History of Rainscreen Cladding

The Origins of Rainscreen Cladding

Although Rainscreen Cladding is one of the construction methods of choice in modern construction, we need to go back as far as the decades preceding the 12th century to understand its origins. The centuries leading to the birth of the development of the Rainscreen Cladding technology had seen engineers and artisans worldwide tirelessly working on finding a solution that would protect their buildings from the elements in order to make them more durable and more comfortable for their users.

It was around those times that Norwegian engineers developed a technique consisting of using timber cladding, adopting closed joints, and having openings at both,  top and bottom to allow for drainage and evaporation of any penetrating rainwater. This new type of technology was created through intuitive trial and error rather than scientifically and they called it the “open-jointed barn technique”, due to originally being used in the construction of barns.

Urnes Stave church, dates back to the 12th century and it’s situated on the west coast of Norway. In 1979 it was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List mainly because it is an outstanding example of traditional Scandinavian wooden architecture that brings together traces of Celtic art, Viking traditions and Romanesque spatial structures however it is of great significance also because it’s also one of the earliest examples of a Rainscreen Cladding system still standing.

Rainscreen Cladding in Modern History

It was only in the 1940s that scientific research was undertaken into the principles behind Rainscreens and highlighted that walls made of porous materials, such as brick or cement, would inevitably disintegrate if exposed for a sustained period of time to the elements. These studies concluded that by leaving a gap between the wall and the Rainscreen, water vapour could drain, reducing drastically the damage to the wall.

In the early 1960s further scientific research led the Norwegian Building Research Institute to formalise the Rainscreen system principle by publishing the idea of making the air pressure between the screen and the wall equal to that of the outside and in the early 1970s the Architectural Aluminium Manufacturers Association (AAMA) released the first official guide to pressure-equalizing designs.

By the 1980s, the principles of Rainscreen Cladding systems were widely recognised and became one of the construction methods of choice, particularly in Europe.

Rainscreen Cladding today and its future

Today, Rainscreen Cladding systems are an industry standard available in a wide range of materials, finishes, and textures and as well as serving as protection from the elements, architects use it as a form of expression through creating visual impact and aesthetic flair.

As new research emerges and weather conditions become more extreme and unpredictable as a result of climate change, governing bodies require all types of construction systems, including Rainscreen Cladding systems, to undergo strict testing regimes to ensure they conform to regulated parameters of safety and durability.

The Argeton system is one of the principal terracotta facade systems used Worldwide not only because it is a natural and versatile material but also because it offers a technical and cost-effective solution for the residential, commercial and health and education sectors. Argeton is CE and UKCA marked and one of the most tested systems in the market including a BBA and an EPD. NHBC approved and not subject to any restrictions on building height or proximity to boundaries thanks to its Euro-class A1 Fire certification, it is no surprise Argeton is one of the materials of choice not only in new builds but also for refurbishment or re-clad. Durable and fully recyclable, ISO 14025 and EN 15804 (European BREEAM equivalent) certified, sustainability is at the heart of Argeton’s values.

Telling Rainscreens has a strong relationship with Norwegian sister company Byggimpuls, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of GRC and a company true to the Norwegian tradition of being at the forefront of innovation in cladding technology.

So, when it comes to expertise in Rainscreen Cladding – the difference is Telling.

Want to learn about facades and history? Read more here: https://tellingrainscreens.co.uk/facades-and-history/