Facade Engineering and Building Envelope Management

Introduction

The building envelope protects occupants from weather, controls energy use, provides fire safety and defines the appearance of a building. Facades are also among the most complex, costly and risk-prone packages on a construction project, with frequent problems in water tightness, thermal performance, fire behaviour, interfaces and programme.

This Facade Engineering and Building Envelope Management training course gives construction and design professionals a practical understanding of how facades are designed, procured, tested, installed and maintained. Participants learn about curtain walls, cladding systems, glazing, roofing interfaces, thermal and moisture performance, fire safety, structural movement, performance testing, quality control and defect prevention.

The course emphasises the management of facade packages and interfaces so that envelopes perform as intended throughout their life.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Explain the functions and performance requirements of building envelopes
• Describe common facade and cladding systems and their characteristics
• Understand thermal, moisture and air tightness principles
• Address fire safety requirements for external walls
• Manage facade design, procurement and specialist contractors
• Plan performance testing, mock-ups and quality inspections
• Coordinate interfaces between facade and other building elements
• Prevent, diagnose and remedy common envelope defects

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

• Facade engineers and building envelope consultants
• Architects and design managers
• Construction and project managers
• Package and procurement managers
• Quality and inspection engineers
• Facilities and asset managers

Training Methodology

The course uses technical briefings, case studies of facade failures, detail drawings and test reports. Participants review facade details for risks, plan a testing and inspection regime, manage interface issues on a case study project and diagnose defects from site photographs.

Target Competencies

• Envelope performance understanding
• Facade system knowledge
• Fire safety awareness
• Facade package management
• Testing and inspection planning
• Defect diagnosis

Day One: Building Envelope Fundamentals

• Functions of the building envelope
• Performance requirements: weather, energy, acoustics and safety
• Overview of facade, roofing and wall systems
• Regulations and standards affecting envelopes
• Lessons from major facade failures and fires
• Roles of designers, specialists and contractors
• Exercise: defining performance requirements for a project

Day Two: Facade Systems and Materials

• Stick and unitised curtain wall systems
• Rainscreen cladding and ventilated facades
• Glazing types, coatings and insulated glass units
• Masonry, precast and metal panel facades
• Sealants, gaskets and fixings
• Selecting systems for performance and buildability
• Workshop: comparing facade system options

Day Three: Building Physics and Fire Safety

• Thermal performance and thermal bridging
• Condensation risk and vapour control
• Air tightness and water tightness principles
• Structural movement, wind loads and deflection
• Fire performance of external wall materials
• Cavity barriers and fire stopping
• Exercise: reviewing details for performance risks

Day Four: Design, Procurement and Testing

• Facade design responsibility and design development
• Procuring specialist facade contractors
• Shop drawings, samples and technical submittals
• Visual and performance mock-ups
• Laboratory and site testing of facades
• Programme and logistics for facade installation
• Workshop: planning a facade testing regime

Day Five: Installation, Interfaces and Maintenance

• Quality inspections during facade installation
• Interfaces with structure, roofing and services
• Common defects and how to prevent them
• Diagnosing leaks and performance failures
• Maintenance, cleaning and access strategies
• Remediation of existing facades
• Personal action plan for envelope management