ISO/TR 5863:2025
(Main)Integrative design of the building envelope — General principles
Integrative design of the building envelope — General principles
This document provides an overview of the design principles for the building envelope in order to achieve a high quality and energy efficient built environment. The design principles include: — thermal performance; — daylight and visual environment; — air quality; — provisions of natural and mechanical ventilation; — air barrier (airtightness); — watertightness; — moisture proof; — soundproofing; — sustainability and integration with technical building systems and controls. This document is applicable to new buildings and the retrofit of existing buildings.
Conception intégrée de l'enveloppe du bâtiment — Principes généraux
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
Technical
Report
ISO/TR 5863
First edition
Integrative design of the building
2025-01
envelope — General principles
Conception intégrée de l'enveloppe du bâtiment — Principes
généraux
Reference number
© ISO 2025
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Design philosophy and principles for the building envelope . 3
4.1 General .3
4.2 One thing increases, another decreases .4
4.3 One structure variable relates to several function and behaviour variables.5
4.4 Appropriate balance among the behaviours of environmental elements .5
5 Functions of the building envelope . 5
5.1 General .5
5.2 Flexibility.5
5.3 Adaptability .6
5.4 Reusability . .6
6 Structure of the building envelope . 6
6.1 General .6
6.2 Roof system .7
6.3 Wall system above the ground .8
6.4 Wall system underground .9
6.5 Base floor system .10
7 Behaviour of the building envelope . 10
7.1 General .10
7.2 Thermal performance .10
7.3 Daylight and visual information .11
7.4 Ventilation . 12
7.5 Sound proofing . 13
7.6 Airtightness . . 13
7.7 Moisture protection . 13
7.8 Sustainability and integration with technical building systems .14
8 Relationship, synergies and trade-offs . 14
9 Adaptive building envelope .15
10 Integrative design process for the building envelope .16
11 Building envelope commissioning (BECx) .16
Bibliography .18
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 205, Building environment design.
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iv
Introduction
The building envelope is either a boundary or a space, or both, separating the indoor and outdoor
environments of a building. It is comprised of roofs, walls (above grade and under grade), windows, doors
and foundation. Windows and other openings for daylighting and ventilation are deemed to be an interface
between the indoor and outdoor environments. They transfer physical environment elements such as air,
heat and cold, light, sound and water. A good building envelope secures high environmental performance in
the building with low energy use as well as structural soundness and an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
The building envelope bears a direct relationship to the design and construction of the building. Designing
the building envelope requires a wide range of considerations covering structural, environmental and
aesthetic functions. A comprehensive approach is essential and achieved through an integrated design
process for buildings. This document focuses on the environmental factors and provides design principles
for the quality and energy-efficient building envelope.
The building envelope can also meet structural and safety requirements including earthquake protection,
wind resistance, flood resistance, fire resistance, durability, maintainability and security. However, those
requirements are out of the scope of this document, and can be found in other international standards,
guides and reports.
v
Technical Report ISO/TR 5863:2025(en)
Integrative design of the building envelope — General
principles
1 Scope
This document provides an overview of the design principles for the building envelope in order to achieve a
high quality and energy efficient built environment. The design principles include:
— thermal performance;
— daylight and visual environment;
— air quality;
— provisions of natural and mechanical ventilation;
— air barrier (airtightness);
— watertightness;
— moisture proof;
— soundproofing;
— sustainability and integration with technical building systems and controls.
This document is applicable to new buildings and the retrofit of existing buildings.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
building envelope
elements of a building as a boundary or barrier separating the interior volume of a building from the outside
environment
[SOURCE: ISO 12569:2017, 3.5, modified — The words “elements of a building as a” have been added to the
beginning of the definition.]
3.2
building envelope commissioning
BECx
process of enhancing the delivery of the design and construction of a building envelope by verifying and
documenting the building envelope concepts, designs, materials, components, assemblies and systems that
have been designed, installed and performance tested, and are maintainable, in accordance with the owner’s
project requirements
[SOURCE: ISO 21105-1:2019, 3.5, modified — The words “enclosure” and “OPR” have been replaced by
“envelope” and “owner’s project requirements” respectively.]
3.3
daylight sensing control
device that automatically regulates the power input to electric lighting near the fenestration to maintain the
desired workplace illumination, thus taking advantage of direct or indirect sunlight
[SOURCE: ISO 16818:2008, 3.54]
3.4
design team
group of people who are responsible for building design
Note 1 to entry: The design team can consist of an architect, an interior designer, a lighting designer, a landscape
designer, engineers in electrical engineering, illuminating en
...
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