From Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook
Kimball J. Beasley, P.E.  and David S. Patterson, A.I.A. 
The building envelope is usually considered to include facades, windows, and roofs. The first portion of this chapter deals with building walls and facades and the second part with windows and nonmasonry curtain walls. Roofs and roof terraces are not included in this chapter.
Prior to the 20th century, building walls served not only to keep out the weather, but also to support the building's floor and roof loads. Within the last 100 years the function of supporting the structure has usually been relegated to a structural skeleton, with the wall serving only to enclose the building. The building wall's primary role has become that of shedding water and containing occupants, furnishings, heat, etc. The wall also supplies light and vision via windows, and it defines the architectural character of the building. As buildings grow in size and complexity, and as economic pressures lead to thinner, less costly wall systems coupled with greater performance expectations, the potential for building envelope problems and failures increases.
In light of the role of forensic structural engineering, which involves the application of engineering principles to investigate and resolve causes of failure, to provide information for the development of repairs, and to aid in the jurisprudence process, the intent of this chapter is to provide information on principles of investigation and analysis and on common failures associated with various building envelope systems.
Kimball J. Beasley Facades.
David S. Patterson Windows and Curtain Walls.
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Topics of Interest
Donald W. Neal, P.E. ENGINEERING PROPERTIES OF WOOD Wood and brick and stone have been the construction materials of choice since antiquity. Development of wood as an engineered material based...
Overview Curtain walls are portions of the building envelope that hold glazing and exterior cladding. Curtain walls are lightweight, are non-load-bearing, and typically hang like a curtain from the...
References 1. Clayford T. Grimm, "Preventing Fatal Fa ade Failures," Civil Engineering, March 1999, p. 96. 2. "Stemming Chicago Fa ade Crisis," ENR, March 10, 1997, p. 8.
13.2 Curtain-Wall Problems Caused by Structural Forces and Movements 13.2.1 Problems Caused by Lateral Loads Curtain walls do play a structural role and a critical one at that in resisting wind...
Thermal bridges (thermal anomalies) in a building envelope are any intentional or unintentional design or construction detail that may cause significantly more energy loss through the building...