Cladding systems have become widely used across the country for varying reasons including: weather-protection, extra insulation and to improve efficiency.
With rising numbers of weather-damaged buildings due to the drastic climate changes, cladding systems are being installed as a preventative measure to provide extra protection against the elements.
Furthermore, they’re often in colder states where extra insulation is essential and countrywide where improving efficiency of all buildings is vital to the global mission of lowering carbon emissions.
What cladding is in building construction
Cladding is used in building construction to provide an additional outer layer to the structure’s exterior to help protect against weathering, improve thermal efficiency and also add aesthetic appeal. Systems can be made from varying materials dependent on the application where they will be situated.
For example, metal cladding systems are commonly used in commercial builds, where durability, fire resistance and safety is priority. But for US residential buildings, vinyl siding is the ideal choice due to its low maintenance and affordability properties. Despite different materials being selected, all cladding systems work towards protecting the structural integrity of the building.
How cladding support systems affect thermal performance
Cladding support systems provide an extra thermal layer to a building’s exterior by limiting the amount of heat that is able to bypass the walls.
Attaching these systems to the outside of a building can help enhance thermal performance by restricting the flow of heat through weak points in the building envelope. However in some cases like rainscreen attachments, these cladding systems can be a culprit for more heat loss if not engineered and installed correctly.
High performance cladding solutions and energy efficiency
High performance cladding solutions will play a pivotal role in improving energy efficiency of a building, because it can provide superior insulation, reduce thermal bridging and manage moisture levels to maintain stable indoor temperatures.
Systems such as insulated vinyl cladding and fiber cement cladding are both examples of high performance solutions that offer excellent insulation properties that can restrict heat loss and consequently reduce the overconsumption of energy.
Reducing thermal bridging in cladding design
Cladding is designed to reduce thermal bridging by restricting the movement of heat, acting as an additional insulative layer to the building.
In cases where there is insufficient wall insulation and thermal bridging can occur more easily, cladding is an effective solution as it reinforces these weak areas in the building envelope.
Despite this, when the solution is then attached to the building, the bolt fixings also create a thermal bridge, meaning it isn’t an 100% energy-efficient solution and therefore must be installed in conjunction with thermal break materials.
Specifying such products into cladding designs will help support in effectively reducing thermal bridging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cladding in building construction is an outer layer attached to a building’s exterior to provide weather resistance, thermal insulation and improved aesthetics.
Cladding support systems can have a positive impact on energy efficiency by minimizing heat loss of a building. Acting as an additional insulation layer, it supports in restricting the movement of energy, meaning internal temperatures can remain constant, therefore reducing overworking heating/cooling systems.
Cladding design can reduce thermal bridging by providing a layer of insulation around the building. This protective layer can restrict the loss of energy through poorly insulated walls, however where they are fixated in place, thermal bridging can still occur as the continuous insulation is interrupted and therefore must be isolated using thermal break materials.
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