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A specifiers guide to building boards in cladding applications
Ian Quinton, managing director of RCM –suppliers of building boards and facade solutions to some of the UK’s most prestigious developments –outlines the key criteria to consider when specifying building boards and cladding solutions
professionals you require robust, well-researched and certified technical information, including classification, performance and installation details. Simple but so very often overlooked. The NBS National BIM Report 2014 reveals that 90 per
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cent of specifiers find product inclusion in NBS BIM useful – they of course would say this, however, as one of the few build- ing board suppliers to use this specification system –RCM is a great advocate. Product information authorised by NBS enables professionals to specify with ease – crucial in early stage concept calculations and specifying decisions. Even when specialist advice is available, a working knowledge
of regulations and performance is fundamental to making the right specification decisions – here are just six key points for consideration.
Technical approval
Specifying systems with a credible certification provides reas- surance and confidence to specifiers. BBA, for example, offers full technical approval for construction products and is recognised by building control, government departments, archi- tects, local authorities, specifiers and building insurers. BBA Approval provides architects, designers and contractors with certified information when specifying or installing building board products.
Approval includes: •Factors relating to compliance with Building Regulations • Factors relating to additional non-regulatory information •Independently verified technical specification •Assessment criteria and technical investigations •Design considerations •Installation guidance •Regular surveillance of production • Formal three-yearly review
A generic standard for the evaluation of building boards to also consider is BN EN13986 2004, which explores characteristics, conformity and marking for use in construction.
n order to select the right product for the right application, you need to be supplied with the right technical informa- tion, not a glossy, uninformative brochure. As design
Structural strength and stability
A significant consideration when assessing building boards is to ensure the optimum racking performance to enhance structural strength. For example, European norm – BS EN 594:2011 –is the recognised testing protocol for testing racking strength and stiffness of timber frame wall panels. Building boards and cladding systems with BS EN 594:2011 certification have been rigorously tested and offer good racking, perform- ance, structural strength and stability. Another factor to consider for stability is moisture move-
ment. When evaluating a solution, consider a system that offers a high level of dimensional stability with limited moisture movement. Building boards can be specified with as little as 0.06 per cent moisture movement.
Continued overleaf... respond online at
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