When it comes to designing an energy efficient building, or one that’s easy to keep warm, a term you’ll hear used a lot is the building’s “envelope.” This term is also used a lot when discussing how to improve an existing building to use energy more efficiently or more easily stay at a comfortable temperature. We at Belanger Engineering want to help you make informed decisions about your building or construction project, so in this article we’ll be going over a few things you need to know about building envelopes.
- Structural Integrity. Starting at the most basic, an important aspect of building envelopes is that they are structurally sound. A building envelope includes the roof, exterior walls, and foundation, all of which are essential to the overall structural integrity. We at Belanger Engineering will make sure that you never have to worry about any structural issue with your building’s envelope, or any of the interior structures, either.
- Building envelopes are generally referred to as either tight or loose. A loose building envelope allows air to flow more freely through the building, while a tight envelope restricts the airflow or controls how air can enter. In Canada’s climate, it’s important that your building’s envelope retains as much heat as possible to stay safe and comfortable in the winter.
- Moisture Control. In addition to keeping warm air in, building envelopes in Canada also need to keep moisture out. Excess moisture inside your building can lead mildew, and moisture can also cause more direct structural damage if it freezes. Our team at Belanger Engineering is intimately familiar with this climate, and we have the right skills to prevent any moisture problem with your building’s envelope.