Building roofs

As our cities build higher and higher, building façades play an increasing role in energy consumption and conservation relative to building roofs and sites. And, as we spend more and more of the time of our lives within mid- to high-rise structures, the comfort zones behind those building façades become increasingly important. For many designers, architects and builders today the dual forces of energy conservation and user comfort draw increased scrutiny to the performance of the building façade in mitigating the bioclimate.

At first sustainability was viewed as an opportunity for large businesses, but it is vastly approaching a necessity, available for everyone. For something to be sustainable it simply means to have the ability to last for a long-term. Decreasing the amount of energy consumption prolongs the life of the energy resource and having more durable building materials decreases the frequency that they need to be replaced (not to mention more cash in your pocket).

Currently, throughout the trades of architecture, design and construction, there are no absolute standards, nor minimum or maximum measures, for what constitutes higher or better performance in a building. A structure may save 10% — or 30% — of annual electrical consumption. A water heating and distribution system may conserve hundreds — or tens of thousands — of gallons annually. All measurements are relative, and, to use a sports analogy, ‘the goalposts keep moving’.

We’d like to make whatever performance improvements we can, readily and at relatively modest cost. As fuels and energy become more scarce, and more in demand, and thus begin costing us more and more, we desire ever higher building performance. We therefore evolve from high performance buildings to higher performance buildings, and then to highest performance buildings. Meanwhile, each new technological advance in design, construction and materials pushes ‘highest building performance’ to a new plateau.

Steel’s greater strength also offers other sustainability advantages over wood. Its ability to achieve greater spans and greater spacings results in less material used, and less material transported to the construction site. As steel floor systems can be shallower than those of wood, building heights can be concomitantly reduced, resulting in a diminished overall building envelope. That decreased overall surface area translates to lower material costs and lower eventual energy use for heating or cooling. Steel is an inert material, having no toxins, and off-gassing no volatile chemicals. It is not susceptible to rot or termites.

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