Building envelope is a key element in providing adequate energy and thermal comfort performance to buildings. In this regard, improvement solutions are implemented in recent studies that focus on new techniques and methods. The main techniques adopted in this context are discussed to identify modern and effective methods with a particular focus on phase change materials (PCMs). Incorporating PCMs with building construction materials is a booming technology, owing to their enhancement potential of storing and releasing heat during phase transition. This work highlights the importance of PCMs in building envelope, focusing on roof and external wall applications. PCM types, general and desired properties and application area are presented and discussed. Influential parameters, incorporation techniques and methods, main numerical tools, and modelling equations are used to describe the thermal behaviour of PCM. A comprehensive assessment on the basis of recent studies has been conducted to point out the potential of PCM with the most appropriate techniques under different locations. The main findings of PCM thermal performance have been described, considering the cooling/heating load reduction, energy-saving and thermal comfort gained along with several research hiatuses for future studies.

建筑围护结构是为建筑物提供足够的能量和热舒适性能的关键因素。在这方面，在最近的研究中实施了针对新技术和方法的改进解决方案。讨论了在这种情况下采用的主要技术，以识别特别是相变材料（PCM）的现代有效方法。将PCM与建筑物建筑材料结合在一起是一项新兴技术，因为它们具有在相变过程中存储和释放热量的潜力。这项工作突出了PCM在建筑物围护结构中的重要性，重点是屋顶和外墙应用。介绍并讨论了PCM类型，一般和所需的特性以及应用领域。有影响力的参数，合并技术和方法，主要的数值工具，建模方程用于描述PCM的热行为。在最近的研究基础上进行了全面的评估，以指出在不同位置使用最合适技术的PCM的潜力。描述了PCM热性能的主要发现，同时考虑了制冷/加热负荷的降低，节能和热舒适性以及未来研究的几个研究课题。