Next-Generation Cladding: Fairview Architectural’s Solution for Florida Building Code & Sustainability 

For decades, massive quantities of concrete have been used by the building industry in Florida.  Offsetting the use of conventional types of concrete can be achieved by using alternatives that exemplify dematerialization, the concept of using less material to fulfill an intended purpose, as in cladding a building.  This correlates with less embodied resources, lighter weight load, and in most cases, cost savings.  Vitrabond® FR (fire-retardant) by Fairview Architectural is a 4mm (0.157 inch) aluminum composite panels. 

Exceeding Hurricane & Wind Standards

Fairview Architectural North America has Florida Product Approval for HVHZ (High–Velocity Hurricane Zones) use of Vitrabond® FR and/or Vitraplate® as integrated with their Arrowhead® attachment system¹.  Florida Product Approval is required in compliance with the Florida Building Code for using products as building envelope components anywhere in the state, and the HVHZ is defined as Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.   The Florida Building Code is increasingly stringent, with an updated edition every three years.  Products are evaluated according to test protocols depending on their intended application².  

Explore Vitrabond’s full Listing and Technical Evaluation Report: DrJ Report 

Blocking Out Wind Driven Rain

The Arrowhead® system, collectively with Fairview Architectural’s aluminum composite panels, is efficiently used in exterior wall assemblies consisting of 1/2” fiberglass mat gypsum sheathing over light gauge steel framing.  The system is referred to as a rainscreen, which is double layered construction separated by an airspace gap.  The exposed outer layer blocks nearly all of the wind-driven rain, and shades the back-up layer, a continuous air/water barrier membrane applied directly over the sheathing, from exposure and the weathering effects of direct sunlight. In principle, though the rainscreen cladding is an open joint system, it is pressure-equalized so that moisture is not driven inward, and self-ventilating to allow escape of incidental moisture³.  The patented Arrowhead® system is designed to simplify installation, minimize fallibilities, and reduce labor costs⁴.  The system consists of small, intricately shaped linear profiles, which in this context can be referred to as pieces.  First a base piece is fastened through shims to the back-up wall.  An intermediate piece, to which the Vitrabond® panels are attached, interlocks to the base piece by an innovative T-clip⁵.  The Arrowhead® system is non-sequential, meaning respective panels are installed independently of adjacent panels, thereby allowing flexibility in the construction process.  

Passive Cooling Effect – Radiant Barrier

Much of Florida has a unique near-tropical climate where cooling is the objective practically year-round.  There are two different types of passive cooling strategies: thermal mass, and radiant barrier.  When sunlight encounters a material, it is either absorbed, reflected, or transmitted.  That which is absorbed is stored according to that material’s heat capacity and emitted according to its emissivity.  Radiant barriers consist of a material, thin as it may be, that is reflective and has a low emissivity surface adjacent to an airspace⁵.  The Arrowhead® system, collectively with Fairview Architectural’s aluminum composite panels, effectively functions as a radiant barrier.  Solar reflectance varies depending on the color and gloss of the PVDF exterior finish. 

Exceptional Finishes & Salt Spray Resistance

Vitrabond® panels have a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) exterior finish meeting AAMA 2605 performance standards⁷, providing an exceedingly high level of durability⁸, and resistance to dirt accumulation because of its fluoropolymer formula³.   Fairview Architectural has extensive options regarding the aesthetics of PVDF finishes, and offers architects the opportunity for coordinating custom finishes.  The variability of formulations allows for a wide range of colors, gloss, and special effects such as metallic speckling⁸.  Specific formulations are proprietary, but constituents such as metal oxides and mica pearlescent are used for aesthetics⁸.  The finish is factory-applied by coil coating⁶, a highly automated and highly efficient process.  On a continuous coil coating line, the aluminum sheet is uncoiled, pretreated, primed, coated, cured in a finish oven, then recoiled.  The continuous coil process minimizes liquid paint waste with nearly a 100% transfer efficiency, and also accommodates controlled collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)⁹.    The exterior finish coating is extremely resistant to adverse conditions, including superior resistance to salt spray and corrosion in coastal environments⁸. 

Coordination and Subcontracting

The decision to use these products should be deliberated early on in the planning stages to be integral to the overall design.  Moreover, the supply chain consists of Fairview Architectural as manufacturer and a separate, typically local entity as fabricator.  Fabrication of panels ready to mount on the wall assembly involves cutting to size, then routing and folding at the perimeter edge to result in a continuous return for attachment of respective panels. 

Tackling a Coastal or HVHZ Project?

Connect with a Fairview Florida Specialist to ensure your façade meets hurricane, corrosion and fire standards from day one. 
Email helpdesk@fairview-na.com or call 860-242-2711 for a Same-Day Response. 

(This article was originally published on www.FLSustainability.com)

References
¹L. Roberto Lomas P.E. 2022. Florida Product Approval #25812.1.
²International Code Council, Inc. 2020. Florida Test Protocols for High-Velocity Hurricane Zones, 7th Edition (2020).
³Ehrlich, B. 2014.By Joshua Bowditch
⁴Arrowhead® Information Flyer. 2020. Fairview Architectural.
⁵DrJ Engineering, LLC. 2021. Technical Evaluation Report TER 2006-02 Arrowhead® Fastening System. Fairview Architectural.
⁶Fairey, P. 1994. Radiant Energy Transfer and Radiant Barrier Systems in Buildings. FSEC Publication DN-6. Florida Solar Energy Center.
⁷Vitrabond® Technical Manual. 2020. Fairview Architectural.
⁸Iezzi, R. A. 2015. Polyvinylidene Fluoride-Based Coatings Technology. In: ASM Handbook, Volume 5B, Protective Organic Coatings. K. B. Tator (ed.)
⁹Pilcher, G. R. 2012. Market Analysis Preview: Coil and Extrusion Coatings. In: CoatingsTech. American Coatings Association

One of the most effective ways of enhancing the performance of a building envelope is to use a rainscreen cladding system. The rainscreen principle began to be understood in the early 1900’s, as out lined in our blog post – History of the Rainscreen Principle and has become the standard in building envelope construction.  

Metal panel rainscreen systems, whether composite (ACM/MCM) or solid aluminum, are praised for their sustainability and aesthetics. Their adaptability to various design trends and ease of installation make them a superior choice compared to other rainscreen products.

A rainscreen system acts as a protective screen against rain, allowing moisture to penetrate behind the screen and then evaporate through ventilation. An air space behind the rainscreen ensures constant airflow, while a weather barrier serves as the primary defense between the exterior and interior. The structural wall is located inside the weather barrier, with insulation placed either inside or outside the barrier, depending on the building envelope design.

Selecting a metal panel rainscreen installation system for your cladding project can be challenging due to the variety of available options and the need for integration with other products. This guide focuses specifically on metal panel rainscreen installation systems:

1. Arrowhead Rainscreen Cladding Installation Systems by Fairview Architectural

Fairview Architectural stands out as the only metal panel façade product manufacturer offering both sheet materials and extrusions/components, ensuring installers receive a complete package from a single source for guaranteed compatibility. Additionally, Fairview mandates training and vetting for fabricators and installers, providing architects and building owners with confidence that the project will be executed correctly. This thorough approach helps prevent issues like mold growth caused by under-qualified installers or under-tested rainscreen systems.

Arrowhead is a family of rainscreen panel installation systems that offers a wide variety of design possibilities, unparalleled installation efficiencies, and long-term product lifecycle benefits.

There are numerous ways that Arrowhead saves you both money and time over any other metal panel rainscreen installation system:

• Non-sequential installation avoids interruptions from other trades
• Unique installation process avoids many steps in the installation process required by other systems
• Multiple systems to choose from offering the widest variety in aesthetics in one system

 2. EVO and FUSION by Carter Architectural Panels 

Carter Architectural Panels call themselves the “North American Extrusion System Specialists”. According to their website, as they evolve, so do their products and partnerships. Originally in sheet metal and architectural panel fabrication, supplying and installing panels on site, they turned to offering fabricating rights to other fabricators across North America for their extrusions. Their objective was to cause change in the specification process through Architects and Specifiers, to accept tested panel systems, which perform exceptionally. 

The Carter website states that “EVO™ RIVETLESS™ panels are value engineered and designed to withstand the harshest elements and toughest competitors”, and that they are “strictly a distributor of the FUSION™ DRILLFREE™ extrusion system to fabricators across North America, and do not compete in the manufacturing of any products.” 

3.SAF Rainscreen Installation Systems 

SAF is a fabricator of a wide variety of metal building products, from column covers to sunshades, and metal wall panels. They can custom fabricate architectural bollards and apply custom finishes. SAF glazed and rainscreen systems come with time-tested securing systems including one with no screws or rivets visible.  

By using a pre-engineered system approach, SAF can quickly design and fabricate a building panel and extrusion system that is easy to install, enabling smooth workflows on the job site.  

As we mentioned at the start of this article, choosing a metal panel rainscreen installation system for your cladding project can be a challenge but we hope that these comparisons prove helpful. We also highly recommend specifying a rainscreen installation system that will enable your design intent while also ensuring a sound building envelope that will protect the building in any situation. Specification documents for Arrowhead Installation systems can be downloaded below: 

👉Fairview Architectural Binder 

Learn more about the Arrowhead family of rainscreen systems:  

• What is a Non-Sequential Cladding installation system, and why does it matter? 
• History of the Rainscreen principle 

Get Connected – Customer Service is ready to assist by phone 860-242-2711 or by email at helpdesk@fairview-na.com.  

Cladding Safety with Metal Composite Material (MCM) and NFPA 285-19

One of the most talked about points when specifying MCM panels, is NPFA 285 compliance. Fire safety standards are a big concern globally, and understandably so.

Since the 1980s, innovative exterior wall systems have been developed to enhance a buildings appearance, and to improve the overall performance of a facade. Over the last decade several high-rise building fires including structures in Dubai, Shanghai, Atlantic City, and the much-publicized Grenfell Tower in 2017 has raised concerns over buildings and façade cladding safety.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has developed research and resources to help building owners and global enforcement authorities, assess the fire risk of existing high-rise building portfolios, as well as identify what fire testing procedures should be applied when designing new buildings.  It has been suggested that the absence of severe apartment building fires in the U.S. is a testament to the American Building Code and additional standards such as NFPA 285.

What is NFPA 285?

The NFPA 285 test evolved from previous building and fire codes and first came into existence in 1998. The Code was updated in 2018 following the Grenfell Tower fire and has been continually revised, and improved to ensure the safety of buildings and their residents. NFPA 285 -19 (2019) is the current test standard.

What does the NFPA 285 involve?

The NFPA 285 test is classified as the ‘Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components’. This standard provides a test method for determining the fire propagation characteristics of exterior wall assemblies that are constructed using combustible materials or that incorporate combustible components.

The actual test itself is performed as an assembly test for exterior walls that contain combustible components or materials. The test determines vertical and horizontal flame spread by simulating an interior flashover fire that impacts the exterior cladding through a compromised window opening. It is important to stress the fact that NFPA 285 is a large-scale assembly test. This means that individual products and systems cannot pass the test alone. Materials are only considered acceptable when evaluated in conjunction with and as part of the entire wall assembly.

An example of a typical NFPA 285 compliant MCM wall assembly includes the following components that are often sourced from multiple manufacturers: insulation, exterior cladding panel, air barrier, water-resistive barrier, fasteners, lintels and furring.

The fire exposure duration for NFPA 285 is 30 minutes. See example diagram below:

Image: courtesy of the Metal Construction Association

When is NFPA 285 compliance required?

NFPA 285 compliance is required for an exterior wall assembly containing MCM panels as follows:

• Installations on buildings of Type I, II, III or IV construction that are greater than 40 feet in height where the fire-separation distance exceeds 5 feet.
• Installations of up to 50 feet if the MCM has a limited self-ignition temperature.
• Installations up to 75 feet (or beyond if sprinkler protected).

The graphic below provides a visual reference on when and where the Code is required:

Note: There are situations where a combustible Water Resistant Barrier can be used without being tested such as when the only combustible component in the wall assembly is covered with brick, stucco, concrete and a few other materials or meets certain technical parameters.

How does MCM perform against NFPA 285?

Although continually faced with updated test protocols for fire protection, metal composite material cladding is passing the test. With its Fire Retardant (FR) mineral core, MCMs perform well when subjected to NFPA’s stringent testing procedures.

Note: not all manufacturers have tested their products against the current standard, so it is important to make sure that the MCM you are specifying is compliant and accompanied by an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited report.

When exposed to fire, the metal skins of the MCM initially deflect the heat and fire away from the core material. While the metal skins will eventually melt, the material remains in place, and the metal limits both the amount of combustible core available to the fire and the spread of flame.

Also, of note is the fact that wall cavity heat gain is not typically an issue in MCM systems in the absence of exterior flames. In other words, the wall does not self-sustain once the flame source is eliminated. This is also a benefit of the FR core as it has shown to self-extinguish almost immediately.

This is due to the FR core utilizing the addition of minerals, such as alumina trihydrate or magnesium oxide, that effectively break down when subjected to extreme heat. This then releases water vapor, helps suppress the fire, and causes the self-extinguishing process mentioned above once the flame source is removed (see diagram below).

Are there alternatives to using MCM panels?

MCM panels are a popular construction material and there are many advantages to continue using and specifying them as part of your compliant wall assembly. Alternative options to MCM are non-combustible solid metal panels or engineered metal plate, however, current supply chain issues caused by the high demand for raw aluminum materials, is seeing prices for these products reach all-time highs.

How to specify MCM compliant products

If you require a non-combustible cladding solution that is compliant to NFPA 285, MCM is the more reasonably priced option with the addition of being available in an extensive range of colors, easy to fabricate and install and long-term warranties.

At Fairview our range includes the MCM panel product, Vitrabond FR, that is fully compliant to NFPA 285 (report available on request) as well as the 3mm pre-finished solid aluminum panel (Vitraplate). Contact our team for more information and to discuss your specific project needs.

Fairview is the only ACM/MCM manufacturer that offers a fully patented and tested installation system: Arrowhead. The Arrowhead Metal Panel Installation System, was designed in 2017 by industry professionals as a more efficient solution to traditional (sequential) installation systems.

Arrowhead is a fully tested rainscreen application system for ACM panels and aluminum plate panels. Not only is Arrowhead rated for hurricane zones, but it is also tested and rated for the more stringent Miami–Dade high velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ) requirements. In addition to hurricane testing, Arrowhead is rated for both AAMA 508 (Pressure Equalized Rainscreen Wall Cladding Systems) and AAMA 509 (Drained and Back–Ventilated Rainscreen Wall Cladding Systems).

The Arrowhead system is engineered to save costs and labor time, increasing your productivity and allows you to get more jobs done each year. It is a premium system because of its innovation, flexibility, and ease of install.

We currently offer three Arrowhead systems, FLEX, LEAN, and FLUSH, with more options currently in development. Our Arrowhead packages include versatile facade materials, fully tested labor-saving installation and manufacturer’s in-house training programs.

The Revolutionary Arrowhead T-Clip
Our Arrowhead systems use a revolutionary t-clip that fastens the panel to the wall. Our patented t-clip is what makes the arrowhead system so innovative. It allows the system to be non-sequential.

Since the system is non-sequential, you can add or remove panels independently without affecting the integrity of the structure. This can save you and your installers time, labor, and money.

The t–clip secures the panels to the base extrusion. The clip slots into the extrusion, and then you simply twist the t–clip’s to secure the panel to the wall. This simplified installation allows less labor to install more panels, increasing capacity and reducing installation time.

9 Key Benefits of the Arrowhead System
The Arrowhead system is truly revolutionary. Here are some of the major benefits of the Arrowhead system and why you need it for your next project:

1. Fully Tested: It is the only true non-progressive tested AAMA 508 and AAMA 509 compliant rain screen system for metal panels. It is also hurricane rated and Miami-Dade rated.

2. Cuts Costs: Because the Arrowhead system is fast and easy to fabricate and install, it can be done in just days instead of weeks, which significantly reduces labor costs and saves labor time. You can also have multiple crews on site because the panels do not have to be installed sequentially, which allows projects with tight schedules to be completed in–time.

6. Easy Installation: The non–sequential system makes it possible for measurements to be taken from the installed base extrusions and sent directly to the fabricator. In addition, panels are easily locked in place using the t–clip. The t–clip is simple use and gives consistent results.

7. Panel Replacement: If you have a damaged panel, you can simply remove and re–install the single panel without compromising the integrity of the system or having to remove other panels.

8. Versatile: The FLEX system accommodates different depths of panels so you can add complexity to your façade design while using the same simple mounting system.

9. Compatible: Arrowhead systems are compatible with our ACM/MCM products: Vitrabond FR ACM, Vitraplate prefinished 0.125” aluminum, Vitranar prefinished solid aluminum as well as other industry brands. All three Arrowhead systems can be used on the same wall, giving a sophisticated look while having the same installation process throughout. As the base extrusions are the same across all three systems, different panel styles can be achieved next to each other while using the exact same installation method.

Arrowhead FLEX System
The Arrowhead FLEX System is our most common system. It allows for different depths of panels. It is aesthetically like traditional rain screen systems and has the same features, however, is designed to significantly reduce installation and labor costs. With the FLEX System, the base wall extrusions are shimmed and attached to the exterior wall first. The extrusions are then used to take the measurements for the panels to be placed straight onto the extrusion and held in place by the t-clips.

Arrowhead LEAN System
The Arrowhead LEAN System takes all the benefits of the more traditional Arrowhead FLEX system and combines them with an extremely simplified fabrication process. No rivets are used to hold the panels to the frame. Instead, a double groove and slow system is used to secure the frame extrusion. There are less steps in the process, which increases production speed.

Currently the LEAN System is limited to a 1-inch reveal, so it cannot accommodate panels of different depths.

Arrowhead FLUSH System
The Arrowhead FLUSH system provides a minimalist look with shallow reveals and is easy to fabricate. The FLUSH system offers a clean aesthetic for a truly modern finish to your building façade.

The FLUSH System is mainly used for interior designs because of its sleek look, but it can be used for exteriors as well. It provides extremely small joints and has a flush panel look. The FLUSH System has the same features and ratings as the LEAN and FLEX systems.

Award-winning results

And if you need a 10th reason, Arrowhead can help you develop an award-winning project just like Capitol Vista that recently won the 2021 NAHB Best in American Living Platinum Award in the Affordable, Multifamily category at the Collaborative Vision for Design Equity Awards. This project features Arrowhead FLEX with our Vitrabond FR panels.

Contact Customer Support today
Your dedicated Arrowhead product manager will be there for you from start to finish. We also provide technical support from our product engineers. And now, with our new Customer Success team, you can use our dedicated line to contact us about anything regarding Fairview and get your questions answered.

Outstanding Finishes

Vitrabond® panels have a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) exterior finish meeting AAMA 2605 performance standards⁴, providing an exceedingly high level of durability⁵, and resistance to dirt accumulation because of its fluoropolymer formula³. Fairview  Architectural has extensive options regarding the aesthetics of PVDF finishes, and offers architects the opportunity for coordinating custom finishes. The variability of formulations allows for a wide range of colors, gloss, and special effects such as metallic  speckling⁵. Specific formulations are proprietary, but constituents such as metal oxides and mica pearlescent are used for  aesthetics⁵. The finish is factory-applied by coil coating⁶, a highly automated and highly efficient process. On a continuous coil coating line, the aluminum sheet is uncoiled, pretreated, primed, coated, cured in finish oven, then recoiled. At The Heming, the finishes are SOG Grey, Dusty Charcoal, which are both custom, Bronze Metallic and Copper Metallic. 

Production to Installation

Sustainability in the architectural industry involves considerations of the building materials, specifically raw materials, supply chain,  and characteristics of the end product. The Vitrabond® aluminum composite panels are produced by merging the PVDF top-coated aluminum sheet fed from above, with the mineral-based core material as a heated extruded layer fed laterally, along with the backside aluminum sheet fed from below, together passed through rollers in a continuous automated process. The combined interactions of cooling, drying, and pressure cause fusion of the aluminum sheets to the core material as an incredibly thin rigid composite, having a top-coating that is exceptionally durable to the exterior environment. Fabrication is a different stage of production by a separate entity, in this case by River Supply Inc. Fabrication involves cutting to size, then routing and folding at the perimeter edge to result in a continuous return for attachment of respective panels. Installation is by Del Metro Inc.

Method of Attachment

Vitrabond® panels can be integrated into various attachment systems available to the building industry. Specifically at The Heming,  the WS-200 system by River Supply Inc. is used, which consists of intricately small linear aluminum profiles to which the panels attach by rivets. The system is fastened to the substructure through shims, which function as a thermal break and also isolate dissimilar materials. Joints are 1/2” gaps sealed by the silicone sealant Dow Corning 795. Silicone sealants are chemically stable and extremely durable with excellent resistance to weathering and aging⁷. Shown below is a detail of the assembly.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Arcadis for photos, River Supply Inc. for the assembly detail, and Del Metro Inc. for specifics.

References

¹Tysons Urban Center. Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, 2017 Edition.

²Vitrabond® Aluminum Composite Panel Technical Information. 2013. Fairview Architectural.

³Ehrlich, B. 2014. Cladding: More Than Just a Pretty Façade. Environmental Building News 23(9): 1-10.

⁴Vitrabond® Technical Manual. 2020. Fairview Architectural.

⁵Iezzi, R. A. 2015. Polyvinylidene Fluoride-Based Coatings Technology. In: ASM Handbook, Volume 5B, Protective Organic Coatings. K. B. Tator (ed.)

⁶Vitrabond® FR Metal Composite Material, Façade System Specification Template. 2016. Fairview Architectural.

⁷Beall, C. 1999. Thermal and Moisture Protection Manual. McGraw-Hill.