Building Integration of Multi-functional Glazed Facades - Potential and Risk Assessment

Tuomo Ojanen & Ismo Heimonen

Glazed building facades are often applied in modern office and public buildings. Glazed multifunctional facades have many significant effects and potentials on the whole building performance which should be taken into account already from the beginning of the design process.

The glazing acts as a weather barrier that can protect the building envelope against climatic loads like the wind, driving rain and high humidity. It works also as a "solar collector". In some applications PV-panels can be used as outer cladding. To avoid overheating, the air space behind the exterior cladding is typically ventilated. The ventilation air flow rate should be designed to meet the thermal loads.

This paper will study the thermal performance properties of the multifunctional, glazed building envelope components, experimental determination of their performance properties and criteria used to design these systems. The main characteristics of the multifunctional facade elements are the thermal and solar transmittances. The interaction of the glazed facade components with the whole building, indoor climate and the HVAC system, as well as their effects on the moisture performance of structures and the possible risks and energy saving potentials of the system will be discussed.

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