Building Envelopes

Modern building envelopes can fulfill a variety of functions and tasks, for example by regulating the supply of daylight, solar heat generation and fresh air supply. In addition, glazing and thermal insulation systems protect against climatic influences and the building envelope can generate solar power with integrated photovoltaic modules. Building envelopes must also meet architectural and aesthetic requirements.

Fraunhofer ISE researches and develops solutions to optimize the multifunctional properties of building envelopes. In addition to technological issues, we also take architectural and economic considerations into account.

Together with industrial partners, we develop new components, optimize existing products and market patented in-house developments. We advise building owners and planners on the use of modern solutions. We also test components and façades in our DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories and in our outdoor test stands. We use precise individual measurements and simulation tools to analyze components, products and systems and identify potential for optimization. We create prototypes on industry-oriented devices whose production processes can be transferred to commercial systems.

The architectural design of our functional façade elements is particularly important to us. We achieve this, for example, with the colored coatings of our patented MorphoColor® technology and with modular, individually combinable solutions.

Together with our customers, we create digital product data or product models (digital twins) and thus drive forward the digitalization of solar building envelope components.

Further Fields of Work in this Topic:

• Development of BIPV Facade Systems