The building envelope includes everything
that separates the interior of a building from the outdoor environment above and below grade,
including the windows, doors, walls, foundation, basement slab, ceiling, roof, decks and
insulation.
It is the barrier between the conditioned
indoor environment and the outdoors.á It
is the designerÆs task
to provide the necessary waterproofing and resistance to weathering, air
infiltration, chemicals, mildew, movement and fire, while at the same time preserving and
enhancing the structureÆs aesthetic appearance.
Effective waterproofing includes the
building design, determining surface treatments and the selection of materials and finishes as
they relate to the durability and eventually to maintainability, determining waterproofing needs, selecting
and specifying waterproofing materials and systems, and preparing detailed drawings for
construction.