Q & A News

Rainscreen cladding is not a new concept--it has long been in use around the world. In Norway, the use of timber claddings with open joints first became known as the "open-jointed barn" technique.

In recent decades, traditional building design in North America has utilized barrier systems that rely on the water tightness of all joints. With barrier systems, deteriorating sealants and incomplete seals can allow water to flow unabated into exterior wall cavities. In contrast, rainscreen assemblies rely on pressure equalization and back-ventilation, not watertight joints, to prevent the intrusion of water. Common problems of traditional exterior wall envelopes include cracking, blistering, warping, mold and mildew.

Rainscreen Principles - Properly drained and back-ventilated rain screens control moisture and rain penetration through ventilation and proper joint design. The separation between the cladding and other layers of the exterior wall assembly also helps minimize thermal stress on the load-bearing structure. Research has proven that rainscreen assemblies exposed to 15 minutes of driving rain are highly effective at minimizing rain penetration.

Effect of Weather and Time

POWAY, CA—Trespa's manufacturing process and quality control are designed to produce cladding panels which will provide the very best performance and durability, in virtually any climate and in any humidity. This exceptional performance is achieved when the decorative top layer is cured by an electronic beam which gives the panel a smooth, impermeable and impact resistant surface. This means that the surface, together with its color and texture, will retain its original appearance.

In addition, the panels are virtually self-cleaning because they reject dirt and organic growth. All this makes the cladding ideal for prolonged exposure. In order to provide evidence of the exceptional long life performance of their panels, Trespa has undertaken detailed examination of three projects. Two of these are healthcare buildings in the Netherlands and the other is a large commercial center in Turkey. Over many years, these buildings and their cladding have been exposed to extremes of weather, temperature and humidity.

Old Buildings Still In Perfect Health

Croonen Architects designed two healthcare buildings in Nijmegen - the E-building (a nursery building), completed nearly 20 years ago, and the Institute of Dermatology (a research and treatment facility), completed 15 years ago.

The E-Building is a large cube, comprising 6125sqm over four floors. This is clad with liverbrown and blackbrown Trespa Meteon panels, 1200mm square and 8mm thick. The panels are interspersed with dark brown aluminum windows with gold colored frames. At one end is the emergency staircase, designed to be a dramatic and contrasting standalone feature and clad in green and blue Meteon.

The Institute of Dermatology is a quite different two storey building on a narrow site which runs beside a major road. This comprises a 75m long facade, with large central entrance and contrasting solid masonry curved ends. A vertical emphasis has been created by using green and black Trespa Meteon cladding panels alternating with narrow windows.

Reasons given by the architects for specifying Trespa Meteon panels were that the buildings should be aesthetically interesting, dramatic and colorful. In addition, they had to be cost effective to construct and maintain. It was therefore important to choose cladding which would perform well, be highly durable and retain a pristine appearance throughout its life.

Architect Fred Meerdink says, 'Over the years we have monitored the performance of these buildings. On both, the colors of the Trespa panels are as fresh and new as the day they were installed. The cladding has weathered the climate of Northern Europe extremely well and it has never been necessary to clean the facades'.

The Effect of Cold and Heat

In complete contrast, the third project is a large commercial centre for the Turkish textile industry situated in Bursa, just south of Istanbul near the coast. This building, completed nearly 15 years ago, has been exposed to a Mediterranean climate which is quite different to that of Northern Europe. Here the temperature can range from 44degC in high summer to minus 12degC in winter. This 56 degree variation is a severe test for the performance of any product. For Trespa it is particularly significant because, when it was built, this was the company's largest project with over 20,000sqm of panels and 3500m of corner profiles.

The wine red colour of the cladding is one of the most critical in terms of colourfastness. However, detailed examination shows that there is no fading in the colour or any difference between the panels; neither is there any change in the surface texture. Unlike the Trespa Meteon panels, which have required no maintenance, some parts of the building and the red concrete have been refurbished or repainted at least three times since 1992. The general conclusion is that there is no deterioration in the performance or appearance of the façades and that the Meteon panels are physically and aesthetically as good as new.

CRANFORD, NJ— Thomas E. O’Connor has joined Quinlan & Associates as their new outside Sales Representative. Tom comes to Quinlan & Associates with 10 years in estimating and project management at a New York Metropolitan Area door hardware distributor.

Prior to his hardware experience, Tom worked for nearly 10 years in various estimating and management roles for a floor covering subcontractor in New Jersey and two industrial general contractors in Austin, Texas.

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		Tom O'Connor * Trespa Weather Effects * Rainscreen Advantages Spec Writing * Project Photos
	Home	September 2008 Hager Companies Your Partner For Success ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL ARCHITECTS AND SPECIFICATION WRITERS TO INSURE A FINANCIAL FUTURE Hager provides architectural hinges; continuous geared hinges, stainless steel continuous hinges, trim & auxiliary hardware, threshold & weatherstripping, signage, sliding & bi-fold door hardware. Hager now offers locks, closers, and exit devices with LIFETIME WARRANTY. Specify Hager for unequaled quality and workmanship for your architectural door hardware product requirements. Hager Companies are now seeking architectural firms who would like their specification written for them. This offer is free of charge and will allow you and your company to spend your time and effort elsewhere. As part of our added services, we are now also offering Hardware AIA Lunch & Learns at no cost to you. If you are interested in these great offers or would like any other information regarding Hager Companies, please feel free to call or E-mail Quinlan at your convenience. return to top September 2007 Advantages of the Rainscreen Wall Assembly Rainscreen cladding is not a new concept--it has long been in use around the world. In Norway, the use of timber claddings with open joints first became known as the "open-jointed barn" technique. In recent decades, traditional building design in North America has utilized barrier systems that rely on the water tightness of all joints. With barrier systems, deteriorating sealants and incomplete seals can allow water to flow unabated into exterior wall cavities. In contrast, rainscreen assemblies rely on pressure equalization and back-ventilation, not watertight joints, to prevent the intrusion of water. Common problems of traditional exterior wall envelopes include cracking, blistering, warping, mold and mildew. Rainscreen Principles - Properly drained and back-ventilated rain screens control moisture and rain penetration through ventilation and proper joint design. The separation between the cladding and other layers of the exterior wall assembly also helps minimize thermal stress on the load-bearing structure. Research has proven that rainscreen assemblies exposed to 15 minutes of driving rain are highly effective at minimizing rain penetration. Advantages of Rainscreen Approach: Less Maintenance - The rainscreen assembly does depend upon gaskets or sealants, which usually require periodic inspection and maintenance to avoid performance problems. Flexibility - The problems of tolerance and fit and cyclic thermal movements in the cladding assembly are less critical than with fully-sealed systems. Energy Efficiency - With a rainscreen cavity, insulation can be located outside of the air barrier and inside the cavity space, which can greatly improve a wall’s R Value and significantly reduces energy consumption and lower running costs. Natural Ventilation - The natural ventilation of the ventilated rainscreen wall eliminates the occurrence of mold and mildew by design and creates a healthy wall design that improves building longevity as well as the health of occupants. Year Round Installation of Systems - Unlike traditional closed cavity wall construction, rainscreen walls can be installed all year round, allowing for greater flexibility in project schedules and ultimately installation times. New or Refurbish Construction - Ventilated rainscreen walls can be applied to new or existing construction. Rainscreen walls offer the designer limitless options that at once empower the re-cladding of existing structures with a new aesthetic. This has benefits from both a design and sustainability perspective. return to top July 2007 Effect of Weather and Time POWAY, CA—Trespa's manufacturing process and quality control are designed to produce cladding panels which will provide the very best performance and durability, in virtually any climate and in any humidity. This exceptional performance is achieved when the decorative top layer is cured by an electronic beam which gives the panel a smooth, impermeable and impact resistant surface. This means that the surface, together with its color and texture, will retain its original appearance. In addition, the panels are virtually self-cleaning because they reject dirt and organic growth. All this makes the cladding ideal for prolonged exposure. In order to provide evidence of the exceptional long life performance of their panels, Trespa has undertaken detailed examination of three projects. Two of these are healthcare buildings in the Netherlands and the other is a large commercial center in Turkey. Over many years, these buildings and their cladding have been exposed to extremes of weather, temperature and humidity. Old Buildings Still In Perfect Health Croonen Architects designed two healthcare buildings in Nijmegen - the E-building (a nursery building), completed nearly 20 years ago, and the Institute of Dermatology (a research and treatment facility), completed 15 years ago. The E-Building is a large cube, comprising 6125sqm over four floors. This is clad with liverbrown and blackbrown Trespa Meteon panels, 1200mm square and 8mm thick. The panels are interspersed with dark brown aluminum windows with gold colored frames. At one end is the emergency staircase, designed to be a dramatic and contrasting standalone feature and clad in green and blue Meteon. The Institute of Dermatology is a quite different two storey building on a narrow site which runs beside a major road. This comprises a 75m long facade, with large central entrance and contrasting solid masonry curved ends. A vertical emphasis has been created by using green and black Trespa Meteon cladding panels alternating with narrow windows. Reasons given by the architects for specifying Trespa Meteon panels were that the buildings should be aesthetically interesting, dramatic and colorful. In addition, they had to be cost effective to construct and maintain. It was therefore important to choose cladding which would perform well, be highly durable and retain a pristine appearance throughout its life. Architect Fred Meerdink says, 'Over the years we have monitored the performance of these buildings. On both, the colors of the Trespa panels are as fresh and new as the day they were installed. The cladding has weathered the climate of Northern Europe extremely well and it has never been necessary to clean the facades'. The Effect of Cold and Heat In complete contrast, the third project is a large commercial centre for the Turkish textile industry situated in Bursa, just south of Istanbul near the coast. This building, completed nearly 15 years ago, has been exposed to a Mediterranean climate which is quite different to that of Northern Europe. Here the temperature can range from 44degC in high summer to minus 12degC in winter. This 56 degree variation is a severe test for the performance of any product. For Trespa it is particularly significant because, when it was built, this was the company's largest project with over 20,000sqm of panels and 3500m of corner profiles. The wine red colour of the cladding is one of the most critical in terms of colourfastness. However, detailed examination shows that there is no fading in the colour or any difference between the panels; neither is there any change in the surface texture. Unlike the Trespa Meteon panels, which have required no maintenance, some parts of the building and the red concrete have been refurbished or repainted at least three times since 1992. The general conclusion is that there is no deterioration in the performance or appearance of the façades and that the Meteon panels are physically and aesthetically as good as new. return to top April 2007 Tom O'Connor Joins Q&A CRANFORD, NJ— Thomas E. O’Connor has joined Quinlan & Associates as their new outside Sales Representative. Tom comes to Quinlan & Associates with 10 years in estimating and project management at a New York Metropolitan Area door hardware distributor. Prior to his hardware experience, Tom worked for nearly 10 years in various estimating and management roles for a floor covering subcontractor in New Jersey and two industrial general contractors in Austin, Texas. Tom can be reached at 908.931.1152 ext. no. 202 or toconnor@mrqsales.com return to top
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