Building Envelope: Assessment and Certification of Its Performance — The Rating

Valentina Puglisi

Polytechnic of Milan, Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Italy

Abstract: High quality buildings are usually qualified by the real estate market with the term “Class A”. This definition, taken from models of financial rating, doesn’t correspond to a precise, objective and scientific identification of the elements that determine it: elements as the “flexibility of the surfaces”, “high standard plants”, the presence of “raised floors” or other features that characterize the building’s equipment, are generically listed.

The envelope rating system’s aim is to spot elements that can objectively identify the level of “quality” of a building envelope.

The purpose of this system is to support the design of building envelopes and it wants to clarify if indeed a redevelopment may or may not be functional in terms of technology in order to reduce energy consumption of buildings.

Starting from the study of the national and international rating systems existing, five areas of analysis have been identified in the envelope rating system and each of them has been divided into groups and subgroups. Each area of analysis has received a weighted score according to its level of importance. In conclusion the rating system enables to obtain a total score that classifies the level of “quality” of the building envelope.

Key words: rating system, building envelope, performances of building envelope, re-development of buildings, curtain wall