Chapter 5 Flashcards
What elements must be taken into account when designing an effective building envelope, and how can they be controlled?
Water Infiltration - pressure equalization chamber (rain screen wall)
Air Infiltration - Weather stripping & sealants
Loads - consider metal framing members and thickness of glass, wind & dead load anchors
Seismic Load - Factored load at the center of gravity of each member in any direction of the anchor
Thermal expansion/contraction - adequate joint tolerance and flexible sealing methods
Heat Transfer - Consider U-value of of curtain wall
Moisture Migration (condensation) - vapor retardant, insulation, venting, weep system
Sound attenuation - insulation glass, laminated glass, storm windows, hollow frames
Building maintenance - design, materials, manufacturer’s reputation, recommendations of previous users
Building codes - daylight, ventilation, safety glazing, fire exits, etc.
Categories and applications of curtain walls
Metal -
Masonry Veneer -
Exterior Insulation Finish System -
Stucco - applied over steel framing and metal lath
Wall Panels - attached directly to the structural framing of the building
Types of window materials and grades
Aluminum - used in all types of construction; problems include corrosion, difficult to refinish, and have poor heat flow resistance
Vinyl - made of PVC which is hard, strong, and durable; relatively low thermal conductance, and reasonably cost. Hard to refinish, can be damaged by extreme cold or radiation, may not age well, and are vulnerable to fire.
Steel - Often used in industrial, institutional, and commercial construction. Great strength, allows glazing areas to be larger, frame and glazing can exist in one pane; thermal expansion is low - roughly half that of aluminum. They require protective coating
Wood - Often preferred for beauty and resistance to heat flow. Mostly used in residential and light commercial applications. May deteriorate from from exposure to weather
Function and characteristics of window joints
Use weather stripping, sealants, and gaskets, NOT anchors.
Benefits of performing a building simulation in reference to building envelope projects?
1) Reveal potential energy savings
2) Can give PM an inexpensive means to explore design options and HVAC systems
3) Provide heating/cooling load calculation
4) Quality assurance
5) life cycle Cost analysis
6) Building regulations/codes/standards compliance checking
Retrofit project approaches
Window replacement, brick facade rehab, and metal curtain wall reseal
Maintenance program best practices
1) follow the preventative maintenance suggested by manufacturer
2) Schedule regular PMs
3) Maintain written records of the maintenance procedures to document the problems and their solutions
