cladding is used to provide a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance, and to improve the appearance of buildings. Cladding can be made of any of a wide range of materials including wood, metal, brick, vinyl, and composite materials that can include aluminium, wood, blends of cement and recycled polystyrene, or wheat/rice straw fibres.[2] Materials used for cladding affect vulnerability to fire. Rainscreen cladding is a form of weather cladding designed to protect against the elements, but also offers thermal insulation. The cladding does not need, itself, to be waterproof, merely a control element: it may serve only to direct water or wind safely away in order to control run-off and prevent its infiltration into the building structure. Single-skin metal panels are pre-formed wall panels made from metal that are one of the most commonly available types of cladding for industrial and commercial projects. Their high durability and easy installation make them ideal for low maintenance builds. Cladding may also be a control element for noise, either entering or escaping. Cladding applied to windows is often referred to as window capping and is a specialized field. What are the most dangerous forms of cladding? The cladding in use at Grenfell Tower was aluminium composite material or ACM and is dangerously combustible. High-pressure laminate or HPL has also proved seriously unsafe and cladding panels made from compressed paper or wood will clearly be combustible. The Government also has concerns about MCM cladding – Metal Composite Materials – which use zinc, copper or steel. A ban on all combustible cladding on buildings over 18 metres high The ban extends to new residential building, hospitals, schools, care homes and student accommodation The only materials approved for external walls will be A1 and A2 class materials, for instance, metal, glass, stone or plasterboard The ban does not cover cladding on existing buildings and the intention does not apply retrospectively to high rise buildings Why was cladding used in the first place? Cladding weatherproofs a building and has great insulating properties so it is particularly beneficial for older buildings with poor environmental certification. It also looks aesthetically pleasing and can considerably improve the appearance of older, concrete properties built in the later years of the 20th century.
