The following article describes the remarkable evolution and transformation of building science in Canada over the past 60 years and looks ahead at what we are likely to see in the future.
Definition of Building Science
Building science or building physics are terms that apply to the study and analysis of buildings, construction materials, and building systems. Most attention is generally given to the building envelope components. There is also a focus on optimizing building performance and maximizing service life while at the same time ensuring the health and safety of the building occupants.
Background
To give you an idea of how long we have been working on the complexities involved on a global scale, a laboratory was established almost 100 years ago to test the thermal properties of construction materials. Laboratory fire testing of construction materials can be traced back almost 300 years.
Canada’s Building Stock Worth $5 Trillion
One remarkable fact about buildings in this country, aside from the staggering amount of money involved, is that Canadians spend 90% of their time inside our “built environment”- and another 5% in our cars.
The design, construction, and maintenance of buildings in Canada represent 12% of our gross national product and as the largest industry in the nation it provides employment for over 1 million Canadians. When you factor in the impact that new construction, maintenance and repair of buildings have on all sectors of the economy we are dealing with over $5 trillion in assets.
Last year we spent $150 billion which represents over $4000 invested annually for every citizen in the country and statistics suggest that per capita Canada spends more on construction than any other nation in the world.
These facts about our built environment are part of the reason that building science is so vitally important in this country.
Building Science Adapts to Change
Early research did not focus entirely on the building envelope – everything from acoustics to earthquakes was studied. However the application in the field gradually evolved to the point today where most practitioners today consider it as “enclosure” science or building engineering.
The focus gradually moved toward the building envelope because it became apparent that in a cold climate like ours, with a huge range of climatic conditions, the greatest challenges were related to the control of an extremely long list of factors that affect the indoor environment - most of which are directly related to the performance of the building envelope components. In simple terms, the difference between freezing in the dark and our comfort zone is determined by the performance of 45 cm of composite wall assembly components. (Approximately the same thickness as a traditional igloo structure.)
Our approach to building science has also evolved in response to a long list of changing circumstances including demographics, our expectations of the indoor environment, innovations in materials & technology, 12 revisions to the National Building Code, the tools we have at our disposal (including computers) and in response to a tremendous amount of research conducted by some very talented professionals. (This includes the invaluable publication of 250 Canadian Building Digests by the IRC over a period of 28 years beginning in 1960)
We have also changed our approach in recognition of available resources, our increasing concern regarding the impact of construction on the environment and in response to notable building successes - and some rather spectacular failures.
Photograph supplied courtesy of William Conway, Progress Photography. www.progressphotography.com
The Future of Building Science
The most dramatic changes in the future will be related to our attitude towards the “science” of building, our approach to the education & training of construction professionals and an acceleration of the trend towards the “design/build” approach.
Many predict that the complexity of building science and the absolute necessity of including it in all aspects of the design, construction and maintenance of buildings will be formally recognized. Of course we will also witness radical changes in the form and function of our buildings - and the materials we use will use to fabricate them.
We are also seeing the emergence of “performative” architecture where long term building performance serves as a guiding principle of design and construction.
This approach is quite different from current practice where aesthetics and short term economics are the primary concerns.
This new approach involves highly focused interaction between architects, engineers and building scientists using computer simulations to design the built environment. Some have suggested that the concept may be included in the building code in some manner.
“Designing buildings that generate energy, harvest water, treat waste, grow food and house people is not possible without building science. This speciality will likely become the new entry level degree required by progressive schools of architecture that will teach students how to design aesthetically pleasing buildings that do not cost us the earth.” explained Professor Ted Kesik of the University of Toronto.
He also added that “The notion of attempting to educate individuals with arts and humanities backgrounds to design performative buildings makes about as much sense as training fine arts students to design aircraft. Building science aided by computer simulation and fabrication will be the key to sustainable buildings of the future.”
Other experts also have specific opinions about our approach to building science in the future.
“We would not consider constructing a building without the participation of a structural engineer.”, explained Dr. Paul Fazio, Professor of Building Engineering at Concordia University, “Yet we continue to design buildings without the input of building engineers specializing in building science” (This might explain why 50% of building failures occur in the envelope and also leads directly to one of our other challenges.)
“We do not expect architects to design the structural, mechanical, or electrical systems in a building because we accept that this work will be completed by a specialized licensed engineer.
In a similar manner, we should not assume that architects can - or should - provide building science expertise. “We need professionals that can look at the entire building system throughout its service life to ensure maximum compatibility between subsystems to achieve high performance for economically viable construction and operation costs” he added.
Construction and Building Science in 2030
Performative construction, more education and the use of computers are changes in how we build. The other side of the equation relates to what we build and the materials we will use to build it. To say that radical changes will occur in the next 20 years is an understatement!
A large percentage of the materials we build with today were invented within the last 15 years and experts claim that 80% of the materials we will be using in 2030 haven’t even been invented yet.
Also because of the high level of raw resources consumed by buildings and their significant impact on our lives, economy, and environment, by 2030 Dr, Fazio predicts that society will simply not be tolerant of our current approach to building. (We typically demonstrate our lack of tolerance with our spending habits, our votes and, on occasion, with legislation.)
He envisions a future where we will see a restructured design team with the full complement of professionals who can deliver comprehensive expertise, including building science, in the design, construction and operation of buildings. As a result he adds “New buildings will perform better and consume less; old buildings will be adapted and new architectural forms, materials, and innovations will be adopted with less risk of failures.”
Brian Burton is a regular columnist for Glass Canada and a Business Development Consultant for Kleinfeldt Consultants Ltd. Brian was recently appointed to the Personnel Committee for the Canadian Standard Council’s new Fenestration Installation Technician Certification Program. He can be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or visit www.kcl.ca
If you want to know more about building science visit these sites:
Concordia University http://users.encs.concordia.ca/~raojw/crd/concepts.html
National Building Envelope Council (NBEC)
Ontario Building Envelope Council
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