THE BUILDINGS LIFE CYCLE WILL BE SEVERELY DIMINISHED AND CAN INCUR COSTLY REPAIRS IF THE ENVELOPE DOES NOT PERFORM AS INTENDED.
MEET DANIEL HODGE, RRO Beginning in operations for a large waterproofing company, Daniel learned the building envelope trade from the inside out. He rose quickly at Zero/Six as his full comprehension of exterior envelope became increasingly apparent. As Vice President of Operations and Senior Envelope Consultant, Daniel plays a vital role in all day-to-day operations with a focus on building lasting relationships across all markets. Daniel has been in the construction industry for over 15 years, with a deep technical and project management background, he is well-versed in building envelope components and construction methodology; his comprehensive knowledge ensures that every job gets done correctly and safely for both employees and owners. Daniel has the unique ability to quickly assess and advise his clients on the best value solution and implementation strategies for their projects.
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Q. WHAT IS A BUILDING ENVELOPE AND WHAT DOES IT INFLUENCE?
A. In short, the envelope is a barrier between the exterior and interior climate; components of the building envelope are glazing systems, weather resistive barrier systems, waterproofing systems, roofing systems and a multitude of options in regard to veneer systems. I like to envision the envelope similar to the “domes” utilized in the movie Total Recall…with a not as dramatic, but similar reaction when they fail. We may not all die an instant death due to lack of oxygen, but the buildings life cycle will be severely diminished and can incur costly repairs if the envelope does not perform as intended.
Q. WHY IS THE BUILDING ENVELOPE IMPORTANT TO SUSTAINABILITY?
A. Every internal component of the building is protected by the envelope; granite or vinyl composition tile (VCT) flooring, interior wall finishes, building core structure, and, in some cases, high dollar equipment such as MRI machines can be affected by a failed building envelope. Not to mention, HVAC systems which are overworked when the envelope is leaky, leading to shorter life cycles and a higher strain on the electric grid. If you still question the interactive nature between sustainability and the building envelope, you can examine the weight of envelope related credits compared to other building component credits in the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) program…and if you are unfamiliar with the LEED program you may still be unfamiliar with the term “sustainability.”
Q. WHAT ARE SOME COMMON WEAKNESSES IN THE EXTERIOR ENVELOPE?
A. Penetrations….Penetrations…Penetrations!!! It is very seldom that leaks occur in the field of the wall or roof. Look for tricky intersections between dissimilar materials and areas where different trades meet (i.e. roof to wall intersections). On our full-service new construction projects, we love to test what we call the “unique material interfaces” at the end of the project to ensure we’re all tightened up. This is typically our most economical endeavor throughout the project, yet has saved countless of “uh-ohs” throughout the years.
