Wall Cladding/Suspended Ceilings
Due to the modest costs of metal cladding, the durability of it, colours and the many different profiles available metal wall cladding has become more common in all areas of
- Commercial installations
- Industrial installations
- Architectural installations
- Domestic installations
Consideration must be given however to angles, curved areas, penetrations, soil levels and the atmospheric environment.
Bulk insulation and sisalation is also common to this type of installation. In a high pedestrian area thought must be given to architectural design so as exposed sharp edges are designed out of the details and perhaps some consideration to wall fasteners so as they are fitted with tamper proof heads.
Other materials such as polycarbonate multi wall products are becoming more popular with architecturally designed buildings where there is a corrosive environment such as swimming pools, or where an alternative finish is required. As this material is not corrosive prone it is quite common now to see it near ocean beaches. However to my knowledge there is no insulation value to it and is susceptible to early failure due to poor installation procedures.
Additional to the above “sandwich panels” with an internal body, which consists of Polyethylene and or Polystyrene, have become more popular for the following reasons;
- Finished product due to the metal skin on both faces with a variety of profiles, colour and corrosive resistant finishes to choose from.
- Various thermal qualities with relation to the inner skin thicknesses.
- The low labour and quick installation advantages for a complete finished wall.
If used in conjunction with the same material as a roof package as well one can “envelope” a building so as to minimise heat loss and heat gain as this product can be mitred into itself at junctions, minimising gaps and openings at all junctions.
Although at its infancy stages in Australia this type of product has a huge advantage over conventional cladding products due to all the additional advantages as listed above and its spanning capabilities.
