Complete Solutions

By Chris Witte at Benchmark.

Facade technology has come a long way in recent years. A combination of ever tighter Building Regulations and pressure to improve sustainability has seen a surge in technological advancements in building systems designed to make these challenges more achievable.

The development of complete envelope solutions has been a natural progression. They integrate the different elements of the building envelope to improve performance, build quality and on-site efficiency.

But all systems are not the same. Design, materials and manufacturing techniques can all vary and significantly affect the technical performance of a project. Therefore, to fully reap the benefits of complete facade solutions, without sacrificing technical performance, there are a number of things to bear in mind.

Firstly, it is important to use proven systems from reputable suppliers. Using a complete system from a single supplier that is tested as a single unit is a must to avoid the risk of theoretical performance diminishing in practice.

By specifying individual system elements, even from the same supplier, combined system performance can often fall short of what you expect, particularly in terms of air -tightness and U-values. Different elements of the building envelope are not always compatible and don't always integrate well as a single unit. As such, it is essential that only complete envelope systems that are tested as integrated units and offer robust guarantees are used to ensure desired performance and finish levels are achieved.

With this in mind, it is similarly important to avoid cost cutting by component substitution (breaking the spec.) as this will render the system guarantee null and void.

Some of these systems, for example where an insulated panel is used as a carrier for a façade solution, also offer significant cost benefits. They are quick and easy to install and can be constructed in a fraction of the time of other alternatives. Several weeks can be shaved off build times, depending on the specific project, by taking the façade off the critical path and enabling the internal fit out to commence much sooner. Therefore complete build costs are significantly reduced, even before taking whole life costs into consideration.

The latest systems can also be produced to suit bespoke projects and meet the future legislation if required, futureproofing buildings for years to come.

So, although we are seeing some significant and exciting developments in this technology, it is still important that careful consideration is given to the specified system. By installing complete systems that are made up of high quality products and fitted by trained personnel, it is possible to control build costs, reduce risk and, importantly meet the building performance requirements both now and in the future.