Rainscreening
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Due to the potential movement of any building and break down of exterior materials the rainscreen principle, although not a new concept, is ideal in countries whose climates tend to include a lot of driving wind and rain, countries such as the UK.
The outer cladding deflects most of the driven rain. Behind the cladding is a ventilation cavity which is openly vented at the base and head of the cladding. This cavity allows air in at the base of the cladding and expelled at the head of the cladding. The air pressure in this cavity is always equal to that of the outside, therefore any rain trying to penetrate any joints finds it virtually impossible to do so.
The ventilation cavity allows any condensation or possible penetrated rain water to be either ventilated out of the system or to run down the back of the cladding and out at the base. At the same time the buildings internal moist air migrates through the walls, insulation etc., and is vented through this cavity allowing the building to ‘breathe’.
Battens of either aluminium or timber are used to create this cavity. The system allows great flexibility to improve thermal insulation of the building.
Additionally, the use of light weight materials means that minimal loads are applied to the existing structure.
All of Almura’s cladding ranges utilises the rainscreen principle.