Energy efficiency, durability, resiliency and a healthier indoor environment, are all key goals when optimizing the enclosure. One key focus required to achieve a high-performance building commercial building envelope air leakage database (which contains information for almost 400 buildings including 70 constructed over the 2004-2014 period), the institute found that the 79 buildings in the database constructed with an air barrier had an average air leakage almost 70 percent less than the average for the 290 buildings in the database not specified as having one. With uncontrolled air leakage being a known cause of energy loss and increased energy cost, the review demonstrates the critical need to design and construct with an air barrier to enhance airtightness and to support sustainability and energy efficiency in commercial structures.
When looking to achieve airtightness in commercial buildings, the goal is to limit the uncontrolled leakage of conditioned air, as well as to limit the infiltration of unconditioned air into the facility. In addition to negatively affecting the energy efficiency of the structure, unconditioned air entering the structure may also introduce pollutants, allergens and moisture in the interior, which can result in a host of health concerns including microbial growth and other asthma triggers. Effectively sealing air leakage points in the envelope will thus not only dramatically reduce energy consumption and long-term energy costs, but it will also reduce health risks for occupants.