Maricela Vega

River Oaks Baptist School honored by CENTRIA as 2021 Building of the Year
Design Innovation
River Oaks Baptist School honored by CENTRIA as 2021 Building of the Year
November 9, 2021 at 6:20 pm 0

River Oaks Baptist School in Houston was named CENTRIA’s 2021 Building of the Year, selected from a group of 12 Building of the Month winners.

Designed by Jackson & Ryan Architects of Houston, River Oaks Baptist School features CENTRIA’s Intercept: Entyre panel. Wade Architectural Systems of Humble, Texas, supplied the panels and W.S. Bellows Construction Corporation of Houston served as the general contractor. Underwood Sheetmetal Inc. of Houston installed the panels.

Other Building of the Month winners were:

American Airlines Hangar, Chicago: Architect-Ghafari Associates, LLC; Dealer/Installer-Crown Corr, Inc.; GC-O’Neil Construction Company; Panel Type-FWDS, 1W-10A, Versawall

Clover Park Mets Training, Port St. Lucie, Fla.: Architect-Ewing Cole; Dealer/Installer-Five-T-Co; GC-Barton Malow Company; Panel Type-CS-200, Intercept: Entyre

St. Louis Park Middle School, Silverdale, Wash.: Architect-Cunningham Group Architecture; Dealer-M3Sixty, LLC; GC-Kraus Anderson Construction; Installer-Progressive Building Systems; Panel Type-CS-200, Intercept Entyre, RZR

Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Wash.: Architect-Cunningham Group Architecture, Inc.; Dealer/Installer-Flynn Group of Companies; GC-Absher Kitchell; Panel Type-FWDS, MetalWrap

Carver Elementary School, Carver, Minn.: Architect-Architects Rego & Youngquist; Dealer-M3Sixty, LLC; GC-Kraus Anderson Construction; Installer-Innovative Building Concepts; Panel Type-CS-200

Essex County of Technology, West Caldwell, N.J.: Architect-DiCara Rubino Architects; Dealer-Pravco, Inc.; GC-Dobco; Installer-Pravco, Inc.; Panel Type-FWDS, DS60, DS58, C/S Sunshades

St. John’s on the Lake, Milwaukee: Architect-Eppstein Uhen Architects; Dealer/Installer-Construction Supply & Erection, Inc.; GC-VJS Construction Services Inc.; Panel Type-FWDS

St. Michael Medical Center, Silverdale, Wash.: Architect-NBBJ; Dealer/Installer-Flynn Group of Companies; GC-Balfour Beatty; Panel Types-FWDS, DS60, IW-40A, CS Louvers, C/S Sunshades, FV 600

St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg, Fla.: Architect-ASD|Sky; Dealer-M3Sixty, LLC; GC-Skanska USA Building, Inc.; Installer-MG McGrath; Panel Type-Econolap ¾-inch Roof

UPMC Outpatient Center, West Mifflin, Pa.: Architect-Stantec; Dealer/Installer-A.C. Dellovade, Inc.; GC-Rycon Construction; Panel Types-BR5-36, FWDS

Whole Foods, Clearwater, Fla.: Architect-WDG Architecture; Dealer-M3Sixty; GC-Barr & Barr, Inc.; Installer-MG McGrath; Panel Type-Style-Rib

About CENTRIA

CENTRIA, a Nucor company, innovations in architectural metal wall and roof systems are helping building teams around the world envision metal as the future of the building envelope. From inspiration through installation, CENTRIA provides the highest level of expertise including service and support from an elite Dealer Network. Based in Pittsburgh, its metal architectural systems are the perfect combination of science and aesthetics, offering advanced thermal and moisture protection technology, the broadest spectrum of design options, truly integrated components, and superior sustainability. CENTRIA invites you to explore the limitless possibilities metal provides for your next project at CENTRIA.com.

 

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Above All Else: Understanding the Roof Over Your Head
Panel Discussion
Above All Else: Understanding the Roof Over Your Head
September 9, 2021 at 3:45 pm 0

Let’s face it. From location and design choice to material possibilities and color palettes, construction offers a lot to capture the imagination. However, roofs are seldom on that list. For better or worse it’s just hard to get excited about a roof.

It is for worse because there’s nothing more important than the roof over your head. This may explain why roof systems are often the most misunderstood products CENTRIA offers. As CENTRIA Midwest area manager Brian Finnegan noted, “Most of our concerns with our clients are due to roof problems. A lot of architects and engineers don't really understand a lot of the basic concepts.”

Raising the Roof

We aim to change that today by demystifying some of the confusion around metal roofing products. Selecting the right type of geometry for your roof is crucial. One of the most basic traits is slope. “The flatter the roof, the bigger potential for leaks and problems over the period of the roof,” said Finnegan. Ice or snow can become stuck on a low-slope roof and back up into the seams, causing building integrity and potential structural issues. With CENTRIA structural standing seam roof panels, a weather tight warranty can be provided for SRS 3 and SDP 200 roof panels with a minimum roof slope of 1/2:12 without end laps and 1:12 with end laps.

Misleading Terms

Other than slope, what is important to know? For one, the jargon can be misleading. Oftentimes, in the construction industry, the term “architectural” is used to denote a higher performing, more aesthetically pleasing product. However, in most cases, an architectural standing seam roof is little more than a decorative rainscreen. “Many architects think they want one thing, but what they truly need and what their clients are looking for are structural standing seam roofs – not architectural standing seam roofs.” CENTRIA doesn’t offer architectural roofs for this reason.

Fastener on the Roof

Exposed Fastener Roofs, on the other hand, are extremely versatile, single-skin, corrugated metal panels that can be used as exterior or interior walls, roofs and soffits with ribs that run horizontally or vertically. These flexible characteristics, combined with their excellent negative wind load properties, make them a solid choice for both new construction and retrofit projects.

What’s on Top?

However, if you look at industries that build with an eye to the future – that construct buildings intended to last many decades or more – like the government, military, schools, airports and hospitals, what kind of roofs do you see them use? The answer is Standing Seam Metal Roof Panels, the gold standard of metal roofing.

Standing seam roofs place the seam between panels above the surface of the roof, so that even torrential rainwater, piled up snow and ice stand little chance of backing into the seams. Standing Seam Roof Systems like CENTRIA’S SRS3 panel uses a Tee rib that is non-directional, which enables them to be installed left to right, right to left, or from the middle of a roof in both directions.

Standing Seam Standing Proud

Structural Design Roof Panels are also standing seam roofs, including SDP175 panels, which snap together over concealed clips, SRS 3 and SDP200 are mechanically seamed over a concealed clip. A mechanically seamed panel requires a machine to crimp and roll the metal seam in the field to make the sheets watertight. Regardless of which seam type you choose, standing seam roofs offer many unique advantages. They are low maintenance and long lasting – one of the few roofs with twenty-year finish and watertight warranties. They are also flexible enough to accommodate just about any type of roof condition, including hips, valleys, bump outs and dormers. Standing seam roofs don’t require a secondary membrane for weathertightness. They’re already guaranteed to hold out the elements and can even be installed over open framing.

Putting the “Roof” in Foolproof

You might be wondering, “What about all the unusual advantages I’ve heard about with insulated metal panels? Do those work for roofs?” Yes, insulated metal panels (IMPs) – what CENTRIA calls Versapanel – are the ultimate roofing material. Versapanel is an insulated, one-piece composite metal roofing panel. Each side is a metal skin, separated by factory installed foam, together acting as air, vapor and water barrier – as well as insulation. The 36” wide panels are quick and easy to install – especially thanks to their length, which can be as long as 48 feet.

Though it’s a higher-end, higher-performing product with a higher price tag, this all-in-one panel eliminates the need for multiple layers of roofing products – and the need for multiple trades installing those products. That amounts to cost savings in the ever-more-expensive labor market. In fact, they are so strong and weather-resistant, you can walk on them.

Multiple thicknesses are available to achieve the level of R-rating your project requires, and Versapanel comes with shop-applied butyl sealant for panel-to-panel joinery. Though it’s not a good match for curved and very complex roof geometry, Versapanel can accommodate roof curbs, skylights and penetrations.

Clear as a Roof?

We hope this has clarified some of the different roofing options out there and given you a better idea of which is right for your project. In closing, we’d like to pass on some advice from Finnegan: “Whichever you choose,” he says, “Make sure you're relying on somebody who's going to support you all the way through. They should supply exceptional shop drawings, have trained installers who know the latest techniques, and been around long enough that you’re certain they’ll be around many years in the future in case there’s ever a warranty claim.”

Still have questions? Get in touch with friendly CENTRIA representative today.

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Why Choose CENTRIA
Design Innovation
Why Choose CENTRIA
September 7, 2021 at 3:31 pm 0

While there is a plethora of metal panel systems in the market, very few, if any, offer a high level of expertise and support throughout all stages of a building project.

With its dedicated stable of designers and engineers waiting in the wings, CENTRIA is the exception.

Even before a project goes to bid, CENTRIA’s experts can address product applications, metal panel options, custom details and ensuring the desired design is installable. The team is on hand in a design-assist capacity through final installation and even afterwards, providing engineering design support to improve an as-built condition.

Whereas many companies will present a metal panel option, explain in general terms where it can be applied and then disappear, CENTRIA sees its project through, giving a level of support that is unique to the industry.

Another differentiator is the company’s diverse product line and ability and willingness to highly customize systems to meet an architect’s unique design needs.

For example, the selected insulated metal panel system might butt up against a rainscreen, which would require some custom trims and extrusions to make it work. Many manufacturers would not invest in such a project, or might not have the expertise to execute such a design. On the contrary, CENTRIA embraces these challenges, rolls up its sleeves and comes up with a solution.

“We like to push the ‘never say never’ attitude and don’t get stuck only coloring in between the lines,” relates Ralph Bertram, product applications manager, CENTRIA. “We really push our designs further with additional customization. Designed to last the life-time of a structure, we hang our hat on that and take a lot of pride.”

For example, the architect might want to specify a particular panel, but it may not be the best choice for the application or budget. Rather than turning down the project, CENTRIA’s team of internal detailers and structural engineers will put their heads together to come up with alternatives to meet the project’s performance and aesthetic needs.

The solution might be as simple as suggesting that the metal panel be attached with a metal stud as opposed to a wood frame, but whatever the case may be, CENTRIA’S experts are on hand to make the project work.

Repeat Customers

The long-term result of this level of customer service is a stable of architecture firms turning to CENTRIA for its metal paneling needs. Take Ewing Cole, for example. Ranked #18 on Building Design+Construction’s top architecture/engineering firms list, Ewing Cole recently collaborated with CENTRIA to upgrade Clover Park, the New York Mets Port St. Lucie, Fla. training facility and minor league ballpark.

Working hand-in-hand with the architect, CENTRIA customized 17,000 square feet of Intercept Entyre modular metal panels, 8,000 square feet of CS- 200 concealed fastener panels and 1,000 square feet of perforated EcoScreen BR5-36 screenwalls.

Meeting hurricane zone requirements and providing a high level of UV ray resistance, the Intercept Entyre system was ideal for this Sunshine State project. CENTRIA’S engineers worked closely with Ewing Cole to develop customized Intercept Entyre ¾” and CS-200 concealed fastener panels in a custom Mets blue, Gentian Blue, yellow and orange colors. The interactive fins line the ballpark’s exterior, showcasing famous Mets players.

Another Ewing Cole project called for CENTRIA’s Concept Series CS-660 panels with MicroSeam Corners and Ecoscreen Perforated Screenwall for the WakeMed Central Energy Plant supporting WakeMed North Hospital in Raleigh, N.C. The system’s concealed fastener panels and common-lock joinery supports Ewing Code’s custom ventilated metal design. Stand-off clips ensure proper ventilation and a drainage plane, and allows for thermal and seismic movements.

The perforated screenwall supports airflow and close-in panel placement and the corrugated style matches the panels on the main hospital.

Standing Out in the Crowd

From sports arenas to hospitals to museums to bio-tech companies to schools, CENTRIA offers industry-leading metal panels for aesthetics, sustainability and design flexibility.

In applying a big spool of steel coil, CENTRIA’s unique manufacturing process involves leveling the steel to make it extremely flat and smooth, which is a very sought after industry feature. Together with an embossed finish, this covers up any imperfections and delivers a very high-end architectural panel. In addition, the insulating foam bakes into the metal panel, as opposed to lamination, thereby eliminating air pockets.

The foam is made from halogen free, environmentally friendly polyisocyanurate and the panels are treated with coatings containing PVDF resin for a more durable finish.

The panels come in an extensive palette of sizes, profiles, textures and colors, and as noted, can be highly customized to meet every project’s unique needs.

 

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Out of the Red List & On to the A-List: HFR-Free Formawall Panels
Panel Discussion
Out of the Red List & On to the A-List: HFR-Free Formawall Panels
September 1, 2021 at 3:01 pm 0

 

Sustainability isn’t just about being green and energy-efficient anymore. It’s a matter of responsibility and transparency in every part of building materials, from mining and manufacturing to delivery, installation and actual product life. As more and more chemicals are identified as being potentially toxic, carcinogenic, or otherwise hazardous to health or the environment, today’s customers demand to know what’s in their building materials.

Full Transparency

That’s why the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) developed the Red List, a comprehensive listing of hazardous chemicals which manufacturers, construction companies, designers and architects should avoid. Though there are no laws eliminating Red List chemicals yet, now is the time to get ahead of the ball.

As CENTRIA Product Manager Julie Schessler pointed out, “Educational facilities and large corporations tend to be more focused on environmental impact these days. A lot of corporations and institutions have environmental plans and commitments to decrease their carbon emissions contribution to pollution over the next five, ten or twenty years.” This trend towards healthy environments includes Red List chemicals, because they can be hazardous to the health of people within buildings or the environment outside them. End-users and customers are likely to demand Red List-free materials long before legal mandates require it.

The Red List

While it includes well-known and obvious hazards like asbestos, BPA, lead and mercury, the Red List also extends all the way to more common and ubiquitous compounds and chemicals, like PVC, wood treatments and VOCs. The list details more than 800 chemicals to be avoided, but it’s also subject to ongoing additions, deletions, and changes. These are the current umbrella categories:

The Red List

Alkylphenols and Related Compounds

Antimicrobials (marketed with a health claim)

Asbestos Compounds

Bisphenol A (BPA) and Structural Analogues

California-Banned Solvents

Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) and Chlorosulfonated Polyethlene

Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC)

Chlorobenzenes

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chloroprene (Neoprene)

Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSPE)

Chromium VI

Creosote

Formaldehyde (added)

Halogenated Flame Retardants (HFRs)

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

Organotin Compounds

Pentachlorophenol Alkylphenols

Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)

Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides

Phthalates (Orthophthalates)

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Polyvinylidene Chloride (PVDC)

Short-Chain and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins

Toxic Heavy Metals

Arsenic

Cadmium

Chromium

Lead (added)

Mercury

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Wet-Applied Products

Wood Treatments Containing Creosote, Arsenic or Pentachlorophenol

 

Our Green Commitment

At CENTRIA, we’ve long been committed to sustainable building practices and materials, and have kept a close eye on the Red List and any materials we use that may contain Red List chemicals. Luckily, metal construction is mostly free from Red-Listed substances. However, when it’s possible to reduce or eliminate Red List chemicals from our products – such as halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) – we strive to do so.

HFR 101

Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are added to building products throughout the construction materials industry to inhibit ignition or flame spread in the event of a fire. But they’re also known to contain chlorine and bromine – classified as persistent bioaccumulative toxins, which can accumulate in organisms and the building environment, possibly posing health risks. So we endeavored to replace HFRs from our Formawall Dimension Series products. Launched more than 20 years, Formawall previously used HFRs in its insulating foam core to reduce fire spread risk, but CENTRIA wanted to push the envelope further and find a healthier, more sustainable alternative. This was a voluntary decision, and we were the first in the industry to take it on.

New & Improved

In 2018, we successfully re-introduced the Foam Formawall Dimension Series – free from any Red List chemicals in the panel itself, including HFRs. But can an HFR-free foam still perform well in fire tests? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” The new formulation not only meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285, but surpasses it in every assembly configuration, including both steel stud and steel tube construction. It also meets FM 4882 certification at the highest level for smoke-sensitive environments. “Clean room grade is the highest grade that you can achieve,” said Schessler, “and that's what Formawall achieved.”

 

Better Than Ever

The new HFR-free Formawall configuration retained all the features that set it apart from the competition. It allows unprecedented design freedom with a variety of shapes and colors with unmatched performance while consolidating six wall components into one product – exterior rainscreen, air and moisture barrier, and thermal insulation. It can be quickly and easily installed in vertical or horizontal orientations, with concealed clips, fasteners, and sealants with insulated metal joints. The updated formula is factory foamed in-place, minimizing the potential for gaps within the panel, and integrates seamlessly with most glass wall, window and louver systems – including Formavue Windows.

Formawall now also comes with a health product declaration (HPD) through the HPD Collaborative, can earn credits towards the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, and is UL-listed for both US and Canada. When combined with Fluorofinish Pure, a chromium- and phthalate-free architectural finish system, the panel is entirely free of Red List chemicals – so you can feel confident that you’ve done right by your customer as well as anyone entering the building.

The re-imagined Formawall Dimension Series is just another example of CENTRIA’s commitment to do right by our customers and the environment – and another in a long list of EPD-certified CENTRIA products. To learn more about Formawall or other ways we’re developing long-term solutions to ecological, health and safety concerns, get in touch with a CENTRIA Representative near you.

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Why Get LEED Certified?
Sustainability
Why Get LEED Certified?
June 23, 2021 at 2:53 pm 0

Regarded as the building industry’s gold standard, the U.S. Green Buildings Council LEED certification program offers a long list of economic, health and wellness benefits. From its introduction in 1998 to late 2019, the USGBC had already reached the milestone of registering and certifying 100,000 commercial projects.

The four-tiered system offers a basic certification, silver, gold and platinum, and is based on a 110 point system where buildings can earn credits in eight different categories.

Boosting an organization’s commitment to sustainability and public image, LEED-certified buildings have been proven to deliver significant energy efficiencies and cost savings.

In fact, after analyzing the monthly energy consumption data of more than 175,000 commercial buildings in Los Angeles over a period of seven years, in “The effectiveness of U.S. energy efficiency building labels,” UCLA and Georgia Tech researchers reported 30 percent more energy savings in LEED-certified buildings.

CENTRIA’s Formawall® insulated metal panels and EcoScreen® perforated panels contributed toward a LEED Platinum certification for Mission College’s Student Engagement Center in Santa Clara, Calif.

In another study, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory reports close to 20 percent lower maintenance costs for LEED buildings as compared to a typical commercial building.

Further, a Porter Novelli-conducted survey of more than 1,000 workers found that a high percentage of employees prefer LEED-certified facilities with 79% prioritizing a job in a LEED building and more than 80% reporting enhanced productivity in these settings.

“Studies have found that LEED-certified buildings can help companies attract talented employees,” states Don Catalano, president and CEO of the Melville, N.Y.-based commercial real estate consultant REoptimizer. “Plus, worker satisfaction in LEED-certified offices tends to be high, decreasing employee turnover.”

In one of these studies, “The Impact of Green Buildings on Cognitive Function,” Harvard and SUNY researchers found that occupants of high-performing green buildings showed higher cognitive function scores, fewer sick-building symptoms and higher sleep quality scores than workers in high-performing buildings without green certification.

"Green certification, thermal conditions and lighting influenced worker perception of their space as well as their cognitive function,” states Joe Allen, assistant professor at Harvard University’s School of Public Health and co-author of the report. “Good companies know the value of providing a healthy workspace. Healthy buildings are a recruiting tool, after all.”

Metal Panels and LEED

While a number of green building materials, systems and strategies can help building owners qualify for LEED certification, high quality metal roofing and panels are particularly effective toward this end.

In a Metal Construction Association-sponsored continuing education unit on sustainability, Gloria D. Lee, principal, Swift Lee Office Architects, Pasadena, Calif., states, “Metal walls and roof systems contribute to a high-performing building envelope in so many ways.”

The panels are long-lasting, low maintenance, moisture and mold resistant, and thermally efficient, and the roofs offer a high solar reflectance index (SRI) to keep roofs and interiors cooler. Metal roofs can also be integrated with photovoltaic and rainwater harvesting systems for enhanced energy and water efficiencies.

                               CENTRIA’s Formawall® system played an important role in helping Pittsburgh’s Tower 260 achieve LEED Silver certification.

Breaking it Down

For LEED v4’s eight categories, metal walls and panels can directly contribute to credits in four main areas and indirectly in an additional two areas.

Sustainable Sites – By meeting designated initial and three-year aged Solar Reflectance Index values for steep slope and low slope roofs in the Heat Island Effect category, buildings can earn up to 2 points with cool metal roofs and coatings. Because prefabricated metal systems require a minimal staging area, they support the pursuit of an additional point through Site Development. In addition, metal roofs are a great platform for Rainwater Management which can help projects earn up to 3 points.

In turn, rainwater management can contribute to Outdoor Water Use and Indoor Water Use credits in the Water Efficiency category.

Energy and AtmosphereFor Optimize Energy Performance, metal systems can help buildings cash in on a windfall of LEED points. With its high insulating value and thermal performance, insulated metal panels (IMP), for instance, can contribute up to 18 points. As validated through energy models, thermal efficient building enclosures support downsized HVAC systems and reduced electrical loads. Though indirect, metal facades and roofs incorporate windows and skylights, which, along with perforated panels, support up to 3 points in Daylight credits. In addition, metal roofs support PV panels and solar thermal systems to garner up to 3 points for Renewable Energy Production.

Materials and Resources – IMPs can also make a significant contribution in a number of categories here. Starting with Building Life Cycle Impact Reduction, up to 5 credits are available for optimized environmental performance of products, materials and adaptive reuse. Another 3 points are available for performing a Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment with the assistance of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which many building product companies, particularly metal panel manufacturers have developed. EPDs can add another point for Building Product Disclosure and Optimization, a category which grants a second point for Sourcing of Raw Materials.

Another subcategory is Material Ingredients where projects can earn one point toward Building Product Disclosure and a second credit via Optimization. With its high recycled content, metal panels are a great advantage here.

For Construction and Demolition Waste Management, prefabricated metal systems significantly reduce waste, contributing up to 2 points.

Indoor Environmental QualityBy specifying products and systems, such as metal walls and roofs with Low-Emitting Materials, another 3 points can be collected here.

Making the Grade

As building owners and architects evaluate many materials, products and systems in their quest to design a LEED-certified building, high quality metal roof and wall panels are a great way to get there.

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Barrier Walls vs. Rainscreen Exteriors
Design Innovation
Barrier Walls vs. Rainscreen Exteriors
June 4, 2021 at 2:32 pm 0

When selecting cladding for your building, there are a few important considerations when choosing barrier walls versus rainscreen cladding. Learn more about each system and the factors you should consider.  

What are Barrier Walls? 

Barrier walls are the outermost layer of the building envelope, preventing water and air penetration with a single plane. Insulated metal panels offer a single component barrier wall system which creates an effective building envelope, serving as an air, water and thermal barrier The IMP’s interior layer employs field installed seals to prevent water and air migration beyond the IMP. Barrier walls can be a dry seal or a fully wet sealed system and do not require a backup air or water barrier. 

With barrier walls, a single component system, you have the benefit of single source responsibility with one manufacturer and one installer.  

What is Rainscreen Cladding? 

The rainscreen is the outer shell of your building’s facade. Rainscreen cladding relies on back up walls for air and water performance. They are available in many different materials and provide a variety of options for external appearance. 

Rainscreen cladding systems consist of several components and therefore require several labor trades for installation.  

Barrier Wall System vs. Rainscreen System  

There are a variety of items to consider when choosing between a barrier wall system versus a rainscreen system. Some of these items can include, labor, structural capabilities, panel size availability and accessories. Each system has its own niche. Learn more about which will work best for your application.  

What kind of performance is the architect looking for? 

Both barrier wall systems and rainscreen systems can be engineered for desired performance to serve as an effective air, water and thermal barrier. While barrier walls offer the desired performance with one single component system, rainscreen systems require multiple components.  

What is the budget? 

The cost of both systems will vary based on a variety of factors including project location for labor costs, square footage of material and material chosen for the rainscreen panel.  

What aesthetic is the architect trying to achieve? 

The desired aesthetic is an important factor to consider when choosing between a rainscreen system or a barrier wall system.  

Rainscreen systems offer more aesthetic options including texture and geometry. They also offer flexibility with material options such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel and zinc. Rainscreen systems can add a touch of modernity to any building project.  

Barrier wall systems also offer aesthetic options such as a variety of colors, finishes and textures. Barrier wall also offer various substrates to complete the exterior of your building.  

What components need to be integrated? 

When designing the building envelope system, it is common to add components such as windows and louvres that are designed to be fully integrated with the wall panel. The ease of integration depends greatly on which system you choose.  

With barrier walls, a single component system, fully integrated component options may be available from the panel manufacturer. They offer a significant improvement in the total wall performance by providing a continuous, uninterrupted seal between the panel, window and or louver, providing a better overall wall performanceBarrier wall systems may also offer better product span capabilities, contributing to reduced labor and material costs.  

With rainscreen systems, it can be more challenging to incorporate accessories such as windows and louvers due to the multiple components required to create the wall assembly and coordination needed to provide a continuous air and water barrier. 

 

Contact our highly experienced staff to learn which solution is best for your business.  

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Design Innovation
New Metal Trends Update
April 1, 2021 at 9:06 pm 0

The metal building industry continues to grow and evolve, which may be spurred on by the hopefulness of a post-pandemic world later this year. This is a good time, then, to get updated on some of the trends and developments that have been emerging in the past few years and are likely to continue strong into the foreseeable future. Some of the most notable innovations that are fast becoming trends in exterior metal wall panels and facades are as follows:

Finishes: The latest exterior metal panel coatings are a pre-finished decorative system that accurately simulates more expensive natural finishes, including wood and specialty metals. Using high performance, field-proven print coating technology, an innovative metal print coat finish system can be used on both steel and aluminum substrates, offering significant cost savings along with lower maintenance than the natural materials they emulate. The coating is available in twelve print coat patterns and colors, is low maintenance, offers exceptional dirt and stain resistance, and provides excellent UV resistance. Further, the outstanding adhesion and color consistency of these coatings means that the panels will continue to look uniform over the life of the buildings they are used on. CENTRIA offers finishes that do all of this under the “Impressions” line.

Bold Three-Dimensional Facades: Metal panels used in single-skin rainscreen façades are now readily available with curves and bold, sloped-rib profiles. While corrugated metal panels have been available and in use for some time, these new panels use the play of light and shadow to create a complex wall relief that has not been available before in corrugated metal wall panels. In addition to innovative aesthetics, the same performance associated with conventional metal rainscreen products can be achieved. The panels may be installed in a variety of horizontal or vertical rainscreen applications to form a complete wall system. The “Cascade” line is offered by CENTRIA as part of this visual trend.

Modular Aesthetics: A modular metal panel system can change conventional thought on what a rainscreen wall system should look like. A coordinated system of smaller, modular panels in a variety of colors and finishes can be used by artistic façade designers to inspire spectacular visual results. Since there are plenty of finish choices, the combinations of patterns and appearances is only limited by the designer’s imagination. The modular design of such a system means that either vertical or horizontal installations can be incorporated. Modular metal panels are available in standard coil-coated aluminum substrate, post-anodized aluminum, zinc, and other natural metals. Further, they are available in a variety of panel design options including flat, tapered, or perforated. The “Intercept” product line is the CENTRIA system that can be used to take advantage of this trend.

Perforated Panels: There are design and performance reasons where certain facades can benefit from a light, airy, aesthetic or allow air to flow through on purpose. In these cases, a perforated metal panel can be the best choice. Typically, such panels are created using a unique fabrication process applied to 20-gauge stainless steel or 0.040" painted aluminum. This means that the building can blend with their surroundings with a material that will hold up very well over time. The amount of perforation can vary and be specified between 10% - 40% of the panel area to provide an airy aesthetic that controls light and air movement making it an ideal choice for concealing equipment. The panels can be installed either vertically or horizontally to suit particular project needs. CENTRIA offers perforated panels in a variety of product lines, but a full system is found in “EcoScreen Perforated Screenwalls”.

Insulated Metal Panels: The combination of rigid foam insulation and an interior and exterior metal skin produces insulated metal panels (IMPs). Used in commercial and industrial buildings where energy performance and expedited construction processes are important, IMPs provide a one-step solution to provide interior and exterior finish, insulation, plus an effective air and vapor barrier. The lightweight panels provide tremendous design flexibility, ease of installation with long lengths, various finish options. and superior weather resistance. They can be installed vertically or horizontally to suit the aesthetics of large-scale commercial and industrial buildings such as warehouses, industrial facilities, schools, and shopping centers. From a performance standpoint, the insulation creates a thermal break between the face and liner to save energy. A factory-applied panel joint sealant, together with field-applied sealant, create an air and vapor barrier that provides outstanding results. They are also available with factory-formed sheet metal flashing or extruded aluminum trim. The “Versawall” (vertical or horizontal) product line is offered by CENTRIA in this category of trending metal walls. 

To find out more about any of these trends in building facades that use metal panels, visit the CENTRIA website or contact your local CENTRIA Representative.

 

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