Building Envelope
Design Guide
Supplemental Guidance to Meet High-Performance Envelope
Requirements and Follow Best Practices
Published March 2024, created in partnership with Morrison
Hershfield
Building Envelope Design Guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Intent.......................................................................................................................................... 2
The Building Envelope ............................................................................................................... 2
Building Envelope Performance Measures ............................................................................. 3
MEASURE 1: Building Enclosure Air Tightness ......................................................................... 4
MI Design Standards .............................................................................................................. 4
Practical Application Requirements ..................................................................................... 4
Air Barrier Diagrams ........................................................................................................... 5
Air Barrier Components....................................................................................................... 5
Air Barrier Specifications ..................................................................................................... 5
Air Barrier Testing ............................................................................................................... 6
MEASURE 2: Building Envelope thermal performance .............................................................. 7
MI Design Standards .............................................................................................................. 7
Table A. Thermal Envelope Performance Criteria – Global ................................................. 8
Practical Application Requirements ..................................................................................... 9
Envelope Commissioning ..........................................................................................................11
MI Design Standard ...............................................................................................................11
Building Envelope Fundamentals & Best Practices ...................................................................12
Benefits of a High-Quality Building Envelope .....................................................................12
Envelope Performance Verification ....................................................................................12
Life Cycle and Maintenance ...............................................................................................12
Water Penetration Resistance............................................................................................13
Condensation Resistance ..................................................................................................13
Structural Loads .................................................................................................................14
Supplemental Assembly Specific Best Practices ................................................................14
References ...............................................................................................................................17
Appendix A: Basis-of-Design Assemblies by Climate Zone .......................................................18
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Building Envelope Design Guide
INTENT
The intent of the Building Envelope Design Guide is to provide guidance in meeting building
envelope requirements for New Build Marriott properties and to provide additional best practices
that support the design and construction of a high-performance envelope.
The strategies in this guide are intended to take advantage of opportunities to improve
performance at the most cost-effective point in a building life-cycle: during construction. This is
due to the high cost of modifying or improving a poor building envelope once construction is
completed.
The enclosure performance supports Marriott and Owner/Franchisee goals in the following
ways:
➢ Meeting decarbonization goals through energy efficiency
➢ Increasing comfort for staff and guests
➢ Decreasing operational costs from utilities and building maintenance
Please direct questions to globaldesignsustainability@[Link]
THE BUILDING ENVELOPE
The building envelope is comprised of all the building enclosure systems that separate
conditioned space from unconditioned space. They include the roof, wall and floor systems;
fenestration systems such as glazing, doors, and skylights, as well as conditioned canopies and
soffits. Each system or assembly must be designed to limit water penetration, air leakage, vapor
diffusion and thermal heat transfer to maintain comfort and control energy use. The degree to
which this is controlled is dependent on the climate of the project location. Each system should
also be designed to perform appropriately with respect to the interior conditions such as relative
humidity and temperature, and within the climate the project is located.
Note that although not specifically addressed in this guide, there are additional functions of the
building envelope that may be included or required for a project such as acoustical control,
energy production, glare-control, and security.
It is important to construct the building envelope correctly. A building envelope can be
difficult to modify once constructed. Few, if any building envelope components are modified
to improve performance after a building is in operation.
Processes and coordination aimed at improving the building envelope, such as building
envelope commissioning (BECx), is recommended and/or required by many third-party
sustainability certifications like LEED and BREAM. Certifications recognize that efforts to ensure
proper construction can have significant benefits to building envelope performance outcomes.
For example, points required to achieve a higher level of LEED Certification can be obtained by
including building envelope commissioning processes on a project.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
Building Envelope Performance Measures
The building envelope is a primary element of architectural expression, and as stated above, it
is also the main barrier between the interior conditioned spaces and the exterior environment.
Because the envelope controls the variation between environments, the envelope performance
can significantly impact how much energy may be required to maintain the interior environment.
This guide focuses on two primary performance outcomes of the building envelope to
strategically increase building performance and reduce energy consumption. These
performance outcomes are:
➢ Building enclosure air tightness (Measure 1)
➢ Building envelope thermal performance (Measure 2)
Good performance outcomes reduce energy demand loads and energy consumption. It is
important to note that a high-performance building envelope can help designers reduce the size
and therefore cost of mechanical and electrical systems.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
MEASURE 1: BUILDING ENCLOSURE AIR TIGHTNESS
MI Design Standards
Chapter GR3: Materials and Products
Division 07 - Thermal & Moisture Protection
Air Barriers: Meet the following criteria.
➢ Air Leakage: The measured air leakage shall not exceed the lesser of local code or 0.30 cfm/ft² (or
equivalent L/s × m²) of the building thermal envelope area at a pressure differential of 0.3-inch water
gauge (75 Pa).
➢ Testing: The building thermal envelope shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E779,
ANSI/RESNET/ICC 380, ASTM E3158 or ASTM E1827 or an equivalent approved method.
➢ The air barrier shall be continuous for, and across assemblies that are the thermal envelope of the
building; see IECC [Link]: Air Barrier Construction.
➢ Sealing: IECC [Link].2; seal penetrations in a manner compatible with the construction materials
and location and allow for expansion, contraction, and mechanical vibration; seal joints and seams
associated with penetrations in the same manner; sealed materials shall resist positive and negative
pressure from wind, stack effect, and mechanical ventilation.
Chapter GR1: Overview & Project Administration
Construction Documents Phase Requirements
Construction Documents: Include a diagram showing the building’s pressure boundary in plan(s) and
section(s) and a calculation of the area of the pressure boundary to be considered in the allowable air leakage
test.
Air leakage can result in significant energy loss, condensation, bio growth (mold), and occupant
discomfort. Reducing unwanted air leakage can improve performance, material durability, and
the guest experience.
Practical Application Requirements
It is important to design and construct buildings with air tightness as a goal and include a
successful process. Design phase steps and construction phase validation can support a
successful outcome for air tightness. The following are requirements during the design and
construction phase of the project:
Air Barrier
Included in drawings.
Diagram
Air Barrier Identified by design team (narrative submittal or
Components table on general sheets).
Air barrier Included in specifications and/or basis of design
Specifications products
Whole building
Testing method and inspections specified for
Air Leakage
building
Performance
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Building Envelope Design Guide
Air Barrier Diagrams
➢ The air barrier diagram is submitted with documents for design review. The diagrams
shall identify the location of the air barrier on the overall building plans and sections.
➢ The goal of the diagram is to help designer confirm that the building envelope is
continuous at all interfaces and transitions and terminations of systems. An example of a
plan diagram is shown below.
Air Barrier Components
Air barrier materials and components may vary from project to project. The design team shall
identify the air barrier system, materials, or product for all assemblies such as walls, floors, and
roofs. Performance standards for air leakage shall be specified for fenestration, glazing, and
door systems. The components providing the air barrier performance shall be identified on the
air barrier diagrams.
To meet the allowable air leakage targets for the entire building, it is best practice that the
design team identify air leakage performance criteria for components and assemblies. The
following are criteria recommendations for products and assemblies to be used as a primary air
barrier:
➢ Air barrier materials with an air permeance less than 0.004 cfm/sf per ASTM E2178.
➢ Air barrier wall assemblies shall have an air leakage rate less than 0.04 cfm/sf per ASTM
E2178.
➢ Air Leakage performance for windows: Air infiltration rate shall not exceed 0.06 cfm/ft2
(0.3 l/s · m2) at a static air pressure differential of 6.2 psf (300 Pa).
Air Barrier Specifications
➢ Specifications shall include performance requirements for components that provide air
tightness for walls, windows, doors, floors, and roof systems.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
Air Barrier Testing
➢ The Whole building Air Leakage Industry Test Method shall be according to the
following: ASTM E 779 (Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rates by
Fan Pressurization) or an equivalent method approved by the owner.
➢ Alternatively, portions of the building may be tested, and the measured air leakages shall
be area weighted by the surfaces of the building envelope in each portion. The weighted
average test results shall not exceed the whole building leakage limit. In the alternative
approach the following portions of the building shall be tested:
o The entire envelope area of all stories that have any spaces directly under a roof.
o The entire envelope area of all stories that have a building entrance, exposed
floor, or loading dock, or are below grade.
o Representative above-grade sections of the building totaling at least 25 percent
of the wall enclosing the remaining conditioned space.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
MEASURE 2: BUILDING ENVELOPE THERMAL
PERFORMANCE
MI Design Standards
Chapter GR3: Materials and Products
Division 07 - Thermal & Moisture Protection
Provide continuous water barriers, insulation and air barriers in assemblies that separate conditioned and
unconditioned space. Provide roofing over conditioned spaces. Assemblies and interfaces along the plane of
the building envelope must prevent or limit rain or other types of water penetration, air leakage, vapor diffusion
and thermal transfer.
➢ Service Life: Select products and systems having a proven record of success (minimum of 10 years)
for the application. Provide systems for low maintenance and minimum service life of 20 years.
➢ Design the building envelope to meet the performance criteria provided in the table below (Table A).
Where local codes are more stringent, local codes shall apply.
➢ Slope & Drainage: Design structures to receive waterproofing with positive slope to drains to avoid
standing water. Ponding is not allowed. Moisture must drain or dry within 48 hours of rain event.
Waterproofing: Provide waterproofing for below grade walls and basement concrete slabs on grade
consistent with recommendations of a soils engineer. Follow ACI 301.2 Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab
Construction where applicable.
➢ Balconies: Balconies shall be waterproofed using a product or system that is designed for the
application. Waterproof roof decks or balconies over conditioned space with a system that complies
with IBC requirements for a roof assembly. Deck products that are not tested as a roofing membrane
by ICC are not allowed over conditioned spaces or spaces where the tolerance for moisture is
unacceptable.
Dampproofing: Dampproofing and sealers may be appropriate to help repel or shed moisture on concrete
and CMU but shall not be used as the primary waterproofing layer of the assembly.
Building Insulation: Design continuous insulating material to meet performance requirements. Where
insulation cannot be continuous, use the effective insulation u-values to determine if the components meet the
required thermal values for the climate zone.
➢ Coordinate thermal insulation with vapor and air control layers to minimize the risk of condensation.
➢ Comply with ASHRAE 90.1 2022 or equal, for continuous insulation.
Sealant Joints: Design exterior seals at expansion joints to maintain the performance of the building
enclosure. The joint closure assembly shall provide the same waterproofing, air leakage and thermal insulation
performance as the adjacent assemblies.
Roofing: Provide Primary and Secondary (overflow) roof drains. Secondary drains shall outlet in a visible area
to alert building maintenance of potential issue with primary roof drain.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
Chapter GR3: Materials and Products
Division 08 – Openings (Doors and Windows)
Design: Include performance criteria for the building enclosure that is specific to climate and anticipated site-
specific loads. Performance requirements to include, but are not limited to:
➢ Maximum load resistance
➢ Acoustic and noise transmittance requirements
➢ Condensation resistance (where applicable for climate or intercorrelate humidity)
➢ Maximum allowable air leakage
➢ Water penetration resistance
➢ Deflection
➢ Assembly effective U-factor, SHGC, and VLT see <1> for acoustic performance criteria.
Glass & Glazing – Insulated Glass: Provide glazing system that meets thermal performance required by this
standard or local code, whichever is more stringent.
Chapter 1: Site and Building Exterior
Building Exterior & Features
Windows: Provide commercial class and double glazing unless acoustic comfort and energy efficiency
dictates additional glazing.
Insulation & Vapor Barrier: Required to provide long term energy efficiency and guest comfort and based on
project location.
Table A. Thermal Envelope Performance Criteria – Global
The table below lists prescriptive path requirements, based on project specific ASHRAE climate
zone U-value requirements (or local code-whichever is more stringent).
ASHRAE 169- Roof Exterior Wall Window Window
2021 Climate U-Value U-Value U-Value SHGC
Zone (Maximum) (Maximum) (Maximum) (Maximum)
0A 0.029 0.086 0.45 0.2
0B 0.029 0.086 0.45 0.2
1A 0.034 0.086 0.45 0.21
1B 0.034 0.086 0.45 0.21
2A 0.034 0.052 0.41 0.23
2B 0.034 0.052 0.41 0.23
3A 0.034 0.052 0.378 0.23
3B 0.034 0.052 0.378 0.23
3C 0.034 0.052 0.378 0.23
4A 0.029 0.052 0.324 0.32
4B 0.029 0.052 0.324 0.32
4C 0.029 0.052 0.324 0.32
5A 0.029 0.046 0.324 0.42
5B 0.029 0.046 0.324 0.42
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Building Envelope Design Guide
5C 0.029 0.046 0.324 0.42
6A 0.029 0.042 0.306 0.42
6B 0.029 0.042 0.306 0.42
7 0.026 0.037 0.261 0.44
Practical Application Requirements
➢ Where using continuous insulating material to meet performance requirements, it shall
be continuous across all structural members without metal thermal bridges other than
fasteners that have a total cross-sectional area not greater than 0.04 percent (0.12
percent where all metal thermal bridges are stainless steel) of the envelope surface
through which they penetrate, and service openings. Where insulation cannot be
continuous the effective insulation u-values shall be used to determine if the components
meet the required thermal values for the climate zone.
➢ Where multiple layers of insulation are required to meet performance requirements,
layers shall be lapped no less than 12" (30 cm) each direction.
➢ Thermal insulation shall be coordinated with vapor and air control layers to minimize the
risk of condensation inside undrained cavities of the assemblies and on or withing
structural components that cannot resist corrosion.
➢ Building envelope energy performance requirements shall be met using the following
methods or other method approved by the owner.
➢ Additional design assumptions, specifically those of the mechanical engineer in sizing
the mechanical systems required for the building.
➢ The designer shall review thermal performance requirements and modify the assemblies
for unique interior climate conditions (i.e., pool or area that creates elevated
humidification and may affect the minimum thermal performance requirements to resist
condensation)
➢ Thermal assembly performance shall be calculated accounting for thermal bridging
related to project specific clear field of the assembly, linear, and point transmittances.
➢ The design can meet the required thermal performance based on defined and specified
assemblies, insulation thicknesses and cladding attachment methods, etc. Resources for
calculating the effective thermal performance can be found from manufacturers and
other assembly thermal model libraries such as [Link]
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Building Envelope Design Guide
➢ For assemblies not defined in industry product data or libraries, a project may utilize
thermal modeling to determine overall U-factors and hygrothermal modeling to
determine the hygrothermal conditions of the exterior wall and soffit assemblies under
site specific climate conditions.
➢ For all assemblies the design should confirm that the ratio of insulation and vapor control
layers are distributed appropriately such that the risk of condensation is managed.
➢ The insulation shall be located such that the air barrier shall be maintained above the
dew point temperature of the anticipated interior environment at the mean low
temperature for the coldest month to reduce the risk of condensation.
➢ The project conditions for which condensation on interior surfaces is unacceptable shall
be defined by the design team and shall be based on the anticipated interior
temperature, exterior temperatures, and interior relative humidity.
See Appendix A in this document for basis-of-design assemblies that may be appropriate to
meet the target U-value for each climate zone.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
ENVELOPE COMMISSIONING
MI Design Standard
Chapter GR1: Overview and Project Administration
Commissioning
Complete the commissioning process (Cx) activities for the building's thermal envelope in accordance with
ASTM E2947-21a Standard Guide for Building Enclosure Commissioning, and the ASTM E2813-18
fundamental requirements as they relate to energy, air and water tightness, indoor environmental quality, and
durability.
Commissioning of the envelope is included within Marriott International Global Design
The owner/and project team are required to complete the commissioning process activities for
the building’s thermal envelope. In general, the building industry defines Commissioning as a
quality assurance process for verifying the owner's requirements for the building enclosure are
defined and met.
Owner may utilize industry standards to develop an understanding of the commissioning
process, such as ASHRAE/IES Standard 202, which describes the commissioning process; the
roles of the principal agents and stakeholders; and a framework for developing design
documents, specifications, procedures, documentation, and reports.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
BUILDING ENVELOPE FUNDAMENTALS & BEST PRACTICES
This section provides supplemental information to help teams further improve the building
enclosure performance. Once constructed the building envelope is modified infrequently, if ever.
The enclosure should, over its expected lifetime, do the following:
➢ Provide durability against exposure to the elements (rain, temperature, humidity, and
UV) including the local marine environment, and against biological growth.
➢ Require minimal maintenance.
➢ Allow for ease of cleaning.
➢ Maintain the assembly or enclosure system energy performance.
➢ Minimize the exchange of unwanted heat, air, moisture to ensure occupant comfort.
➢ Accommodate differential movements from seismic and wind loading, structural loading,
and moisture cycling.
➢ Provide security against unwanted intrusions.
➢ Resist abuse and normal wear and tear over its expected lifetime.
➢ Resist vandalism and graffiti.
➢ Provide corrosion resistance with respect to the expected lifetimes of the final design.
➢ Provide acoustical separation from exterior noise.
Benefits of a High-Quality Building Envelope
A high-quality envelope has many benefits including the following:
➢ High levels of comfort.
➢ Reduce unwanted air infiltration or air pollution from the exterior.
➢ Resilient: mold free buildings will have a significantly reduced risk of moisture damage to
the structure and finishes.
➢ Lower heating and cooling costs, despite rising energy prices.
➢ Easier to convert to a net zero/net negative building.
➢ Comfortable, reduced temperature swings and improved indoor air quality.
➢ Lower energy required to run the building makes it easier to offset energy use with
renewable energy.
Envelope Performance Verification
It is best practice to include verification measures for the envelope systems. These include
mock-up testing, field testing, lab testing for custom systems, commissioning processes, whole-
building tests, etc. The following are recommended strategies that are commonly used to
achieve quality assurance for high-performance envelopes.
Select mock-up type appropriate for project.
➢ On-site Stand-alone Mock-up
o Stand-alone (off-building) mock-up to be utilized.
o Mock-up to be constructed, tested, and accepted prior to building envelope
construction.
o Mock-up to include all critical, typical building envelope conditions.
o Mock-up to be fully enclosed (6-sided) to facilitate air leakage testing.
➢ In-place Mock-ups
o In-place mock-ups to be used for the initial installation for all major envelope
components and interfaces on the building
Life Cycle and Maintenance
The building design should align with an anticipated life cycle goals for the materials and
systems. Building envelope systems are intended to be able to be maintained throughout the life
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Building Envelope Design Guide
span of the building. Some specific recommendations related to the building envelope life-cycle
and maintenance are as follows:
➢ Primary air, water, vapor, and thermal control layers are to be durable when part of a
concealed component of the envelope assembly. Durability and anticipated service life
of primary control layer(s) to meet or exceed the exposed component that conceals the
control layer(s).
➢ Custom systems are required to be lab tested to meet performance requirements as a
part of the project.
➢ Custom systems shall be provided with customized maintenance plans and training for
the long-term care of the unique system.
Water Penetration Resistance
Water penetration in the building is typically unacceptable for all conditioned spaces. It is best
practice to design and construct buildings with rainwater management principles consisting of
an exterior weather seal and a secondary waterproof weather barrier separated by a free
draining cavity wept to the exterior at regular intervals. Materials outboard of the waterproof
weather barrier shall generally be moisture insusceptible and accommodate repeated wetting
and drying cycles. In general, the following are recommended principles that should be applied
to reduce the risk of water intrusion:
➢ The building enclosure must be designed to control and prevent water penetration into
the interior. A continuous water control layer must be utilized with an exterior bulk water
shedding element when applicable. A drainage method or component is required for all
concealed water control layer assemblies.
➢ Materials exterior of the primary water control layer shall be appropriately weather/water
resistant and able to accommodate repetitive wetting and drying cycles.
➢ In general, water penetration resistance tests of the building enclosure are
recommended to be performed during the pre-construction and construction phases
using mock-ups where many systems must be joined together to complete the building
envelope.
➢ It is best practice to include water penetration resistance testing at interfaces such as
those where the window and wall assembly meet. Test pressures when testing in
accordance with ASTM E1105/AAMA 501.1 should be no less than 20% of the
maximum structural design pressures. AAMA 501.2 testing is a recommended method
where ASTM E1105/AAMA 501.1 test is found to be impractical.
➢ Non-fenestration test specimens such as horizontal or below-grade conditions can be
evaluated on a project-specific basis to identify the appropriate level and type of testing.
Condensation Resistance
Building enclosure systems should be designed such that condensation does not occur interior
of the primary water control layer. All enclosure materials including finishes, claddings,
membranes, and thermal barriers must be evaluated during design with respect to condensation
control for project design conditions (exterior design temperature, interior design temperature,
and maximum interior relative humidity. Water condensation shall be defined as any water or
wetting of materials interior to the primary water control layer (whether visible or not from the
interior).
To achieve a high level of condensation resistance, the air, vapor, and thermal insulation shall
be designed as an assembly to withstand the project climate conditions and reduce the risk of
condensation in areas and on surfaces of the assemblies that are not designed to be wet.
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Building Envelope Design Guide
Structural Loads
The envelope shall be designed to withstand anticipated structural loads:
➢ Wind loading: It is best practice to design the enclosure to resist wind loads with no
failure of cladding, attachment, and framing with no damage to the air barrier, water
barrier, vapor barrier, and flashings.
➢ Seismic loading: The design team shall identify the risk factor for the building and define
what constitutes a failure for a defined magnitude seismic event.
Supplemental Assembly Specific Best Practices
The design team shall set qualitative and quantitative performance values for the following
assemblies:
Foundation
➢ Foundation slab is required to maintain distinct line of defense against water penetration.
➢ Water penetration is unacceptable.
➢ Foundation waterproofing is required when recommended by the geotechnical engineer
or where hydrostatic pressure is anticipated.
➢ Dampproofing is not an acceptable for use on below-grade walls where hydrostatic
pressure is anticipated.
➢ Foundation must control vapor as required to meet performance and durability
requirements and an under-slap vapor barrier is required. (Coordinate with requirements
for under-slab waterproofing)
➢ Thermal Heat Transfer: The foundation is to maintain insulation as required by code and
energy requirements. Foundation thermal bridging (primarily linear transmittance at
interface with above-grade opaque walls and fenestration) is to be accounted for.
Roof
➢ The roofing assembly includes all waterproofing membranes, insulation, vapor barriers,
parapets and copings.
➢ The assembly is part of an overall system that includes the roof structure and its
attachment to the roofing assembly, roof-to-wall interfaces, and must be designed
holistically to achieve its performance criteria over its expected lifetime.
➢ The assembly should be designed with durability, safety, ease of maintenance, renewals
and future changes in mind (such as additions of roof-mounted equipment, solar panels,
etc.).
➢ Building system penetrations need to be minimized to reduce the risk failure.
o Use of pitch pockets is discouraged.
➢ Roofing materials and assemblies shall be selected according to the following:
o Water penetration is unacceptable.
➢ Roof drainage systems allowed are as follows:
o Internally drained
o Sloped-to gutter
o Through-wall scupper drainage systems are not recommended.
➢ Water Retention and Drainage
o Roof to be sloped and drained such that ponding water is not acceptable. System
should be designed with drains and overflow scupper in accordance with NRCA
placement guidelines
➢ Vapor Permeability
o Roof must control vapor as required to meet performance and durability
requirements.
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o A continuous Class I or Class II vapor retarder must be provided within the roof
assembly. This may also provide the primary air control layer. For projects
located in ASHRAE Climate Zone 3 or lower, a project-specific evaluation shall
be performed to identify vapor retarder requirements for roofing.
➢ Thermal Heat Transfer
o Roof thermal bridging (primarily linear transmittance at roof-to-wall intersections)
must be accounted for
➢ The Solar Reflectance Index shall be selected for the project specific conditions and
based on a three-year aged value.
➢ Darker roofs may be considered in Climate Zone 6 or higher, on a project specific basis
where heat absorption may be beneficial to the overall energy use of the building.
➢ Wind uplift resistance shall be defined according to ASCE 7 for the project location.
o Edge metal/coping to be tested and approved according to ANSI-SPRI ES-1
requirements.
➢ All sheet metal to be according to SMANCA current addition.
➢ Roof life cycle and warranty: The roof is required to have a 20-year roof warranty. This
should include a warranty for materials and performance, including watertightness.
Roof Access
➢ Access to window washing operations, equipment, anchorage/accomplishment of fall
protection.
➢ All roofs areas that will have either rooftop equipment, window washing system
supported from the roof as well as solar ready roof areas to have primary waterproofing
membrane protected by a durable, walkable surface to protect membrane from
incidental damage from building maintenance practices.
➢ Amenity Decks/roof deck
➢ Vegetated Roof Assembly
➢ Applicability: This section is only required if Vegetated Roof Landscaping is provided.
➢ Description: Advanced Vegetative Roof System (AVRS) with a variety of sedum species
as tiles, plugs, or plants, and a maximum of 6” growing medium; or an intensive green
roof system with more than 6” depth of growing medium and perennials, shrubs, and
trees. To be coordinated with landscaping and with potential rainwater / grey water
design strategy.
➢ Performance: AVRS system shall be capable of:
o Designed in a way such that roots cannot damage the roof waterproofing
membrane.
o Detaining and retaining rainwater and irrigation water.
o Retaining sufficient water for plant uptake and year-round health.
o Preventing root rot.
o Allowing airflow under multilayer system.
o De-energizing wind flow under multilayer system to reduce chance of wind uplift.
o Install root barrier under vegetated system and above roof waterproofing system.
➢ Roofing must have leak detection mat installed as part of the entire system.
➢ Ease of access for safe maintenance and repairs.
Opaque Walls
The wall assembly includes all air, vapor and waterproofing membranes, insulation, cladding
attachment, drainage cavities or mediums, cladding, sheathings, and wall structure.
➢ Wall assemblies may include various levels of rainwater control:
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Building Envelope Design Guide
o TIER 1: All exterior walls shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as
to prevent the accumulation of water within the wall and glazing assembly by
providing a continuous air and water-resistive barrier behind the exterior veneer
and a means for draining water that enters the assembly to the exterior.
o TIER 2: All exterior walls shall be designed to rainscreen principles consisting of
an exterior weather seal and a secondary waterproof weather barrier separated
by a free draining cavity of no less than 3/8” wept to the exterior at regular
intervals.
o TIER 3: All exterior walls to include pressure equalized rainscreen principles
which includes compartmentalization of drainage cavities behind the cladding to
equalize air pressures within the drainage cavities with those on the exterior face
of the cladding.
➢ Water penetration is unacceptable.
➢ Water management is required to be designed using rainscreen principles.
➢ Wall must control vapor as required to meet performance and durability requirements.
➢ Continuous vapor retarder to be provided where required by code and for the applicable
climate.
➢ Provide or reference a hygrothermal model to help identify where vapor barrier should
be located when wall assembly design deviates from perfect wall concepts.
Fenestration
➢ All exterior window assemblies shall be designed to manage moisture. The glazing
cavity, including the frame and detail at the rough openings are to be drained, vented,
and compartmentalized, while the IGU remains sealed.
➢ Exterior windows to be designed to accommodate estimated structural long- and short-
term movement of the building (vertical and horizontal displacement).
➢ Anchorage and Support Framing: Shall be designed to accommodate thermal and
building movements without harmful effect to exterior window system, including glass
and glazing materials, and sealant applications.
➢ Design anchoring system to ensure proper embedment can be attained for each
proposed slab thickness.
➢ Anchors (bracing, inserts, clips, bolts, etc.) shall be designed for same loads as exterior
windows and checked at 1.5 x "Design Wind Pressure" in addition to all other forces to
ensure that the stresses do not exceed the yield point or elastic buckling, whichever is
lower.
➢ Design of fenestration shall minimize the use of exterior sealants wherever possible. If
exterior sealants are used, only silicone sealant with at least +/- 50% movement
capability are acceptable.
➢ All sealed glazing units to be IGCC and IGMA certified.
➢ In addition to requirements listed elsewhere in this standard. It is recommended that the
design team include fenestration system performance requirements for all fixed and
operable units for the following characteristics:
o Maximum load resistance
o Condensation resistance
o Maximum allowable air leakage
o Thermal movement
o Water penetration resistance
o Deflection
o Assembly effective U-factor, SHGC, and VLT
o Noise transmission
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Building Envelope Design Guide
REFERENCES
1. Library of Assemblies with Thermal Performance Data:
[Link]
2. Thermal Bridging Design Guide
[Link]
smart/builders-developers/[Link]
3. Guide to assist with design of high performing thermal design in buildings:
[Link]
4. ASTM Library of Industry Test Methods:
Standards & Publications - Products & Services ([Link])
5. AAMA Testing Standards:
[Link]
6. Insulation Ratio Guidance:
[Link]
7%20Design%20Limits%20and%20Material%20Choices%20-%[Link]
7. Humidity and Risk in Framed Walls:
[Link]
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Building Envelope Design Guide
APPENDIX A: BASIS-OF-DESIGN ASSEMBLIES BY CLIMATE
ZONE
The assemblies included in this appendix are intended to help design teams identify potential
basis-of-design assemblies that may be appropriate for the project specific climate zone under
typical operational conditions.
Thermal bridging impact on effective thermal performance can be calculated using methods
commonly accepted in the industry. See [Link] and
[Link]
[Link] for additional guidance.
Assemblies are examples and are not exhaustive. There are many assemblies that may achieve
the same performance outcomes that are not included in this document that can be used.
Note that interior conditions that may increase relative humidity will require specific design
consideration.
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