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Cladding subframes key to thermal performance

Optimised rainscreen walls designed with the appropriate modelling can make big energy savings for greener projects, says building envelope specialist SFS

In association with
SFS Nvelope NV7 rainscreen subframe system at The Silverstone Interactive Museum,  Northamptonshire.
SFS Nvelope NV7 rainscreen subframe system at The Silverstone Interactive Museum, Northamptonshire.

SFS has developed a whitepaper that explores the effects of rainscreen subframe systems on the overall thermal performance of external walls.

The company believes future building standards need to be tighter to bring down high levels of heat loss and energy consumption. Improvements to Part L of the Building Regulations have been mapped out in the Future Homes Standard, but there is little focus on achieving the quality assurance that would ultimately avoid the performance gap.

Energy efficiency can only be tackled by understanding the thermal performance of rainscreen walls, says SFS, because this is where building fabric heat losses are most prevalent: external walls are responsible for 35 per cent of the total heat loss of a building. When a U-Value is calculated, it must take into account where insulation is penetrated by the thermal bridges of a rainscreen subframe system.

  • The SFS Thermal Performance whitepaper: Unique solutions to reduce heat loss through the building envelope.
    The SFS Thermal Performance whitepaper: Unique solutions to reduce heat loss through the building envelope.
  • Silverstone Interactive Museum: An iridescent exterior is achieved with PPC aluminium rainscreen panels in Spectra finish.
    Silverstone Interactive Museum: An iridescent exterior is achieved with PPC aluminium rainscreen panels in Spectra finish.
  • Rainscreen panels are fixed back to the main structure using the SFS Nvelope NV7 system.
    Rainscreen panels are fixed back to the main structure using the SFS Nvelope NV7 system.
  • The Nvelope Thermal Solutions range includes aluminium and stainless steel brackets with a +Thermal option for high thermal performance.
    The Nvelope Thermal Solutions range includes aluminium and stainless steel brackets with a +Thermal option for high thermal performance.
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The relationship between the design and realisation of a building is crucial for greener building projects and having the right specification for the rainscreen subframe is key to external wall construction performing as well as intended.

SFS has been working on rainscreen subframe solutions that save energy on cladding projects. The firm's thermal solutions operate across all its Nvelope rainscreen subframe systems and its Project Builder technology enables any project to be optimised for performance and budget.

Careful selection, specification and installation of a thermally efficient subframe system, supported by the appropriate thermal modelling, is crucial. The SFS Nvelope system can be optimised to achieve the thinnest build-up and make buildings greener.

Download the SFS thermal whitepaper at uk.sfs.com/thermal-whitepaper

For more information and technical support, visit uk.sfs.com

 

Contact:

0330 0555 888

ukenquiries@sfs.biz


 

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