Steel Buildings in Europe

Part 8: Building Envelope 8 - 12 3 SPECIFICATION OF THE CLADDING The specification of roof and wall cladding has implications well beyond the aesthetics and weathertightness of the building. The choice of cladding can affect many aspects of the building’s performance, from its construction right through to its eventual demolition and disposal. Indeed, the fitness for purpose of the whole building could be compromised if sufficient care is not taken when specifying the cladding. Listed below are the factors that should be taken into consideration when specifying profiled metal cladding systems. Further details on the principal technical considerations are given in Sections 3.1 to 3.8.  Weathertightness  Strength and rigidity  Thermal insulation  Control of condensation  Control of thermal movement  Sound insulation  Fire resistance  Appearance  Durability  Cost  Daylighting  External attachments  Lightning protection  Design detailing  Maintenance, remedial work and renewal.  Control of air leakage. Minimum performance requirements for a number of these factors are laid down by legislation in Europe. Other factors, such as appearance and day lighting, may not seem to be as critical from an engineering viewpoint, but might be crucial to the success of the building in terms of the well-being of the occupants and the acceptance of the building by the local community. It should not be forgotten that the cost of the insulated cladding in a typical commercial or industrial building is usually a significant proportion of the overall construction cost, so decisions related to the cladding could influence the economic success or failure of the project. The cladding also has a significant impact on the operational energy requirements and, therefore, the operating costs of the building in service, specifically heating, cooling and lighting.