Building Envelope Services

Building Envelope (Exterior Enclosure)

What is a Building Envelope Consultant?

What are Building Envelope (Exterior Enclosure) Consulting Services and Why should I be more diligent about its design and construction?  

The building envelope is the physical element between the interior and the exterior environments of a building or other structure. It serves as the outer shell to help maintain the indoor environment (together with the mechanical conditioning systems) to facilitate its climate control. Another emerging term is "Building Enclosure". Building envelope design is a specialized area of architectural and engineering practice that draws from all areas of building science and indoor climate control.

Architects have been designing the exterior walls, roof systems and structure foundations for hundreds of years, so what has changed?  

Everything…  First, building codes have changed significantly over the years, manufactured products have evolved and sustainability and energy conservation has made a big impact on the types of products we select and in what order we assemble them.   As buildings have gotten more energy efficient through the tightening of our structures, we have learned what not to do…

DTR is a specialty-consulting firm addressing both the design and performance of the Building Envelope. We take an integrated approach to designing exterior walls, glazing types, curtain walls, window and door openings, deck traffic coatings, green roofs and traditional roofing systems all the way down to the foundation and beneath the slab to protect the entire Building (Enclosure) Envelope.

Building Code requires that the exterior wall envelope be designed and constructed in such manner as to prevent the accumulation of water within the wall assembly by providing a water-resistive barrier behind the exterior veneer.  Architecturally, we want our structures to breathe, but not allow water to penetrate into the structure.
Our expertise also includes:

• Rain Screens
• Architectural glazing performance requirements
• Glass, metal, stone curtain walls
• Structural glass wall systems
• Glass roofs and skylights
• Green Roofing (Intensive, Extensive & Tray Systems)
• Window Washing & Maintenance Equipment
• Roof Fall Protection
• Waterproofing systems
• Breathable (permeable) walls.
• Dimensional stone
• Panelized systems
• Architectural pre-cast Concrete
• Glass-Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC)
• Masonry
• Parking Garage traffic coatings
• Field Mock-up Designs

With the goal to publish clear and concise contract documents, a consulting team must be fully aware of the project scope and their documents must address details pertaining to the project scope. Proper investigations and coordination are required during the design development phases of the project in order to collect the right information. Information must be conveyed in the form of drawings, details and technical specifications that can be understood by the appropriate audience.

DTR will provide your firm with various documents (sketches, specifications, test reports, calculations, etc) with the goal of fully addressing the scope of work contemplated to avoid unnecessary change orders during the construction phase.

DTR Consulting Services may include the evaluation of systems, products and components for performance, compatibility and erect-ability in project specific applications, in addition to:

• Developing system performance requirements
• Preparing or review architectural details and develop specification sections
• Coordinating details with structural and mechanical consultants
• Reviewing bids and bidder qualifications
• Conducting pre-bid meetings
• Administering performance mock-up testing
• Reviewing submittals and mark-up shop drawings for conformance to project requirements
• Conducting pre-construction conferences
• Administering in-plant inspections
• Administering simple field-testing
• Performing construction-monitoring inspections
• Reviewing as-built construction and modifications
• Conducting punch-list inspections
• Advising the project team regarding technical and performance issues

Important Note:  DTR is an independent consultant not affiliated with contractors, suppliers, or manufacturers. We may serve as the Owner's Agent in administering and coordinating construction work, but we do not manage or perform any construction work or sell any construction products.

Because of the importance of the execution, we encourage our A/E clients to utilize our on-site quality control inspection and other Contract Monitoring services.