Eco Friends Company

Ventilated Facades

 

“Ventilated facades” are so named because of the creation of an air 

space outside the load-bearing wall of a building. This is obtained by 

constructing a curtain wall some distance in front of the load-bearing 

wall itself. One of the advantages of this curtain wall is the protection 

it provides to the building from atmospheric agents without any 

thermal transfer to the building structure. This can reduce the volume 

of perimeter air-conditioning required, guaranteeing energy savings 

on heating and cooling. The natural ventilation produced by a 

chimney effect together with the spaces in the external cladding allow 

the removal of heat and humidity away from the building structure. 

An open joint system, with integrated waterproofing treatment to the 

structural wall behind it, can also be referred to as a rain-screen.

The Italian manufacturer Floor Gres says the technical characteristics of 

the curtain-type ventilated facade depend on the following parameters:

 

1. Operating loads: they are the weight of the elements themselves 

(uprights and transverse metal framework), the permanent overloads 

(porcelain stoneware tiles or sheets) and the accidental overloads 

(wind and movement of the structure).

 

2. Movement and deformation caused by wind thrust, the static load, 

seismic movement, thermal expansion.

 

3. Thermal expansions: in modern buildings where the inside 

temperature remains constant, outside there are fluctuations of up to 

50˚C (this is one reason why cladding not directly attached to the 

wall is considered beneficial).

 

4. Water tightness and removal of condensation. By adopting open 

joints, the condensation is removed, thanks to the natural ventilation 

and to the chimney effect, making this system better than sealed joints.

 

5. Thermal insulation; the transmission of heat is carried out by 

conduction, convection and radiation; the curtain wall deadens this 

transmission by carrying out an “umbrella effect”. The insulation may 

be improved by using materials such as impermeable foam 

polystyrene, fireproof polystyrene or impermeable mineral fibre. 

 

6. Soundproofing; soundproofing is strictly connected with the 

materials used in the construction of the structure. Insulating panels 

and correct insertion of the shock absorbers in the brackets of the 

curtain wall structure improve the building’s soundproofing. 

 

7. Fire resistance: porcelain stoneware is fireproof, class 0.

Ventilated facades are of growing interest throughout the world as 

environmental legislation, energy costs and ongoing maintenance 

costs are taken into account. The porcelain stoneware tiles or panels 

used in ventilated tile facades are all light-fast, UV and frost resistant. 

 

They also offer the following advantages over ceramic cladding stuck 

directly onto the building:

• Reduced risk of cracking and separation from the building

• Ease of installation

• Ease of maintenance

• Can be self-cleaning

• The ability to gain access to each individual tile or slab

 

Literature:http://www.infotile.com