Education, education, education: building better façades–together

Knowledge gaps across building owners, developers, tenants, designers, contractors, fabricators, policymakers and code officials are preventing the widespread deployment of high-performance fenestration and façades. Additionally, these gaps can result in installed assemblies that fail to meet energy codes.

The Façade Tectonics Institute’s (FTI) research identified highly capable professionals in the design and construction value chain–many of whom participated in the research and are members of the Institute. However, all reported insufficient breadth and depth of expertise across the entirety of the North American market, limiting the widespread deployment of high-performance façade systems. The major knowledge gaps identified include:

• No appreciation for the financial benefits of better windows: Owners, developers and tenants lack a full appreciation for why high-performance fenestration and façades matter and the positive economic impact of their non-energy-related benefits. This is also true of architects and façade consultants, who are often unable to adequately advocate for high performance to their clients because they lack the necessary expertise or tools.
• Poor technical understanding: Many architects and consultants lack the deep technical knowledge of fenestration and façade performance needed to design and execute cost-effective, high-performance envelopes. Façade-related topics are rarely covered in adequate depth in undergraduate architecture programs, leaving new architects to learn on the job.

Many architectural firms now outsource façade design, particularly in regions with stricter codes, such as Massachusetts and British Columbia. However, while façade consultants tend to be better equipped to provide the necessary support, there are not enough qualified professionals to meet the demand, reinforcing the case for certification and capacity building.

• Limited product knowledge: Architects, engineers and contractors often lack familiarity with newer or established higher-performing fenestration products and the performance benefits they deliver.
• Limited installation knowledge: Glazing subcontractors frequently lack the skills to install newer façade systems and the trained labor required, which increases adoption risk and limits deployment.
• Code officials often lack the training and bandwidth to enforce fenestration and façade-related energy code requirements effectively.
• Planners, policymakers, and utilities may not understand the benefits of high-performance façades or recent model code changes, which can slow state-level code adoption and limit the inclusion of façades in incentive programs, ultimately limiting market transformation.

1). Owners and developers

For owners and developers to change their façade investment decisions, they must understand the impact of building envelope performance on their financial performance. Impacts include:

• Lower cost of ownership from a more durable façade
• Reduced upfront costs from lowering or eliminating perimeter heating and cooling, and reducing other HVAC system costs
• Higher lease rates from providing a more visually and thermally comfortable, daylit environment, more conducive to higher occupant productivity and wellness, with more usable space next to the perimeter

They need to be able to quantify these non-energy financial benefits alongside the energy-saving benefits. A marketing campaign, such as “Got great windows?” that targets owners, tenants and developers is suggested to drive this message, along with tools to translate comfort metrics into financial benefit.

2). Local policymakers, planning committees and utilities

Most critical for this set of stakeholders is education targeted at increasing their confidence in adopting newer model codes and supporting the development of incentive structures that build capacity for implementing high-performance facades in the local market. Educating utilities could also increase the number of incentive programs targeting high-performance nonresidential fenestration and/or façades, which is currently very low.

For existing buildings, if local planners better understood the issues related to façade renovation, they could develop policies that incentivize renovation while disincentivizing demolition.

3). Insurance and finance industry

High-performance façades can be a significant climate risk mitigator for insurers and other parties with a financial interest in real estate. Insurance could play a role in de-risking the adoption of higher-performing new products if these stakeholders better understood the positive impact of high-performance building envelopes.

4). Code official education and capacity building

Code enforcement offices struggle with having sufficient staff to enforce energy codes, as well as having the specialist knowledge to do so. While changing the way code enforcement is funded to enable increased investment in capacity is important, increasing code officials’ knowledge of how to enforce façade-related building measures is also critical. Current gaps that could be closed by an education and awareness program are:

• Understanding the National Fenestration Rating Council’s (NFRC) nonresidential fenestration certification and labeling requirements and how to enforce them. NFRC has substantially revamped the process to make it easier to use. However, code officials need to understand it in order to implement its use, thereby ensuring that only code-compliant systems are installed.
• How to review façade assembly details for compliance
• How to identify thermal bridges – this is increasingly important, since their mitigation is now a requirement in the newest model codes

5). Installer and contractor education

Developing advanced training programs for installers, along with certification to validate their capabilities, is crucial. Due to the practical nature of the installation, it is essential to provide hands-on training. For example, the British Columbia (BC) Institute of Technology provided a building performance laboratory to train builders on the new BC step codes. In the U.S., the North American Contractors Certification and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician programs have created a solid foundation for glazing contractor education and quality assurance. They regularly add new products and assemblies to their installation curricula.

Glazing contractors and fenestration fabricators also need to develop the capability to calculate thermal bridging between fenestration assemblies and walls, as well as within their own systems, to meet the latest model code requirements.

6). Continuing education for architects and façade professionals

The widespread adoption of a comprehensive, non-commercial, multilevel, and easily accessible façade-related continuing education program is crucial for current architects and façade professionals. Such a program would provide practicing architects with a better understanding of how façades are constructed, fenestration and wall system performance, and strategies for designing and specifying high-performance buildings.

7). Façade engineer certification program

As discussed last month, a modular certification program for façade practitioners is critical for building capacity and ensuring the requisite depth and breadth of expertise.

8). Architecture student education