21st Century Building Envelope Systems: Merging Innovation with Technology, Sustainability, and Function

By addressing energy efficiency, moisture infiltration, aesthetics, and occupant comfort, building envelope elements and component systems enhance design opportunities and minimize potential risk
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Advertorial course provided by Dryvit, Vistawall, CENTRIA, W&W Glass, Oldcastle Glass, and Alcoa
Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA

Capturing the Building Envelope

Many types of engineered glass products can be used on the building envelope to address different owner needs, code requirements, and design challenges. Building envelope applications include the following:

  • High performance glass: Attack-resistant laminated glass, bullet-resistant laminated glass, decorative glass, solar control insulating glass units, fire-rated glass, and hurricane-resistant laminated glass
  • Blast-resistant windows
  • Engineered curtain wall
  • Operable windows
  • Storefronts and doors
  • Structural glass walls
  • Additional elements include glass canopies, metal panels, revolving and sliding doors, and skylights

Aluminum Composite Material with High Strength Organic Fiber

After the 2005 hurricane season that devastated parts of the Gulf Coast, the insurance industry is increasingly seeking a high level of protection against major storms. "When New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were severely hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, flying debris caused significant damage, in addition to the flooding that devastated these areas. Some building envelopes and materials held up better than others against the impact of this debris. In some cases, the wind pulled exterior wall materials away at a corner or flying debris hit the building just right to break open a corner, resulting in exterior materials being torn off the building, causing more damage," observes Doug Ashe, AIA, principal, Ashe Broussard Weinzettle Architects, Alexandria, Louisiana.

Withstanding Hurricane Force Winds and Wind-Borne Debris

New products for commercial buildings are engineered to help provide protection from the damage of hurricane wind-borne debris. These durable architectural panel systems are designed to withstand wind-borne debris and wind speeds up to 130 mph, which are common in Category 3 hurricanes.

Combining the weight and flexibility benefits of aluminum materials with the high impact-resistant strength of a synthetic organic fiber widely known for its use in bulletproof vests and body armor creates a safety net by helping to protect building façades from hurricane-propelled debris, frequently the main source of hurricane damage.

The composite panel system consists of a thin layer of this high strength organic fiber material placed between the aluminum skins and polyethylene core. Lightweight and flexible, aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber can withstand hurricane-propelled debris and similar types of impact.

Exterior building panels of aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber passed rigorous simulated hurricane impact tests conducted by Hurricane Test Laboratory, LLC in Florida. The tests included the "large missile impact test," involving a nine-pound, two-inch by four-inch timber traveling at 50 feet per second, as required by the Miami-Dade Building Code. As of Summer 2006, official approval of the aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber is pending from the Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance Office.

 

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Architectural Record
Originally published in August 2006

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