LADDING OF BUILDINGS

Building Construction III

Spring 2012

Dr.Hikmat Hammad

Lecture 8

CLADDING OF BUILDINGS• Learning outcomes :

After studying this chapter, the student should be

able to:

– Understand the functions of cladding

– Identify the types of cladding

– Understand the types of unit cladding applied to a

structural backing

– Understand the concrete panel claddings

– Understand GRC and GRP cladding panels

– Understand infill panel cladding

– Understand curtain walling

General

• Cladding is an external finish applied to a

building by fixing varieties of products to a

structural baking or to a framed structure in

order to improve its decorative look and

resistance to atmospheric effects.

• Before the development of cladding techniques

the standard external finish to buildings consist

of rendering and painting, which is difficult, time

consuming, labor intensive and expensive.

• The cladding is the most visible part of a building therefore it has a very big effect of the finished look of the building.

• The major purpose of cladding is to separate the indoor environment of a building from the outdoors in such a way that indoor environmental conditions can be maintained at levels suitable for the building's intended use.

• Especially with the increased number of high rise construction, the technology of cladding rapidly developed. Most of the cladding panels do not require any maintenance. This could be a sufficient reason to choose cladding panels for external finishing.

Functions of Cladding

• Cladding must prevent the entry of rain, snow

and ice into a building. Water on the face of a

building often driven by wind at high velocities

and high air pressures in every direction. Water

problem is even more critical on tall buildings.

During a heavy storm large amounts of water

falls to the face of the building. Under the

pressure this water will readily penetrate through

the smallest crack or hole into the building.

• The cladding of a building must prevent the passage of air between indoors and outdoors and provide sufficient heat insulation. The air leaks are harmful because they waste the air conditioning and cause condensation on the surface of the walls.

• The cladding of a building must control the passage of light, especially sunlight. Excess amount of sunlight may cause glare and create uncomfortable living conditions inside.

• Cladding should isolate the interior of a

building from noises outside, or vice versa.

Noise insulation in a building is best

achieved by walls that are airtight,

massive, and resilient.

• Cladding must resists positive and

negative wind pressure and transfer them

to main structure by maintain the integrity

of the whole structure. This characteristic

is more critical in tall buildings.

• Cladding should adjust the thermal, shrinkage

and settlement movements of the building

elements without developing cracks.

• Cladding of a building should have required

amount of fire resistance.

Cladding are generally non-load bearing but must

be self supporting and capable of resisting

horizontal wind loads. Cladding can be classified

as follows;

– Small size unit cladding fixed to a structural backing.

– Larger size cladding fixed between framing members.