Building Enclosure Systems and Roof Design Principles

Building Enclosure Systems

Opening Configurations

180-Degree Opening Enclosure

• Possibility of opening 180 degrees for enhanced sun and water protection.
• Space for exterior sun protection placement.
• Requires continuous thermal insulation.
• Carpentry and pre-frame protected from water in the chamber must address lintel, jamb, and windowsill solutions for the exterior.

Limited Opening Enclosure (Medium)

• Does not open 180 degrees, offering less protection and less space.
• Features perfect insulation continuity.
• Carpentry and pre-frame require protection from water in the chamber, addressing lintel, jamb, and interior solutions, along with exterior ledges.

Interior-Focused Enclosure

• Does not open 180 degrees.
• Provides minimal sun and water protection, necessitating auxiliary elements for space protection.
• Insulation continuity is needed to protect the pre-frame and carpentry.
• Lintel, jamb, and windowsill are fixed for the interior.

Roof System Types

Inverted Roofs

Non-Trafficable Inverted Roof

Layers typically include:

• Structural base
• Leveling layer
• Waterproofing (e.g., asphalt membrane)
• Insulation (e.g., high-density polystyrene)
• Geotextile
• Gravel

Trafficable Inverted Roof

Layers typically include:

• Structural base
• Waterproofing
• Insulation (e.g., polyurethane)
• Geotextiles
• Finish coating (e.g., mortar, tile, slab)

Conventional (Hot) Roof

Layers typically include:

• Structural base
• Slopes
• Vapor barrier
• Insulation
• Waterproofing membrane
• Finish layer

Ventilated Roof System

Layers typically include:

• Structural support for the ventilation chamber
• Sloping layer
• Waterproofing
• Finish layer

Pitched Roof

Layers typically include:

• Insulation
• Underlayment and battens
• Tiles

Facade and Enclosure Considerations

Heavy Facade Considerations

• Temperature: Depends on material and thickness.
• Inertia: Also depends on the material.
• Rain Penetration: Possible water entry into the chamber; continuous ventilation within the interior leaf chamber eliminates moisture and provides drainage.
• Capillarity: Depends on material porosity and continuous presence of soil water, requiring barriers against capillary rise of water.
• Condensation: Depends on environmental conditions, as well as the interior-exterior vapor permeability of the closure and its coatings.

Intermediate Air Chamber

Functions as a cavity or void.

Exterior Air Chamber

• The interior leaf is crucial for its inertial force, capable of absorbing horizontal thrusts.
• Insulation supports heavy loads (fixed to the inner face of the outer sheet).
• The exterior sheet can be lightweight or coated (it is not self-supporting, but a hanging substructure fixed internally functions as a greenhouse).
• Protection depends on the material's transparency, opacity, reflectivity, absorption, and possible graduation.

Precipitation Management

• The main waterproofing membrane sealing the chamber allows for good drainage and moisture removal.
• The lining inside the outer sheet must ensure sealing.

Condensation Management

1. If the interior sheet allows vapor to pass into the insulation chamber, and the chamber is thin.
2. A vapor barrier is placed on the interior face of the sheet only if the interior environment is hot or humid. In cold climates, the vapor barrier (e.g., kraft paper) is placed on the interior side of the insulation. In warmer climates, it is placed on the exterior side.

Material Selection

• Leaves/Layers: Masonry or concrete.
• Insulation: Extruded polystyrene, mineral wool.
• Lining: Single-leaf.