Metal Panel Material… Mounting System… Fabricator… Installer… or all 4??

This blog continues on from Part I: Metal Panel Material that we published last month. The aim of this series is to probably clarity around this often-confusing topic in the Metal Panel Facade industry. Part II focuses on installation systems as we look at the supply chain from raw material to the building:

INSTALLATION SYSTEMS:

There are many ways of installing metal panels, and there are many important considerations. The Installation System PROTECTS YOUR BUILDING! Many architects put a lot of detail into specifying the metal panel brand and performance criteria, and sometimes completely overlook the installation system. However, the installation system is actually the key to whether the metal panel performs or not!

Here is a quick overview of the different types of metal cladding installation systems:

Rainscreen System

Rainscreen systems can be either Drained and Back Ventilated, or Pressure Equalized. Once again this is a big topic, which you can learn more about here. But in a basic sense, it is exactly what it says: a “Rain Screen”, not a “Rain Seal”. Rainscreen Systems are permeable and are outside of the weather barrier.

Important considerations for specifiers include product performance testing to ensure they meet the applicable rainscreen tests, third-party auditing, integral allowance for thermal expansion and contraction (important point here: if it is dependent on the installer then it can be easily overlooked when contending with field conditions), and whether panels can be installed and removed independently without disturbing adjacent panels (a.k.a. sequential or non-sequential installation).

Wet-Seal Systems

When you see a metal panel façade and all the joints are filled with caulking, that is a wet-seal system. Or you might see a rubber gasket inserted into the reveal to make the seal. In either case, the façade is also acting as the weather barrier. Depending on the wall assembly there may be ventilation behind or not. While this method allows panels to be made using simple aluminum shapes, it also means that they are often simply fastened to the substrate without consideration for thermal or building movement.

Important considerations for specifiers include integral allowance for thermal expansion and contraction (often overlooked as previously mentioned) and compatibility of the silicone with the metal panel finish to ensure adhesion. Also remember that the silicone is a labor-intensive process, and as you might have seen before the silicone attracts dirt over time and releases it after rainstorms to make streaks on the panels.

Dry-Seal Systems

Dry-Seal Systems look like the rainscreen systems with a recessed reveal between each panel, but they perform like a wet-seal. Instead of putting silicone in the joint, the extrusions have gaskets in them to create a seal between the panel extrusions. I don’t recommend these systems as they have a number of elements that have the potential wrong on them… and when a hidden seal fails, you won’t know until you have a big mold problem.

We hope that you found this blog of interest. In the next part we will be looking at the role the Fabricator plays in the specification process.

To learn more about Fairview’s ACM & aluminum panel installation systems, view our Arrowhead page. 

Metal Panel Material… Mounting System… Fabricator… Installer… or all 4??

This continues to be one of the most confusing topics in the Metal Panel Façade industry. There are various types of metal panels available, like the traditional Metal Composite Material (known as MCM or ACM) and the more recent solid aluminum pre-finished plate products.

We have broken out this important topic in a four-part series to help dispel any misunderstandings.

Sheet Material > Installation System > Fabrication > Installation

The First Topic in the Series is Sheet Material:

Sheet Material:

There are two primary types of metal panel material used on building facades. Pre-Finished solid aluminum, and Metal Composite Material. As a quick summary, MCM consists of two skins of metal sandwiching a core material, which provides greater rigidity and superior flatness than sheet metal or plate. The solid plate option is a non-combustible solution, which is growing in popularity due to fires in some parts of the world due to incorrect use of MCM products and poor wall assembly design. 

Metal Composite Material:

The MCM Manufacturer is the one that makes sheets of MCM, in a process where the skins and core are fused together in a continuous coil process. There are also some manufacturers that press skins to a core one sheet at a time, however this is generally known to be a lower quality bond. This is important when you consider the harsh conditions an exterior building envelope is required to withstand.

Important Considerations for Specifiers Include: Product testing and third-party auditing, peel strength and other material properties, and finish properties.

Pre-Finished Solid Aluminum:

The Pre-Finished Solid Aluminum manufacturer makes sheets of pre-coated material using a process that ensures they are flat.  A paint system then allows the material to be formed and folded after they are coated.  Important point here: spray applied and powder-coated finishes DO NOT have the right properties to allow for post-forming.

Important Considerations for Specifiers Include: Finish system used, material thickness (under 3mm/1/8″ is prone to oil-canning).

The next topic in the series will be Installation Systems. If you have any queries or would like further information in the meantime, please contact us.