Miguel Fairman

Construction Technology
Ms .Faith White
PLEVS

Questions

Clearly Differentiate between Cladding, Infill Panels and Facings

Explain what are panel walls, curtain walls, party walls, partitions and state their advantages
Identify the advantages of cross walls /box wall frame construction and state under which
condition it is most used.

Question 1.

Clearly Differentiate between Cladding, Infill Panels and Facings

Cladding
The cladding of buildings is one of the most expressive, inspiring and complex aspects of
building design. The structural frame developed the separation between structure and
environmental envelope and led to a growth in the use of many new and different forms of
cladding. Cladding is a process where one material covers another. This type of process is used
with metals, optical fibers, construction projects and nuclear reactors. This term has different
meanings, depending on the materials used and the accepted standards in each industry. In
construction, cladding is used to provide a layer of protection to the exterior of a building against
the weather. The materials used may be a combination of metals, aluminum or plastic. This
material is most commonly installed around windows, doors, roofs, and chimneys where
rainwater tries to enter the home. The extra material provides another layer of insulation and
protection where it is most likely to be needed. Cladding installation is a special skill among
roofers and other construction professionals. Incorrect installation can result in leaking windows
and doors, water damage and the growth of mold. Correctly installed cladding adds value to a
structure, as it provides another protection system against water damage.

Types of cladding

Brick or masonry veneer has a higher initial cost but the advantage is that it requires virtually no
maintenance.

Autoclaved aerated concrete - good insulation properties and comes in blocks, reinforced panels, and
lintels. Note: not all products are accepted by some BCAs - check before specifying.
Weatherboards - made of timber or from composite materials. Some do not need painting. They have
very good weathertightness properties. Depending on the weather tightness risk score a cavity may be
required behind the weatherboard.
Monolithic systems - textured wall surfaces made out of plaster, polystyrene or fibre cement sheet
are promoted as providing a sealed and waterproof outer skin but must be installed strictly to
manufacturer's instructions. The waterproof coating must be carefully maintained to ensure
watertightness, and will require a cavity in most applications.
Aluminium - for example, extruded aluminium weatherboard.
Profiled metal - This requires careful detailing and workmanship.
Plywood sheet
Concrete masonry blocks does not rot, can provide good heat storage, but they need to be installed
correctly. All single skin masonry will require the application of a waterproof coating.

Infill Panels

In-fill panels add fullness and a certain aesthetic value to the architectural designs of abuilding.
They can be applied to cover empty space both inside and outside of a building and are usually
used in a decorative manner. They are also used for creating security enclosures, fences, gates,
window guards, elevator divider screens, stair railings walkways, and aviary enclosures. Since
they are produced in various sizes and designs they can be easily adapted to these roles. These
are used to span large spaces in a framed building and is fixed in position. They are found in
roofs, walls, doors and offer the same resistance to weather as any other material that is exposed
to the elements. Durability, weather resistance, fire protection, acoustic suppression, thermal
capabilities and the like. These walls are supported by the frame. These walls can actually be
solid panels that appear to be walls but are actually panels that are prefabricated.

Facings
Facings are used to decorate walls for aesthetic purposes. They however contribute to the
strength of the building at times throughout the building. They are also applied to outer shells as
well as interior. They come in several materials such as. Concrete stone, natural stone, marble
thin sheet metal, terra cotta ceramic and glass tiles.

Question 2.
advantage

Explain what are panel walls, curtain walls, party walls, partitions and state their

Panel Walls
Wall panels serve many functions, from providing descriptions of exhibits in museums and
galleries to hiding away electronics such as stereo speakers. As a decor element, wall panels are
an excellent way to break up wall space. This can be achieved by paneling the upper or lower
half of the wall, installing wainscoting, creating a faux finish or one of several other methods. In
the home, wall panels are usually used for visual appeal. If a homeowner prefers something less
extensive than paneling or wainscoting, faux finishes or even faux panels may work well. A faux
finish can be used to create the look of wood, stone or fabric panels. Alternatively, trim can be
added to a wall to create the look of inlaid panels. Creating a line of faux wall panels and
painting the molding to match the wall color creates an architectural element that looks as if it
has always been there

Curtain Walls

One of the more important tasks of a curtain wall is to effectively function as a wind break for
the remainder of the structure. Doing so helps to minimize the degree of erosion on the are of the
building where the curtain wallis places, as well as helping to provide some degree of insulation
from cold winds during a storm. The end result is that less stress is placed on the heating and
cooling system of the building, thus keeping utility costs lower than they would be otherwise.
Along with serving as a wind break, the curtain wall also can help minimize the buildings
exposure to rain. By deflecting a portion of the rain, the deterioration of the building is delayed
somewhat. In addition, the deflection qualities of the wall help to minimize the incidence of
water collecting and draining into any small cracks that may be found along the building surface.
To some degree, a curtain wall provides the same benefits as a storefront system. The main
difference is that the storefront system usually spans a single floor, while a curtain wall may be
constructed to provide protection for several stories. Curtain walls also tend to lend themselves
more easily to homes than the systems designed to protect storefronts. While it was not unusual
for a curtain wall to be constructed with a steel frame in times past, aluminium is often the metal
of choice for the frames and gridwork that make up the surface of the wall. Glazed windows are
frequently utilized in order to allow the maximum amount of light to move through the structure
and to the interior. However, there are examples of the curtain wall that include opaque panels of
spandrel glass, a frosted window system that can be opened and closed at will, or even decorative
metal panels.
Far from being simply another element in building design, the curtain wall performs important
functions in terms of helping to minimize heating and cooling costs, providing protection to the
building when high winds occur, and utilizing the efficient use of daylight in order to illuminate
the interior of the structure. While not bearing any weight other than its own, there is no doubt
a curtain wall is anything but useless.

Party walls
Unlike external walls ,these walls have no weathering function and will have no openings
making the construction generally more straightforward .however they may be load bearing

(including racking forces from wind loading )and will need greater performances in both fire
and sound resistance and this will determine most of the construction specifications options
In masonry construction both fire and sound insulation can be better achieved with dense
concrete rather than the lower density blocks chosen for their thermal properties for external
wall. The cavity is not necessary for weatherproofing but does provide sound reduction, so both
solid and cavity construction can be used .For fire resistance the wall has to extend into roof
space and be fire stopped up to the underside of the tiles
For a solid party wall the total mass should be at least 415 kg/m sq and this can be achieved with
a 215 mm wide dense block or wall can be formed by laying thinner blocks flat to form a 215mm
thick wall .Both of these can be finished on both sides with lightweight plaster or a single sheet
of12.5mm plasterboard
Party walls can be constructed in timber frame construction as a cavity wall. In this case it is
difficult to achieve mass and fire resistance directly the structure of the timber frame panel.
The construction of the party wall has no sheathing board on the timber frame which was a major
component of the structural action of the panel ,particularly against racking .The plaster board is
now fulfilling this function and may not be sufficient .If additional stiffness is required this could
be gained with diagonal bracing inside the cavity or sheathing board might have to be reinforced
into the construction.

References

Construction Technology: Analysis and Choice

By Tony Bryan

Building Construction Handbook

By R Chudley Roger Greeno

Construction Methods and Planning

By J.R.Illingsworth