Specialist Diploma in

Construction Management
Facade Systems

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Scope

1. Definition of Cladding
2. Types of Facade Systems
3. Types of Joints
4. Performance Requirements
5. Method Statement
6. Failure of Cladding Systems

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Definition of Cladding

1. Cladding is a wall acting as a primary barrier to protect the

building against air infiltration, water penetration, wind
resistance and sound.

2. Cladding does not carry any structural loads except its own
weight and any imposed wind loadings

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Factors to be considered in choosing a type
of cladding

1. Strength and stability

2. Water tightness
3. Sound insulation
4. Thermal insulation
5. Fire resistance
6. Provision for movement
7. Versatility in form and colour

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Types of Facade System

A. Stone Cladding
B. Precast Cladding
C. Glass Reinforced Polyester Panel
(GRP)
D. Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC)
E. Curtain Walling

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A. Stone Cladding

1. Consists of granite, limestone,

sandstone, marble.
2. Do Not exhibit texture variation
cause by differential
weathering
3. Require more complex fixtures
than concrete.
4. Size and thickness should be
minimize to reduce weight to
structural and wind loads

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B. Precast Cladding

1. Typical 3m in height and not carrying any structural load

2. Span between floor edge beams
3. No need for continuous background support but supports for
masonry are required for span more than12 m.
4. All fixings allows for 3 way adjustment for panel to align and
level.
5. Fixtures provides loadbearing for dead weight and restraining
to wind pressure and suction.
6. Concrete sandwich panel offers good fire resistance
7. Large-size units (3m x 10m) without mullions and fewer joints
provide lower handling works.
8. Wide variety of finishes – exposed aggregate; polished;
ceramic tile.

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B. Precast Cladding

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C. Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP)

1. Composite durable resin with glass fiber

treatment
2. High strength, low density and lightweight
3. Sustain high load
4. Fixing by clamping the panel back to
structure
5. Good weather resistance
6. Can be moulded to any profile
7. Good aesthetic properties
8. Cost to produce timber mould
9. Need to repair on mould when damage

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D. Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC)

1. Consists of silica, sand and water mixed

with alkali resistant glass fiber
2. Weather resistant, non-combustible, low
thermal movement
3. High strength
4. Fixing by angle cleats and dowels

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E. Curtain walling

1. New Evolution of hanging walls

2. Aluminium/Steel and glass

A. Stick System B. Unitised System

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E. Curtain walling

1. New Evolution of hanging walls

2. Aluminium/Steel and glass

A. Stick System B. Unitised System

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E. Curtain walling

A. Stick System (Mullion type)

1. Wall is installed piece by piece

2. Mullions are installed first,
followed by horizontal rail
members, panels and window
units.
3. Low shipping and handling costs
because of minimum bulk
4. Offers some degree of
dimensional adjustment to site
conditions

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E. Curtain walling
A. Stick System (Mullion type)

1. Its disadvantages are the need for

site assembly rather than
controlled factory conditions
2. Pre-glazing not possible.

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E. Curtain walling
B. Unitised System (Panel type)

1. The façade is composed

of large framed units
2. Panels made from metallic
sheets or precast concrete
3. Allow consistent pattern for
the façade
4. Superior quality control
5. Fabrication, assembly and
installation of glazing and
spandrel panels in factory-
controlled environment.

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 E. Curtain walling

B. Unitised System (Panel type)

1. Accept single or insulating glass, metal

panels and stone.
2. Sequential interlocking installation but
required special detailing and
installation of “leave-out” units.
3. Units are bulky – requires more space
for assembly, transportation.

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E. Curtain walling

A. Stick System B. Unitised System

1. Components brought to 1. Factory finished units
site to be assembled 2. Minimal site works although site
2. Installation directly onto work required for joints and fixing
frame structure 3. Adjustment required after
3. Tolerances, thermal and installation.
differential floor 4. Interlocking members form
movements need to be structural sections
detailed 5. Split mullion and transoms (stack
4. Performance reliant on site joint) to accommodate movements
completed works 6. Difficult to detail differential floor
5. Quality difficult to control/ movements
monitor.
6. Training and supervision
required
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E. Curtain walling

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 Joints and Connection

To allow for differential movement due to thermal, wind and structural

expansion and contraction,
Proper joints and connection is required to the followings:

a) Framing and structure

b) Vertical and horizontal members
c) Framing and infill panels
d) Inner and outer surfaces of composite panels

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Framing and structure

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Vertical and horizontal members

Thermal
Movement

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Vertical and horizontal members

Thermal
Movement

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Fastener

1. Primary fasteners fixed

directly to the building
frame
2. Secondary fasteners are
fixed between primary
fasteners and curtain
walling
3. Fasteners must be allowed
for error adjustment in 3
dimensions in installation
on site

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Types of Joints

• Gasket

• Sealant

• Beads/ Metal Insert

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• Gasket

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• Sealant

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• Sealant

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• Beads/ Metal Insert

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Adhesion failure Cohesion failure

Spalling Extrusion

Intrusion
Hardening/weathering/ crazing

Softening

Stumping
Waisting

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Performance Requirements

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Cladding – Performance Requirements

1. Cladding must achieve the following performance

requirements:

A. Air permeability
B. Water tightness
C. Wind resistance
D. Loading Deflection
E. Sound Transmission

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Performance Requirements

A. Air permeability
1. Air flow expressed as average leakage rate per m length of
opening joint visible on inner face of cladding.
2. For opening lights, the leakage not exceed the graph below
8
6
4
2
0
50 100 150 200 300 400 500 600
Pressure Difference Pa

3. For fixed lights, average leakage rate not exceed 0.5 m3/h
per m length of visible perimeter glass or glazing material at
pressure of 200 pa.
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Performance Requirements

B. Water Tightness
1. Curtain walling should be able to prevent ingress of
moisture from surface dampness and run off or wind driven
rain.
2. No leakage should occur from a uniformly spray of minimum
rate 4 L/m2 minute for 15 minutes.
3. Occurrence of condensation is acceptable
4. Overflow or leakage of water from sill tracks is not
acceptable
5. Accumulation of water in sliding window and door sill tracks
is acceptable if:
a. Water is contained and drained to the exterior
b. No wetting of surface visible to the occupants
c. No staining or damage to part of the building and
finishing.
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Leakage

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Performance Requirements

C. Wind Resistance
1. Positive and negative design wind pressure
determined in accordance with BS CP 3 or
other wind design Code acceptable by the
authority.

2. Deflections not exceed 1/175 of clear span or

20 mm whichever is lesser at the design
pressure.

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Performance Requirements

D. Loading Deflection
1. No breakage, permanent damage to panels, fasteners or
anchors shall occur – residue deflection to wall framing member
not exceed 0.2% of their clear spans at a load equal to 1.5 times
of specified design wind pressure ( positive and negative)

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Performance Requirements

E. Sound Transmission
1. Sound transmission loss (in decibel) be in 1/3 octave bands
from 100 Hz to 5000 Hz.

2. Sound transmission loss of cladding dependent on acoustic

performance of infill panel material, mullions and joint details. –
The component that has the lowest sound transmission lost
will determine the overall acoustic performance of the
cladding.

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Information Requirements to Building
Authority
1. Structural framing and key structural details and installation
procedures
2. Structural calculations comprising design check on the parent
structure, analysis on the structural adequacy and stability of
curtain wall system
3. Workmanship specification for welding, galvanisation measures to
overcome bi-metalic effects and corrosion prevention
4. Elevations including panel arrangements
5. Sections showing structural members and supports
6. Connections details
7. Specification on allowable tolerance of the positioning of curtain
wall supports.
8. Material specifications for structural steel, aluminium alloy, cast- in
anchors, fixing screws, structural sealant and glazing.
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Maintenance and Inspection Checklist

1. Cracked, loose, broken or missing glass panels

2. Bulging, bowling, separation or displacement of panels
3. Staining – rust, chemical or water
4. Fixings – damaged and missing parts, corrosion, looseness
5. Sealant – extrusion between joints and panels, change in colour
and other signs of deterioration
6. Hardening or cracking gaskets
7. Malfunction of locking devices and bar hinges of operable windows
8. Water seepage or moisture behind curtain wall or window

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 Method Statement

1. Method Statement of fabrication details and shop

drawing for Architect’s/SO’s Approval
2. Miniatures Mock-up at Office for Selection of
• Glazing
• Details of extrusion
• Sun shading elements
3. Full Mockup at Site consisting of
• Cladding
• Surrounding walls colour
• Sun shading devices/ elements
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Failure of cladding systems

A. Structural failure C. Fixture failure

1. Poor concrete design 1. Use of incompatible
materials
2. Poor workmanship
2. Incorrect choice of fixing
3. Physical overloading
3. Poor alignment
4. Omission of reinforcement
4. Failure due to overstress
B. Cladding failure 5. Omission of fixtures
6. Over/under tightening of
1. Material failure (e.g. bolts
structural silicone) 7. Oversized holes
2. Lack or poor movement 8. Bored holes dusty
joints (chemical anchors)

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