Façade performance & the rules 101
2 Formal CPD Points
Façade performance is directly connected to the impact of our buildings on the planet both in carbon omitted from heating and cooling equipment, lighting etc and also in carbon omitted in the making of the façade in the first place. While statistics vary, the façade, or building envelope, typically accounts for upwards of 15% of the total embodied carbon.
The role of facades
Facades need to work with roofs and other exposed surfaces to control temperature, sound, humidity, fire, and other external conditions, but they also need to allow for human factors, such as allowing us to see from the inside out and get light from outside. i.e.) glass. Unfortunately, these two factors are not complementary and in fact work against each other.
To deal with these opposing interests we’ve developed innovations to make glass perform better – from colour (darker the better), to interlayers and multiple layers in double and triple glazing. These innovations in glass are good enough at creating some balance for the competing factors, but not good enough for sustainability.
What do we need to know?
We need to consider every element together, from a building’s position to its use and the proposed materials. We need to explore ways a building’s external envelope can provide natural ventilation, to prevent energy input while also contributing usefully to its active energy requirements.
We also need to be aware that not all materials are equal in performance i.e.) a 5 mm piece of aluminium framing isn’t going to perform as well as an insulated build up with a vapour barrier, air cavities and multiple layers. We also need to know about the role of insulation, as the key measure of performance for a glazed façade, and solar heat gain and visible light transmission in terms of connectivity to the outside.
What are the rules we need to follow?
Section J of the Building Code of Australia has been a key influence on architectural responses for well over a decade and the primary performance standard that is used. Section J has continued to change over time as performance targets increase
Very arguably though, Section J should only represent the base level of our ambitions, our minimum standard, although we often treat it as the “gold standard” bar to cross.
How well do we understand all of this, and do we apply it to our projects?
Truthfully, it’s really confusing and hard to keep up with.
If we are honest as architects and building professionals, we have a lot going on and being across the latest thinking across all parts of the job is a constant challenge and some of the basics do tend to get forgotten from time to time.
To alleviate some of the misunderstandings and confusion around Façade Performance and Section J Mecca has brought together a group of façade and building code experts who will, explain the context of the façade performance by defining the role of facades, explore the opposing Performance Factors v Human factors, define the key terminologies and how they interrelate, explain the importance of window/wall ratios and discuss what we need to know about the performance of certain materials, build ups and systems and compare their performance.
Our experts will break down the concepts below by carefully explaining the:
Meaning of heat transfer & how it affects energy consumption
Meaning of U-value, R-value, SHGC
Comparison of typical façade materials (aluminium vs glass, double-glazing vs triple glazing etc.)
Comparison of typical façade systems (curtain wall vs window wall, vision area vs spandrel build-up, thermally improved vs thermally broken etc.)
What is required? (NCC, Section J, Basix etc.) and what does this mean for façades? (Window to wall ratio etc.)
Introduction of an integrative approach to façade design (as opposed to reactive compliance-checking)
Overview of Section J façade performance modelling pathways
Parametric modelling of high-performance facades
Façade performance and its influence on the carbon neutral pathway
Cost to attend is $90 per person plus GST. Save 10% when you buy 2 or more tickets. Purchase includes access to live studio recorded webinar, course notes, MP4 recording of the session and CPD certificate
Paul Reidy
Fitzpatrick Partners
Paul joined Fitzpatrick partners in April 2017. Prior to this, Paul has worked at Rice Daubney, later HDR | Rice Daubney, rising for 15 years, from a designer in 2002 to being the youngest owner in the company’s history in 2007. Paul has worked across all sectors and in many design focused roles moving from Designer to Design Leader, Director to Director of Design and Principal. Paul’s strength is working on large complex projects bringing realisation of thought and concept, resolving multiple drivers, and influencing factors. Recently he has been responsible for the initial design and client management on a number of large commercial projects such as 1 Denison Street, and the much lauded ‘Ark’ Coca-Cola Place in North Sydney. Other recent projects include the mixed-use development at 825 Ann Street in Fortitude Valley Brisbane and the 2016 Sir Arthur G Stephenson Award winning Novartis Campus at Macquarie Park. He is an accomplished innovator and is always seeking outcomes that expand and maximise the given opportunity and is a sustainability advocate and facilitator on all projects.
Sophie Beard
WSP
Sophie Beard is a Senior Sustainability Consultant within WSP’s Melbourne specialists’ team, with over five years’ experience delivering technical solutions to complex design challenges within the built environment. Sophie has worked extensively with architects, contractors, and developers to deliver best practice energy efficiency outcomes across a range of building sectors. Sophie has a particular interest in building physics, and how passive design techniques can be applied to achieve high performance buildings. Specialising in iterative thermal energy modelling. Recent projects include Edmondson Park Town Centre, Nunawading Community Centre and Dicker Data’s Head Office and Warehouse facility.
David Ritter
Associate Director, Melbourne, Atelier ten
Leader of the Melbourne studio, David Ritter’s expertise ranges from strategic consulting through to environmental design optimisation and ESD consulting on ambitious built environment works. He is experienced working with government and corporate clients on large scale master planning projects and portfolio-wide leadership towards meeting the urgent challenges of the day, such as the net zero carbon imperative. As a member of CIBSE and AIRAH, he is also an accomplished environmental engineer and has led engineering and ESD input on significant commercial, arts, culture, and science projects around the world. David is also a passionate advocate for interdisciplinary design integration and is currently teaching at Melbourne University on an innovative ARENA funded design studio comprising a mix of architectural and engineering students. He is leading a teaching process challenging architecture and engineering students to deliver zero carbon buildings for the Aged Care and Health Care sectors.
Nick Taylor
Prism Facades
Nick is a façade engineer with a background in both structural and environmental engineering. He has a keen interest in both the structural analysis and thermal performance of façade systems. Nick is currently involved in the façade design and engineering of several prominent commercial and educational developments and specialises in the thermal analysis of newly developed façade systems. Nick has a keen eye for detail and is thorough and methodical in his approach to engineering and design. Since joining Prism Facades, Nick has prepared detailed structural calculations for third party review, carried out site inspections, developed tender drawings, and has assisted in the design and development of several facade systems
CPD Learning Outcomes - at the conclusion of this webinar attendees will be able to:
Identify three types of heat transfer
Design: Schematic Design 4.7Describe how higher wall R-Values and lower glazing U-values impact building heating loads
Design: Schematic Design 4.7Describe how lower glazing SHGC values impact building cooling loads
Design: Schematic Design 4.7List key pathways for performance modelling of facades
Design: Schematic Design 4.7