Building Envelope

Building envelope systems include roofing, cladding, windows and doors, flashings, weather-resistant barriers, and associated components. YA engineers and architects are experts in investigating and identifying building envelope leaks and failures. This expertise provides YA with a background in developing repair solutions to existing building envelope systems and performing peer reviews for new construction designs. YA professionals also provide litigation support and expert testimony when needed to support our findings.

Building Envelope Evaluation and Repair Design
Roof Damage Evaluations
Water Leakage Testing and Analysis

Building Envelope Evaluation and Repair Design

Building envelope systems include roofing, cladding, fenestrations, flashings, weather resistive barriers, and associated components. When building envelope failures occur, exterior water may contact finishes or structural building elements, causing damage. Failures in building envelope systems may result from original design and/or construction defects, wear and tear, lack of maintenance, and/or other external factors. YA specializes in the identification and investigation of building envelope failures. This expertise provides YA the background to develop repair solutions to existing building envelope systems and perform design peer reviews for new construction for failure avoidance.

YA repair designs and peer reviews focus on preventing water leakage at critical material junctions and details. Our expertise is geared explicitly toward identification and creative problem-solving for building envelope detailing at complicated interfaces, typically where multiple trades and materials interface.

YA services also include construction period observations and reporting to assist with the successful enclosure of the building envelope. A collaborative approach involves enlisting the designer, general contractor, and specialty trades with aligned interests to complete a building envelope that will meet specified performance requirements.

YAES services include:

  • Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Building Envelope Systems
  • Litigation Support and Expert Witness Testimony
  • Design and Construction Defect Investigations
  • Building Envelope Detail Drawing and Specification Peer Review
  • Construction Period Services

Roof Damage Evaluations

YA engineers and architects are frequently tasked with evaluating the condition of existing roof systems. Roof systems may be damaged from one-time external sources such as hail, wind, snow, construction activities, or long-term issues such as age, exposure, or lack of maintenance. Properly evaluating a roof system requires knowledge of the steep and low-slope roof systems and the associated roofing components, including flashings, gutters, vents, scuppers, crickets, rigid insulation, and underlayment. Older roof systems and those lacking proper maintenance are generally more susceptible to damage from external sources.

YA engineers and architects have decades of experience evaluating damaged roofing systems on many buildings and structures. Our experience allows YA to guide building owners, restoration contractors, and insurance carriers regarding roofing systems that remain serviceable versus those that require repair or replacement. Upon request, YA professionals are available to provide construction documents to repair or replace all roofing systems.

YAES services include:

  • Steep and Low-Slope Examinations of All Types of Roof Systems
  • Investigations, Including Water Leakage Testing and Analysis
  • Moisture Surveys
  • Detailed Reports, including a Full Assessment of Roof System and Associated Components
  • Historical Review of National Weather Service records
  • Roof Investigations, Including Destructive Openings and Laboratory Testing
  • Evaluation of Roofing Industry Standards and Code Requirements for Repairs

Water Leakage Testing and Analysis

Evaluation of water leakage in buildings requires extensive knowledge of building envelope assemblies, building envelope materials, and testing standards and protocols. YAES engineers and architects have decades of experience evaluating all building envelope assemblies to identify water leakage sources. YAES building envelope investigations focus on identifying the source of water leaks, often involving sequenced removal of exterior cladding materials to identify critical material properties and detailing of material interfaces. A thorough forensic evaluation of water leakage also includes assessing building maintenance history and construction documents.

Selection and implementation of the appropriate test methods enable YA to assess the source(s) of water leakage accurately. YA personnel have experience performing numerous standard tests, including spray rack testing of windows and curtain walls, core testing of roofing, infrared thermal imaging of roofing and cladding systems, moisture surveys, and pressurization and air passage testing. Our experience and knowledge of the various building envelope test standards allow YA to advise building owners, restoration contractors, design professionals, and insurance representatives regarding appropriate test methods for water leakage evaluations.

Correctly identifying water leakage sources allows YA to develop accurate repair scopes for construction or cost-estimating purposes. Water leakage may also originate from sources other than the building envelope, such as mechanical and plumbing components. YA offers mechanical engineering services to assess these other systems.

YAES services include:

  • Destructive and Non-Destructive Testing of Building Envelope Components
  • Evaluation of Water Damage to Building Components
  • Repair Scope Development
  • Design and Construction Defect Investigations