Most components of a lightning protection system can last the life of a structure with little maintenance. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of typical roofing systems and rooftop equipment; they need routine servicing, occasional repairs, and, all too frequently, replacement. 

Sustainability is too often seen as an afterthought to how we design and construct buildings.

Magnesium oxide panels offer both strength and fire-resistance making them an attractive choice for use in fire-resistance rated assemblies.

The envelope backstop was introduced by policymakers to limit how far building enclosure thermal performance can stray from the envelope prescriptive requirements.

It’s time to move deep energy retrofits from promising principle to conventional practice with a holistic, envelope-first approach.

EIA’s most recent data reports that energy-efficient, multi-paned windows are featured in 60 percent of U.S. buildings, which account for 75 percent of commercial floorspace. This presents a significant opportunity to improve existing buildings and to construct new buildings with energy-efficient daylight openings, including polycarbonate glazing and wall systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted expectations in nearly all aspects of our lives. Whether in work, school, or leisure, we’ve collectively been forced to adapt new habits and ways of thinking.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Building Enclosure wanted to highlight some leaders within the AEC industry to hear their thoughts on women in the workplace and breaking barriers for the future generations of female architects, engineers and contractors.

Metalworks of Chicago of Arlington Heights, Ill., installed just more than 18,200 square feet ofbuilding envelope system as part of the McHenry West High School three-story, 64,000-square-foot renovation and addition.

Whole-building pressurization testing is becoming standard practice for building projects. Many common energy conservation standards and model codes now exhibit requirements for enclosure airtightness, which are to be achieved through measured air leakage rates.