidity inside the building. This is important for the health and safety of those living inside and also the service life of the internal structure. For example, if an interior is too damp, that is unhealthy for those inside, but can also degrade the structure with mold. 

Structural Integrity

The envelope has to resist different kinds of exterior loads like wind, rain, and snow, and still stay intact to perform all its other functions. If the envelope fails to resist the exterior assaults, then all of the other required functions are compromised.

What is important to understand, here, is that all of these four components are interrelated. They all need to work well and work together for optimum building performance and safety. The building envelope is as important to a structure as our skin is to our bodies.

Westerly Restoration provides building envelope and restoration services in Vancouver, BC, and throughout the lower mainland.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about building envelopes or restoration, please call us at (778) 881-2877 or use the convenient form on our Contact page.