Content courtesy of BC Housing
The building envelope includes all the building components that separate the indoors from the outdoors. Building envelopes include the exterior walls, foundations, roof, windows and doors.
The performance of the building envelope is impacted by a number of sub‐systems, such as heating, cooling and ventilating equipment, plumbing and electrical systems. The interaction of the sub‐systems with the components of the building envelope, as well as certain activities of the occupants, can affect the performance of the building envelope.
WHAT IS IT SUPPOSED TO DO?
The building envelope should keep out:
• temperature extremes
• moisture, as vapour or liquid
• dust
• wind
Additionally, to maintain durability, the building envelope should not permit weather elements to be trapped inside the walls. This may cause wall components to deteriorate, and continue to decay. In the early stages, it can usually be remedied relatively inexpensively. As time progresses, costs increase exponentially.
MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS
The building envelope, like a car, requires regular inspection and maintenance. Do not be lulled into thinking, “we haven’t had any complaints so everything must be OK?”
Some maintenance guides suggest the exterior of the building does not need much attention in the early years. The numerous failures of building envelopes in the coastal climate zone of B.C. suggests that it is wise to have an inspection program in place that starts in the first year of occupancy in a building and continues annually thereafter. This inspection should be done by an experienced professional.
You can also learn more about the BC Building Envelope Renovation Regulation by clicking here.
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Westeck is a premier manufacturer of windows and doors. All major North American and European windows and doors are locally manufactured and proudly displayed in seven well-appointed showrooms including Kelowna, Victoria, Vancouver, Chilliwack, Nanaimo, Kirkland and Bellingham in Washington State. As each window and door is built to order, our customer have the freedom to design and create a product that is unique and personal. Enjoy our latest line of energy efficient windows and doors designed to enhance modern and contemporary architecture.
