ENVELOPE is an Accredited Building Enclosure Process Provider.
The process of commissioning the enclosure follows a similar process as other building systems. However, commissioning the enclosure differs from commissioning other building systems in the focus on materials and assemblies. The enclosure is designed and field assembled from numerous materials with varying properties. These materials are manufactured by different companies for a specific function, assembled mostly on site one piece at a time by many different tradespeople, working for several different contractors with often minimal coordination. The work is performed in all possible weather conditions with the intention of meeting very well-defined performance criteria. The performance of the enclosure cannot be verified until the entire building is completely enclosed. At this time it is not possible to tune or dial in the performance. To access a nonperforming subsystem or assembly might be very expensive. Thus, the most reliable means to achieve performance targets during construction is to assure that an expert with technical knowledge of the design and installation of the systems being proposed for the building is integrated into the design process and to visually observe the installation of a statistical sampling of the work. Verification testing should be performed throughout the installation of the enclosure subsystems and components.
Building Enclosures have grown more and more complex and typically less and less forgiving for energy performance, occupant satisfaction, durability and operational cost replacement needs etc. More complex buildings with a lower tolerance for risk derived from poor performance during occupancy will likely increase the involvement of the Building Enclosure Specialist throughout the project delivery process.
The Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) process is utilized to validate that the design and performance of materials, components, assemblies and systems achieve the objectives and requirements of the owner. The BECx process achieves this through experience, expertise, modeling, observation, testing, documenting and verifying materials, components, assemblies and systems to validate that both their use and installation meet the owner’s requirements. The process uses performance-oriented practices and procedures to verify that the project is achieving the Owner’s Project Requirements throughout the delivery of the project.
Taken from NIBS GUIDELINE 3-2012