Testing of facades performance

Understanding the true performance of façades is essential for accurate, high-performance design. This is exactly the purpose of our Facade System Interaction Lab.

In our recent collaboration with Permasteelisa Group, the leading international façade specialist, we tested two of its façade technologies, Single Skin Façade and Closed Cavity Façade. The purpose of this collaboration was to characterize the thermal and optical performance of the system as well as develop calibrated models for the simulation of dynamic energy.

We conducted heat flux, surface temperature, and solar transmission measurements both in fixed shading position and in dynamic shading setups. This testing in real-world conditions allows us to characterize the actual behavior of the facades and make models more accurate. We then developed calibrated models include glazing, shading and frame elements of the two façade technologies.

Looking forward, we’ll integrate these calibrated models into a parametric tool for early-stage design of Permasteelisa Group façades, allowing to make more informed decisions in the pre-design phase.