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COMMENT
COMMENT
Durability is the key to sustainable building envelopes
Clare Fenton of the Metal Cladding & Roofing Manufacturers Association (MCRMA) explains why durability must be a priority when specifying metal roofing and cladding panels and systems to deliver sustainable buildings
A
s the physical separator between the interior and the exterior, it is no surprise that steel and aluminium are used by the vast majority of roofing and cladding panel and system manufacturers to ensure specifiers have access to highly durable solutions.
Most products and systems are manufactured from mild steel which is protected by a coating taking the form of a sacrificial metal (i.e., hot-dip galvanising (HDG) with zinc or other metallic coatings which include a range of formulations) and in most cases organic paint coatings for both the external and internal surfaces. These help to prevent corrosion and provide a level of durability dependent on the coating applied and the environmental conditions where the building is located, ranging from 10-15 years up to 40 years.
Aluminium does not corrode in the same way as steel as a result of oxidation. It is a very durable material and grades can be specified for a range of applications. However, generally it does not require any coating for protection purposes, except in some particularly aggressive environments where additional protection may be beneficial or where aesthetics may be a consideration. Regardless of the material choice, however, the level of durability offered by the finished envelope will depend on a number of factors. Therefore, it is important to understand how these will impact on the design life, and thus overall sustainability goals.
Carbon cost vs value for money Sustainable buildings have a long design life and utilise materials, products and systems to match the intended lifespan, but the carbon cost also has to be aligned with value for money. Hence why buildings are assessed in terms of their Whole Life Costing (WLC) or Life Cycle Costing (LCC), taking into account the costs associated with construction, operation and occupancy, maintenance, renewal, and the end of its life. However,
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It is important to understand how the material choice of the finish envelope will impact on the design life, and thus overall sustainability goals
the impacts of climate change and the increasing urgency to act mean environmental and carbon costs are more important than ever.
While a building’s life expectancy is typically regarded as 60
years, the actual design life can be very different, depending on factors such as the building’s location, the type of building, its use, method of construction and materials used. It is important,
ADF OCTOBER 2023
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