Building science is the collection of knowledge focusing on analyzing and controlling physical phenomena affecting buildings. It includes detailed analysis of building materials and systems. The purpose of building science is to optimize building performance and prevent failures by providing predictive capabilities. Building science strategies are implemented in arrangements of building materials and components.

2. is the collection of scientific
knowledge that focuses on the
analysis and control of the physical
phenomena affecting buildings. It
traditionally includes the detailed
analysis of building materials and
building envelope systems.

3. In Europe, building physics is a term used for the
knowledge domain that overlaps heavily with
building science, and includes fire protection, sound
control, and daylighting as well as the heat and
moisture concerns that tend to dominate North
American building science. The practical purpose of
building science is to provide predictive capability
to optimize building performance and understand or
prevent building failures.

4. This is the architectural-
engineering-construction
technology discipline that
concerns itself with the 'mainly
detail-design' of buildings in
response to naturally occurring
physical phenomenon such as:

5.  the weather (sun, wind, rain, temperature, humidity),
and related issues:e.g. freeze/thaw cycles, dew
point/frost point, snow load & drift prediction, lightning
patterns etc.
 subterranean conditions including (potential for seismic
or other soil + ground-water activity, frost penetration
etc.).
 characteristics of materials,(e.g. Galvanic corrosion
between dissimilar metals, permeability of materials to
water and water vapor, construct-ability, compatibility,
material-adjacency and longevity issues).

6.  characteristics of physics, chemistry and biology such as
capillary-action, absorption, condensation ("will the dew
point occur at a good or bad place within the wall?"), gravity,
thermal migration/transfer (conductivity, radiation and
convection), vapor pressure dynamics, chemical reactions
(incl. combustion process), adhesion/cohesion, friction,
ductility, elasticity, and also the physiology of fungus/mold.
 human physiology (comfort, sensory reaction e.g.radiance
perception, sweat function, chemical sensitivity etc.).
 energy consumption, environmental control-ability, building
maintenance considerations, longevity/sustainability, and
occupant (physical) comfort/health.

7. The building science of a project
refers to strategies implemented
in the general and specific
arrangement of building
materials and component-
assemblies.

8. The practical outcome of building science knowledge is
reflected in the design of the architectural details of the
building enclosure (see building envelope ),and
ultimately in the long-term performance of the
building's 'skin'. The scope can be, and is, much wider
than this on most projects; after all,engineering is
applied science mixed with experience and judgement.
When architects talk of "building science", they usually
mean the 'science' issues that traditional engineering
disciplines traditionally avoided, albeit there are
emerging disciplines of 'building scientists', 'envelope
consultants', and 'building engineers'.

9. Many aspects of building science are the
responsibility of the architect (in Canada, many
architectural firms employ a architectural
technologist for this purpose), often in collaboration
with the engineering disciplines that have evolved to
handle 'non-building envelope' building science
concerns: Civil engineering, Structural engineering,
Earthquake engineering, Geotechnical engineering,
Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering,
Acoustic engineering, & fire code engineering. Even
the interior designer will inevitably generate a few
building science issues.

11. All kinds of structures are projected according to
two strain conditions: static and dynamic. The static
ones are tied to the structure’s dead loads added to
the so-called live loads (of people, furniture, etc.),
the dynamic ones are tied to the natural, abnormal,
and artificial movements (earthquake and loads
wind) the structure can sustain during its life cycle.
The parameters which characterize structure
dynamics are tied to the geometry of the building
and to the physical and mechanic properties of its
composition. The parameters are:

12.  - The fundamental frequency of vibration (f) and the
respective oscillation period (T=1/f) (see oscillation
frequency);
 - The equivalent dumping coefficient (neq);
 - The mode shape (the way in which the structure
buckles);

13. The first parameter varies according to the structure
stiffness; very tall and then very flexible buildings
as skyscrapers (low oscillation frequencies) oscillate
slowly with respect to lower and squat buildings,
and according to the building mass. The second
parameter takes into account all the dissipation
phenomena tied to the viscosity of materials and to
friction phenomena. The mode shape describes the
way of deformation which the structure is subjected
to during the seismic event, and highlights whether
or not the structures presents a good seismic
behavior.

14. By monitoring the response of structures subject to
earthquakes and by applying new knowledge and
technologies, scientists and engineers continuously
develop design and repair techniques on buildings,
so that their ability to control the earthquake effects
will grow. In order to reduce the destructive effects
of earthquakes both on new-built buildings and
especially on older ones, there exist some seismic
adjustment techniques, with the aim of reducing the
strain effects that earthquake causes. These
techniques can be divided into two different
categories:

15.  Base isolation: it is aimed to untie the ground-foundation system,
so that the structure can be seen as it is “floating” on the ground
during the seismic event, thus reducing the strains.
 Dissipation systems: there exist various types of dissipation
systems, but they all have in common the effect of increasing the
previously seen viscous dissipation coefficient of the structure.
The better known base isolation technique consists of inserting
some special equipment (isolator (building design)) in the
proximity of foundations. This equipment offers a high stiffness
for vertical loads so that the structure is not subject to sinking,
while offering a low stiffness for horizontal ones, which are
peculiar of seismic events. This way all seismic effects are
absorbed by the equipment, whereas the structure is subject to low
oscillations and consequently to low strains.

16.  The dissipation systems (dissipator (building
design)) are made by a series of devices inserted on
the inside of the building frame using different
techniques, with the aim of slowing down the
structure oscillation and dispelling seismic energy.
 Energy Efficiency In the US contractors certified
by the independent organization Building
Performance Institute advertise that they operate
businesses as Building Scientists. This is
questionable due to their lack of scientific
background and credentials.

17. Building indoor environment covers the
environmental aspects in the design, analysis, and
operation of energy-efficient, healthy, and
comfortable buildings. Fields of specialization
include architecture, HVAC design, thermal
comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), lighting,
acoustics, and control systems.