{"id":130475,"date":"2021-06-30T15:26:24","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T19:26:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=130475"},"modified":"2021-09-23T16:11:33","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T20:11:33","slug":"durability-with-rainscreen-masonry-wall-assemblies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/durability-with-rainscreen-masonry-wall-assemblies\/","title":{"rendered":"Durability with rainscreen masonry wall assemblies"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Michael Vaughn<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy Echelon Masonry<\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Water, sun, wind, and temperature damage are among the greatest enemies to a building\u2019s structural integrity, even when encased in precast or exterior masonry. The ability to prepare exteriors against these elements has become even more challenging given the rise in severe weather events that have battered the United States in recent years.<\/p>\n

According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)<\/a>, the top five storm-related disasters in 2018 and 2019 alone combined to cause more than $75 billion in damage.<\/p>\n

As a result, resilient design has grown into an industrywide movement calling on engineers, architects, environmental consultants, and other design professionals to create buildings that not only withstand severe storms like hurricanes and tornadoes, but also remain habitable under extreme weather circumstances. Defined as \u201cthe capacity to adapt to changing conditions and to maintain or regain functionality and vitality in the face of stress or disturbance\u201d by the Resilient Design Institute (RDI), resilient design strategies incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives with legal and practice standards.<\/p>\n

One of these methods includes the development of new rainscreen system technologies built with manufactured or natural stone cladding. Time-tested in numerous commercial building applications over the past century, these systems have continually proven their ability to provide a protective external layer that effectively manages water intrusion and other environmental challenges.<\/p>\n

Already a $116-plus million global industry in 2018, rainscreen wall system revenues are expected to reach $60.75 billion worldwide by 2025<\/a> and continue to soar into the next decade. This is primarily due to the commercial building industry\u2019s growing reliance on resilient and sustainable design principles as well as the desire to protect investments. Other factors include the need for properly designed systems ensuring durable, long-lasting and attractive results.<\/p>\n

What are rainscreen wall systems and cladding?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to a Journal of Architectural Engineering<\/em><\/a> article from the library of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fa\u00e7ade is one of the most significant contributors to the energy budget and comfort parameters of any building\u2026. High-performance fa\u00e7ades need to block adverse external environmental effects and maintain internal comfort conditions with minimal energy consumption\u201d(For more information, read the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Library\u2019s Heat Transfer in Fa<\/em>\u00e7<\/em>ade Systems and Energy Use: Comparative Study of Different Exterior Wall Types).<\/em><\/p>\n

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Incorporated into aluminum grids, high-performance rainscreen materials are ventilated to help with drainage, and protect panel joints from humidity, mold, warping, as well as heavy winds and direct rain.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rainscreen cladding and wall systems combined meet this need by creating an \u201couter skin\u201d and protective barrier for the building\u2019s exterior fa\u00e7ade. The outer layer of this double-wall construction typically consists of prefabricated materials ranging from polyurethane, terracotta, and metal to thin stone veneers, which have become increasingly popular over the last two decades. Lighter and often quicker to install than similar products, these veneers are being used to replicate the look and feel of full bed masonry in numerous commercial applications such as the multi-purpose, mixed-use, and multi-story residential building markets.<\/p>\n

Near-impenetrable protective properties and environmental benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)<\/a> estimates more than a quarter of U.S. buildings are water damaged (See \u201cSurviving Mold: What is a Water Damaged Building?\u201d). Though excessive rain is the most common culprit, unwanted water leakage can be caused by a number of sources to negatively impact the structural integrity of buildings and their foundations. Further, unwanted water leakage promotes the growth of mold, fungi, bacteria, and other potentially toxic organic materials.<\/p>\n

From aging brick joints to settling cracks, the exterior walls of commercial buildings are easily penetrated by moisture if not properly maintained. When applied by expert professionals with the appropriate high-grade materials, rainscreen cladding can provide a near-impenetrable, moisture barrier to protect the building\u2019s original fa\u00e7ade and thermal insulation from rain, secondary humidity, and condensation.<\/p>\n

How do rainscreen wall systems work?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Engineered wall assemblies, known as rainscreen, have emerged that replicate the look of full bed masonry.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rainscreen wall systems utilize a double-wall construction to create an air cavity protecting the exterior walls of the building from flying debris, heavy rain, moisture, etc. The gap between the exterior wall sheathing and exterior cladding is designed to reinforce the structure against water damage through capillary breaks to drain water away from the building\u2019s interior wall.<\/p>\n

Another advantage is free circulation of air equalizing the air pressure between the wall system\u2019s underlying surface and the outside air to further reduce the possibility of water filtration and leakage. This ventilated cavity or drainage plane then also helps to drain and dry out the residual water and enhance air flow, while ventilating any moisture in the air. In addition to waterproofing the space, the system\u2019s multi-layer assembly serves to:<\/p>\n

\u2022 protect the panel joints and wall construction from mold, warping, and other harmful effects resulting from seepage of water;<\/p>\n

\u2022 shield the underlying surface from heavy winds and pounding rain; and<\/p>\n

\u2022 reduce condensation and secondary humidity due to the enhanced air flow produced by its ventilated cavity.<\/p>\n

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An eco-friendly design to reduce energy costs<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Rainscreen fits well into the colorful, modern design of contemporary buildings like the Orlando Hospital ER, while providing a protective external layer that manages moisture and weather.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another benefit of a rainscreen is its ability to lower energy costs by 30 to 40 percent<\/a> (Consult Exterior Wall Cladding: Design Principles and Material Choices).\u00a0 The rainscreen\u2019s ventilated cavity achieves this by increasing thermal insulation, lowering the retention of heat, and reducing thermal and cold bridging, which can lead to condensation and mold growth.<\/p>\n

Due seasonal temperature variations, a natural convection process commonly known as the \u2018chimney effect\u2019 also occurs within the cavity. This results in the warm air rising and then being replaced by cooler air temperatures during the warmer months. The inverse happens during winter when the air inside the cavity is too cool to rise, but warm enough to surround the building\u2019s interior with an insulated layer of mildly heated air. Other energy-efficient benefits of this effect include protecting the fa\u00e7ade\u2019s internal thermal insulation, while helping it maintain maximum efficiency through the reduced possibility of excessive air leaks.<\/p>\n

Many of today\u2019s modern structures are currently earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits with the latest, high-quality masonry products. On average, concrete masonry units (CMUs) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3 to 5 percent when compared to wood, with lower heating and cooling costs. The highest-performing insulated masonry systems available on the market have been shown to exceed most stringent code requirements by delivering thermal performances rated at R-16.2.<\/p>\n

Prolonged building stability<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to adding an extra layer of moisture protection to a building\u2019s fa\u00e7ade and increasing its energy-efficiency, ventilated rainscreen wall systems have been shown to prolong the life expectancy of new and upgraded facilities. Reducing decay and peeling of paint are just a few of the advantages. The stable temperatures produced within the air cavity can also help to:<\/p>\n