Building elements
Building envelope
The building envelope is the physical barrier between inside and outside: the external walls, roof, lowest floor, windows and doors.
Also known as building enclosure, thermal envelope, building shell, weather envelope
The envelope keeps out rain and wind, holds in heat, controls moisture and air movement, and dampens noise. How well it does these jobs largely decides how much energy a building uses and how durable it is.
Performance depends on continuity as much as on materials: insulation without gaps, an unbroken air and vapour barrier, and carefully detailed joints. Every penetration and junction is a potential weak point.
Related terms
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