What is a building envelope?
A building envelope is a physical separator between the conditioned and unconditioned environment of a building including the resistance to air, water, heat, light, and noise transfer.
A building envelope is a structural barrier between the interior and exterior of a building. It is responsible for maintaining climate control within the interior of a building. Climate control refers to cooling and heating a building. The building envelope also keeps the interior free from moisture, sound, and light.
Building Envelope Inspection
One thing to consider when building a structure is the building envelope. It is the exterior of any building which comprises different aspects and needs to be sound. Certain factors such as moisture, air leaks, thermal bridges, supply lines, and district heating should be inspected regularly to check the quality and condition as well as to detect anomalies early that could cause a great impact on the structure. And these factors could only be seen with an accurate measurement through Thermal Imaging. Elite Thermography‘s building inspection provides accurate diagnostic insights into your building’s condition. There are many issues that could not be seen by our naked eye that are essential in preserving the quality of the structure. And with Thermal Imaging technology, we can easily locate the defects.
Why is building envelope Important?
A good building envelope design is one of the easiest ways to significantly increase the performance of a commercial building. The overall construction plays an important role in controlling the levels of light, ventilation, and heat flow.
Ventilation
A common measure of a quality building envelope is whether it can allow for the ventilation of fresh air whilst protecting the structure from air leakage. Natural weather conditions such as strong winds can increase the amount of air that escapes through the envelope, particularly if the envelope and fenestration components are not sealed correctly. Therefore, by restricting the passage of air, it is possible to increase the energy efficiency of a building.
Insulation
Adding thermal insulation to a building envelope has proved to be a cost-effective way to reduce energy bills with both new build projects and refurbishments. Insulation provides resistance to energy flow thereby reducing the amount of energy required to heat or cool a building throughout the year. Maximizing sunlight in the design by incorporating glazing can also contribute to the reduction of energy consumption.
Fenestration
The arrangement of windows and doors can have a significant effect on building envelope efficiency. Maximizing sunlight with glass and well-sealed energy-efficient windows can be significant in design, but regulating the size and orientation in a large commercial premise is essential to balance the flow of heat generated from natural light.
Thermal Imaging in Building Inspection
Thermal imaging cameras for building applications are powerful
and non-invasive tools for the condition of the building.
- It gives a full view of t the situation and gives diagnostic insights and see the extent of the problem
- Detect missing and defective insulation
- Find moisture trapped in insulation, walls, and roof leaks early thus avoiding interruption in the operation
- Finds disruption in district heating supply lines
- Saves time, energy, and money
- Fast and quality assessment reports that can be stored
