CLADDINGS

Are forms of maskins or infilling to a structural frame. Can be considered under the following headings:

1) Panel wall with or without attached facings.

2) Concrete and similar cladding panel.
3) Light infill panels
4) Curtain walling

Functional requirements of cladding

1) Must be self- supporting between the framing members

2) Provide the necessary resistance to rain penetration
3) Be capable of resisting both positive and negative wind pressures.
4) Provide the necessary resistance to wind penetration.
5) Give the required degree of thermal insulation
6) Provide the required degree of fire resistance.
7) Provide sufficient openings for the admittance of natural day light and ventilation.
8) Must be constructed to a suitable size.

Types of cladding materials

1) Precast concrete
2) Bricks
3) Stones/Mable
4) timber

Cladding therefore is the application of one material over another to provide skin/layer intended to
control the infiltration of weather elements or for aesthetic purpose.

1 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET

2 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
3 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
4 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
FACINGS
A facing is a layer of material covering part of a garment and providing contrast, decoration or strength.

It is an outer layer covering the outer surface of a wall majorly for aesthetic purpose or protective layer.

Some of the materials used as facings include:

i) bricks
ii) stones
iii) timber
iv) tiles

CURTAIN WALLING
A curtain wall is a form of external light weight cladding attached to a framed structure forming a
complete envelope or sheath around the structural frame.

They are non-load bearing claddings which have to support only their own dead weight and any
imposed wind loadings which are transferred to the structural frame through connectors usually
positioned at floor levels.

5 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET

6 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
7 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
8 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
9 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET
Objectives of using curtain walling systems

1) To provide an enclosure to the structure which will give the necessary protection against
elements.
2) To make use of dry construction methods.
3) To impose on to the structural frame the minimum load inform of claddings.
4) To express an architectural feature.

Functional requirements of a curtain wall

1) Resistance to weather elements – materials used in curtain walls should be strong enough to
resist weather elements. Their joints must be made as impervious as the surrounding material
or designed as a drained joint. The jointing material must also allow for any local, thermal,
structural or moisture movement.
2) Assist in maintaining the designed internal temperatures – since curtain walls usually include a
large percentage of glazed area, the overall resistance to transfer of heat is low. Therefore,
preventive measures should be incorporated in the design.
3) Adequate strength – although curtain walls are classified as non-load bearing, they must be able
to carry their own weight and resist both positive and negative wind loadings.
4) Provide required degree of fire resistance – this can be achieved by using suitable materials or
combinations of materials to the opaque infill panels to enable them to be classified as
protective areas.
5) Easy to assemble and fix – the infill framing and panels may be obtained as a series of individual
components or as a single prefabricated unit to make assembly and fixing easy.
6) Provide required degree of sound insulation – a curtain wall must prevent transmission of sound
into a building through the walling members. A reduction in the amount of sound transmitted
can be achieved by;
a) Reducing the area of glazing
b) Using sealed windows of increased glass thickness.
c) Double glazing in the form of inner and outer panes of glass with an air space of 150-200mm
between them.
7) Provide for thermal and structural movements – by providing slotted bolt connections to allow
for movement within the curtain walling system

10 G.M Adams Building Construction| Ministry of Education TVET