The building envelope relates to the design and construction of the exterior of the building and is the physical barrier between the interior and external environment. The building envelope includes the materials that consist of the foundation, wall assembly, roofing systems, glazing, doors, and any other penetrations such as chimneys and vents. The compatibility between these elements is critical to ensure that the building envelope functions as intended. A well-designed building envelope helps maintain indoor comfort, improve energy efficiency, and prevent issues like water ingress, air leakage, and thermal inefficiency.
Why Do Building Envelopes Fail?
Despite their importance, building envelopes can deteriorate or fail over time due to various factors:
- Design Defects – Unsuitable materials or design systems may be specified. Incompatibility between materials or those with inadequate performance criteria may be used, impacting thermal performance, structural capacity, or water penetration resistance.
- Material Failures – Materials failing to meet the published performance levels is a common cause of building envelope systems failing. This could be due to errors in the manufacturing, handling, or storage.
- Poor Workmanship – Inexperienced, unsupervised, and untrained personnel working on the building envelope increases the risk of incorrectly installed components, often not installed in adherence to the manufacturing specifications.
- Weather Exposure – The effects of high winds, rain, and temperature fluctuations can overload a properly designed and constructed building envelope causing damage to the system and making it vulnerable to further deterioration or failure.
How RAM Building Consultancy Can Help
At RAM Building Consultancy, we are specialist Building Envelope Consultants, providing expert Building Envelope Condition Surveys to assess and inspect the integrity of your building’s exterior. Our services ensure that every component—roofing, glazing, cladding, insulation, and structural elements—is functioning as intended.
Our Building Envelope Consultancy Services Include:
- Building Envelope Surveys – In-depth assessments to identify vulnerabilities and defects.
- Leak Detection & Water Ingress Investigations – Using advanced non-invasive techniques to pinpoint and resolve issues.
- Thermal & Air Tightness Testing – Ensuring optimal energy efficiency and preventing air leakage.
- Expert Witness Services – Providing independent assessments for legal or insurance claims.
- Project Management & Specification Writing – Overseeing repair and maintenance strategies tailored to your building’s needs.
Routine building envelope inspections are essential for preventative maintenance, cost control, and long-term building performance.
We work with building owners, architects, contractors, and manufacturers to offer solutions that consider all aspects of the building envelope. Building Envelope Consultants will test for vulnerabilities in your building if you are experiencing water ingress issues or leaks. Using specialist Building Envelope Consultants for routine inspection and maintenance will provide accurate information to identify defects early, optimise building performance and allow for budget control.
Get in touch with RAM Building Consultancy today to discuss how we can protect and optimise your building envelope.
