An Architect’s Perspective on Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx)

Designs for today’s building envelopes are more complex in design and construction as influenced by trends in new materials and manufacturing, expanded design creativity and early-stage performance history. It is well documented that the building facade and the entire exterior envelope represents the first and last line of defense between the outdoor environment and interior spaces. Most notably, up 70% of all construction related defects and warranty call-backs are attributed to water penetration through the building envelope in response to these risks.

Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) is a process of measuring and verifying that the building façade and the complete exterior envelope is designed and installed in response to the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and the industry ‘Standard of Care’. More specifically, ASTM E2813: “Standard Practice for Building Enclosure Commissioning”, is intended to serve as a concise authoritative and technically sound practice for BECx. Most firms who offer 3^rd party consulting services based upon the OPR and clearly defined and enforceable levels of commissioning including design phase assistance in charrettes and formal reviews, pre-construction phase activities, site observation during the construction phase, mandatory performance testing and occupancy phase operations.

Building Envelope Commissioning (BECx) helps achieve building sustainability certifications such as LEED v4.0 and the benefits go beyond a scorecard. Improvements begin in the design phase with verification and enhancement of the facade and enclosure details. Engagement continues through construction, acceptance, and occupancy to help ensure contractor accountability and best practices are followed. Ultimately, this integrated BECx process leads to a high performing building enclosure thereby providing optimized thermal performance and improved comfort for the building occupants. An investment in BECx upfront leads to costs savings later in building maintenance, warranty claims and energy efficiency.