EXTERNAL ENVELOPE 41 Cladding comes of age
Rainscreen cladding has been put under immense scrutiny post-Grenfell. While manufacturers have worked hard to regain trust, architects have become much more sophisticated when it comes to material specification. Andy Thomas of Vivalda Group discusses the current key trends
T
he latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest that the UK construction industry could finally be turning a corner. While 2023 saw mostly negative growth, January 2024 saw an uplift of 1.1% compared to the previous month. We’re not out of the woods yet, but there is cause for optimism in certain sectors of the industry – and that is certainly the case with cladding. Despite a tough 2023 for many, we saw demand for material such as fibre cement, solid aluminium, glass reinforced concrete and high-pressure laminate continue to grow steadily. Furthermore, as we emerge from the shadow of Covid and recession, we are expecting steady growth in the medium term, with more significant growth opportunities in 2025. In terms of specification, one of the big trends we have seen in recent months is a shift away from the ‘A1 or nothing’ mantra, to a much more informed view when it comes to cladding material selection. While this ‘belt and braces’ approach to facade safety was understandable in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire (and the foundation of the Building Safety Regulator), architects have become much more sophisticated when it comes to the appropriate specification of facade systems.
Remediation nation To date of the 3,839 buildings above 11 metres being monitored by the Government as in need of cladding remediation, 2,286 have not yet commenced. While this is hugely disruptive for residents stuck in homes that require new cladding, it should be noted that the cause of the poor progress in this area lies in the complexity of the challenge facing contractors.
Unwary building owners are too often faced with remediation projects comprising not only incorrectly specified facade panels, but also wrongly installed, missing
ADF JUNE 2024
or inappropriate fire barriers, breather membranes, framing systems or insulation. In practice, it is these details, which have far-reaching contractual and financial implications, that are often preventing remedial work from occurring. Nevertheless, we continue to work with developers and architects to supply tested, conforming facade systems – most often solid aluminium or fibre cement – to both high rise and other municipal projects. The Link Building on London’s City Road is typical of a mixed development remediation project that is commonplace in the UK today. Clearly, cladding remediation work continues to be a significant part of our activities moving forward, even though its pace is frustratingly slow at times for all concerned.
HPL makes a comeback Due to the newfound appreciation of cladding safety regulations among
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Every specification
decision is a balancing act between price, aesthetic and performance
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