Office · Dynamic building envelope
Dynamic building envelope in office: what the SRI measures
The envelope is dynamic when shading and windows respond automatically: shading that closes in bright sun and opens for free heat in winter, and windows that open for night cooling. Reporting on performance is included.
In short
- 1This page shows how the Smart Readiness Indicator assesses the building envelope of offices.
- 2Solar shading, windows and reporting on these elements are part of the Dynamic Building Envelope domain.
- 3For offices, this domain carries a weight of 2 out of 3 points, making it relatively important for the final score.
Weight of this domain for this building type
Which services count
| Service | Lowest level | Highest level | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Window solar shading control DE-1 · A · 5 levels | No sun shading or only manual operation | Predictive blind control (e.g. based on weather forecast) | level 2 or higher |
| Window open/closed control, combined with HVAC system DE-2 · 4 levels | Manual operation or only fixed windows | Level 2 + Centralized coordination of operable windows, e.g. to control free natural night cooling | – |
| Reporting information regarding performance of dynamic building envelope systems DE-4 · A · 5 levels | No reporting | Position of each product, fault detection, predictive maintenance, real-time & historical sensor data (wind, lux, temperature...) | level 2 or higher |
Worked example
If everything in this domain is at level 0, the domain contributes nothing. At the highest level for all services, the indicative total score for this building type rises by about 6 percentage points (from 33 to 39 percent, with all other domains at level 1).
What is the dynamic building envelope?
The building envelope is everything that separates the building from outside air: facades, windows and solar shading. In a dynamic building envelope, these components respond automatically to their environment.
Solar shading closes when the sun is strong and opens in winter to let free heat in. Windows can open automatically for night cooling, without anyone having to do anything.
In the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), this falls under the Dynamic Building Envelope domain (DE). For offices, this domain is heavily weighted: 2 out of 3 possible points.
Which services are assessed?
For offices, the SRI evaluates three smart-ready services within this domain. Each service has functionality levels from 0 (no automation) to 4 (fully predictive).
- DE-1, solar shading control: from manual operation to predictive control based on weather forecast.
- DE-2, window opening and closing control: from manual operation to centralised coordination for natural night cooling.
- DE-4, building envelope reporting: from no reporting to real-time and historical sensor data on wind, light and temperature.
An office with only manual solar shading scores the lowest level on DE-1. Automatic control based on sensors quickly delivers a higher level.
Why is this relevant for offices?
Offices have large glass areas and varying occupancy throughout the day. Without automatic control, energy demand for cooling and lighting rises quickly.
Automatic solar shading and ventilation through windows reduce the load on the climate system. This is precisely what this domain looks at, and why it carries such weight for this building type.
Offices with HVAC capacity above 290 kW often qualify for mandatory building automation. The SRI is expected to become mandatory for this category in due course.
What this means for you
- Owner
- Check whether solar shading and windows respond automatically to light, temperature and weather, and whether the building management system reports on this. A higher level on these services lowers energy demand for cooling and improves the score on a domain that carries significant weight for offices.
- Tenant
- An office with a dynamic building envelope experiences fewer temperature fluctuations and less trouble from strong sun or draughts. Solar shading and windows that regulate themselves create a more stable indoor climate without anyone having to actively manage them.
- Advisor
- Verify the actual functionality level for each service: is the solar shading motorised and linked to sensors, and is there centralised control of windows for night cooling? Pay special attention to DE-4, because reporting on faults and predictive maintenance is often underestimated in the assessment.
Next step
Want to know where your building stands?