Single-skin elements

 

 Loadbearing single-skin façade elements form the outer leaf of a typical cavity wall construction and fulfil a structural role as part of the primary structure. Insulation can be pre-fixed directly to the rear face of the panels or can be placed after the panel has been installed and prior to the internal wall finishes. Careful consideration needs to be given this form of construction in order to avoid or at least minimise the risk of cold bridging.

         
 

 

   

 form the outer leaf of a typical cavity wall construction and fulfil a structural role as part of the primary structure. Insulation can be pre-fixed directly to the rear face of the panels or can be placed after the panel has been installed and prior to the internal wall finishes. Careful consideration needs to be given this form of construction in order to avoid or at least minimise the risk of cold bridging.

         
 

 

   

 Non structural single skin elements perform purely an aesthetic function and can be used for a number of shapes and forms such as mullions, spandrels, parapets, columns casings etc. A suitable primary support structure (steel or concrete) will need to be provided for this type of element. This will need to extend (at floor and column locations) to within close proximity of the rear face of the cladding and to achieve this some secondary steel work may be required. 

Each element will be independently fixed to the support structure and must have freedom to move in any direction. To accommodate this, tolerances must be given careful consideration and there should be no 'locking-in' of individual elements. Soft joints should be used.  The minimum thickness of such elements will be governed by many factors. Slenderness ratio, span, openings, recesses, etc. need to be considered along with transportation and handling methods. As a guideline a thickness of less than 80mm would not be recommended.