What is a ventilated façade?
The ventilated façade is a construction system that allows a separate (with gap) cladding to be fixed on the enclosure wall of a building. The gap between the cladding and the enclosure wall forms an insulating layer, allowing free airflow through the chamber space, and therefore providing clear advantages in terms of energy saving.
The cladding panels are placed (depending on the material used) using a perimeter joint, which prevents any kind of problem or pathology that may result from material expansion, thus ensuring that the material preserves its good finish qualities (also preventing cracks or fissures produced by accumulated material stress). On the other hand, the cladding provides protection from direct sunlight on the rest of layers (insulation and enclosure) neutralizing sudden temperature changes and thus prolonging their service life.
It is a building system that supports the placement of different cladding materials such as natural stone, porcelain panels, high pressure laminates, fiber cement, etc..
How it works
-
In summer
The sun shines directly on the cladding and not on the enclosure walls...
-
In summer
The air in the chamber is heated, becomes less dense and rises, due to convection, when cool air takes its place.
-
In summer
This phenomenon, known as "chimney effect", prevents heat build-up on the façade, which translates in high ENERGY SAVING. Thermal insulation provides additional protection.
-
In winter
Contribution to the thermal stability of the system.
-
In winter
In winter, other factors come into play, since in most cases sunlight is not enough to ensure air movement. In this case, the façade acts as a heat accumulator in connection with the thermal insulation layer of the system, preventing the escape of heat from the inside of the building (with the relevant ENERGY SAVING).
-
Sealing
The cladding acts as a watertight partition, allowing a maximum of 5% of rain water to pass through the joints, or be blown through by the wind.
-
Safety
Since it is a dry type installation (i.e. mechanical) or a mixed installation (mechanical and chemical) and it requires the use of anchors to build up the façade, the system guarantees a completely safe installation of the cladding.
-
Aesthetics
In contrast to masonry façades, problems with moisture and efflorescence do not occur since the system is built up in layers with an air chamber between them.
Maintenance
The Spanish technical building code (CTE) establishes and recommends in its Core Document on health standards (HS):
every 3 years:
- Checking the condition of the cladding for any cracks, detachment, moisture and stains
- Checking the condition of specific points, such as: corners, coping, cantilevers, canopies, etc
every 5 years:
- Checking the eventual occurrence of cracks and fissures as well as lack of verticality and other deformations in the main cladding layer
every 10 years:
- Checking the cleanliness of the vents or ventilation openings of the chamber
Installation
Easy to fit on site. The panels are fitted “dry” by mechanical anchors, which have been previously calculated to resist wind load and gravity resistance (the weight of the panel itself), achieving performances of up to 60 m² per day and per pair, which depends on the system used.