Adaptive Façades System Assessment: An initial review

The assessment of adaptive facades presents a challenge because there is no established evaluation strategy to systematically reach this goal and many of the available building energy standards and codes have limited applicability for such advanced facades system. This paper reviews current evaluation methods for assessing adaptive facades system through a literature review. It also discusses occupant behaviour, post occupancy evaluation and commissioning issues and presents the procedures. The paper is part of the activities of Working Group 3 in COST Action TU1403 - Adaptive Facades Network. So far we could not find a protocol for assessment of adaptive facades. The reviewed literature is scattered lacking a focus on adaptive facades. There is no agreement on defining what are adaptive facades (sometimes named intelligent, smart, dynamic). We could define specialized technology monitoring techniques to assess the performance of technologies such as fabric-integrated solutions (e.g. electrochromic glazing, phase-change materials, building-Integrated Photovoltaics with heat recovery (BIPV/T, shade shutters) and advanced controls. The review is used to identify gaps in existing assessment methods and helps develop strategies for the holistic evaluation and assessment of adaptive facade systems as part of high performance buildings.