Are dynamic and adaptive façade materials the way of the future?

When it comes to spotting new trends and developments in an industry, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when a certain trend will start to kick in. This is why there are so many people on Wall Street every day trying to make these predictions, but only a few are ever right at any one time.

There is no doubting that the world of constriction has been moving more towards a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach. The design process involves a lot more variables these days to judge the impact the structure will have on its surrounding environment, as well as looking at ways in which to minimise energy costs.

One of the more exciting developments in the façade materials world is that of façade materials which are adaptive and dynamic. While renewables and other technologies have been becoming increasingly popular, these types of façade materials could be a key development.

In certain areas of the word, most notably in North America, there has been a green revolution and designers have experimented with intelligent and dynamic systems which have a great impact when implemented together with standard technologies. These buildings are able to move, react and adapt to real life changing conditions.

What would you say if a building could naturally react to changing environmental conditions and become optimised for any outcome? Tenants would surely be delighted at having a decreased carbon footprint and greater energy savings and efficiency.

There will also be savings for the building owner in capital and operating costs. This could even be done without having to compromise at all on the visual aspects of the design and may even improve them.

‘Living building’ is becoming closer and closer to becoming a mainstream reality. Daylighting and solar shading used to be fixed systems on the roof or exterior of a building. Now there are possibilities of having them as dynamic and controllable systems that can react and adjust the changing environmental conditions.

Being able to adapt on the go makes logical sense and once the numbers add up, this will go mainstream. There is no doubting the energy savings that can be used through the use of different façade materials, but here still needs to be affordable initial cost prices to make them viable for your standard building owner. At Danpal, we invest heavily in our research and development, so we are constantly looking at improvements and innovation in the field of façade materials.

What does the future hold for roofing materials?

In the last few decades, the types of roofing materials chosen by designers and architects for different projects have changed drastically. As technology has now become so far advanced, there are many more options available to choose from. These include materials like polycarbonate, as well as your more traditional options.

The other big change was the shift in focus towards more energy efficient options to minimise the carbon footprint that is extracted from Mother Nature. Developers want to have environmentally friendly materials, as well as saving money on energy costs in the long run.

Roof insulation has seen its R values almost triple in the last couple of decades and this looks set to continue into the future. With advanced VOC regulations being enacted, there are a lot stricter rules when it comes to coatings, sealants and adhesives that are being used.

One of the big buzzwords in today’s world is “The Internet of Things.” It seems logical that this phenomenon will move its way to the rooftop, making it a lot easier and effective when integrating rooftop energy into the energy system of the structure as a whole. This means that the roofing materials themselves will play a larger role in how efficient the transfer of thermal energy may be.

Roofs will also become even more durable and resilient. As weather is becoming more volatile and stronger weather conditions have been hitting many buildings, something that has been put down in large part to climate change, there is a growing demand for more resilient roofs. This could mean being more resistant to fires, winds, hail and other adverse conditions. Roof ratings are set to explode even further in the coming years.

Finally, the removal of roofs will become very important, as people will start wanting to reuse these roofing materials when putting on the new roof. This is more environmentally friendly, as well as cost effective if it can be done in the correct manner.

At Danpal, we are always on the cutting edge of these new developments and are constantly tweaking and improving existing products to meet with these growing demands. We pride ourselves on having a roofing system that is aesthetically pleasing, as well as being fundamentally sound and energy efficient. Daylight is maximised in the winter, while solar heat will be blocked in the summer, making it a win-win.

How can translucent facades improve further into the future?

One of the biggest developments in the world of façades in recent years has been the sustained implementation of top quality translucent façade systems. Our team at Danpal have one of the best systems around and it has led to many happy customers worldwide.

Translucent facades combine a number of great qualities to always leave you with a top quality end product.

You have a lot of flexibility in design thanks to the flexibility of the polycarbonate that is used in the construction of them. The joints are concealed and the visual appearance is appealing. It is very durable against external stimuli like poor weather conditions and it is energy efficient thanks to special Microcell technology and structural design that has been implemented.

However at Danpal we are always trying to push the boundaries and improve on existing products, as well as constantly innovating with new products.

There is still room for growth when it comes to the translucent façades. Research is constantly being undertaken on ways in which even thinner panels can be achieved without compromising on any of the qualities that make this product so great.

To get even more transparency, there needs to be no secondary supporting frames whatsoever. This leads to complex mathematics and calculations that have to be done to ensure that the integrity of the building is not compromised simply for aesthetic reasons.

There is now an arms race when it comes to the energy efficiency of a structure. In the past, the carbon emissions and energy costs of a structure were not really thought about at all during the design process, but these days it is one of the first things on the agenda.

Each designer, manufacturer of building materials and developers are trying to have an end structure that is as energy efficient as possible. While our translucent façade system at Danpal has great thermal regulation and insulation effects, there is more room for improvement.

While we can cut energy costs when using our products, until energy cost reach zero, then there will always be room for improvement and innovation.

By experimenting with different materials, structural changes an designs, the energy efficiency of the translucent façades will continually get lower and lower.

Another area that will be massive for translucent façades is the use of them for advertising. These surfaces will very likely be able to be programmed and changed in terms of imagery and advertisements are played on them externally by the owner of the structure.

It is certainly an exciting time for the industry.

Safety parameters involved with rainscreen cladding

One of the most important features that the latest forms of rainscreen cladding have is the ventilated cavity. These days it is buildings that make up to 40% of energy consumption in the main powerhouse countries in the world. This is why insulation is becoming such a big trend and many architects are having to carefully look at the R-rating of the structures they are designing and with what materials and types of products they are using for the building.

It is also important to ensure that gas is properly distributed throughout these cavities to ensure that there is not an excessive build-up that could lead to big problems down the line. This is why there is a lot of research currently being carried out when it comes to rainscreen cladding, as the presence of even a small amount of methane the molar concentration of the cavity is going to be significantly decreased, which is not desirable.

Danpal's Rainscreen Cladding system

Systems like the Danpal VRS rainscreen cladding system achieve great energy efficiency thanks to the optimal ventilation and water tightness of the system. Natural ventilation is achieved thanks to an air gap which allows for a connective motion of air to permeate throughout the gap behind the panels. This will insure that the insulation remains dry and that efficiency is maximised over time. Thanks to the system double notching; which achieves a superb level of water tightness.

The rainscreen cladding market has become huge in recent years, with estimations pointing towards it being worth $12.1 billion by 2022. This is due to more and more architects and developer steering towards more environmentally and energy friendly options when it comes to the design and building of their structures.

Learn more on Rainscreen Cladding here.

The shift towards translucent façade for energy efficiency

In this day and age, architects and developers are becoming more and more concerned with the sort of green footprint they are leaving on the earth. Climate change has become a real issue to think about and factor into the decision making process when it comes to new structures.

By enacting certain energy efficient protocols, buildings will also be able to save on energy costs in the long run thanks to more efficient insulation materials like the usage of translucent façade, as well as there being more mindfulness to the issues that affect every person.

Over the past decade opaque solar facades have become hugely popular. These are translucent façades that reflect ad absorb incident solar radiation but will not directly transfer solar heat gain inside of the building.

This means that the translucent façade will help to ensure that the building temperature is kept at optimal levels thanks to its superior insulation effect, while not baking alive those people inside of the building.

Danpal's translucent façade system

It can be quiet a complex issue to think about, depending especially on what sort of climate you are living in. This is why there are many forms of research currently being carried out on the matter. The translucent façade system that was developed by Danpal addresses a lot of the concerns that people have at the moment.

This system has superior light diffusion thanks to the glazing panels which ensure an even diffusion of light which is perfect for daytime applications. This is achieved by the tightly space ribs which doubles up as a great design feature aesthetically.

The high level of thermal insulation is achieved thanks to the unique cell structure found in the translucent façade, with great U and R values to prove this.

Why there needs to be more awareness on the importance of ventilation in wall cladding systems

For many years now, one of the main things that people were concerned about when it came to wall cladding was how well it kept water away and from permeating through the external surfaces, causing damage internally.

Thanks to revolutionary new systems from the team at Danpal, the importance of insulation, air tightness and ventilation have come to the forefront when talking about wall cladding.

Why are these three pillars so important in wall cladding?

It is simple; ventilation and air tightness is a close couple when it comes to achieving a healthy living environment. In older times, homes were generally well ventilated, even if they were draughty and hard to get heated. It is the draughtiness that kept them well ventilated and it actually was healthier for us.

These days a lot of wall cladding is well sealed but the home itself is subsequently badly ventilated. It’s funny to think that old doors and rattly windows allowed the house to have some breathing space and the moisture and heat was able to also be released.

Having good ventilation in a house means that there is a constant flow of air permeating throughout the structure. Clean and fresh air comes in – old and moisture filled air gets released. This is why good ventilation means that humid air is taken out of the house before it is allowed to develop condensation and promote the growth of harmful moulds. Studies have shown how these moulds can be extremely toxic and detrimental to our health.

This is why the wall cladding system that Danpal have developed is so powerful; natural ventilation is achieved using an air gap. This means that the connective motion occurring behind the panels will keep the insulation nice and dry, while also keeping it performing well in the long run.

You get the best of both worlds; greater energy efficiency and better quality air.

Why utilising translucent facades and natural daylight is extremely cost effective

When you are looking at the most cost effective options for reducing the energy cost in a building, there is only one approach to take in this day and age – translucent facades. Architectural design and the education process often limits the talk of natural light to cool effects that are seen on the façades, but does not look much into the practical effects which it can have on the well-being, energy and health of a building and its occupants.

There are many ways in which you can reduce energy cost through the use of the translucent façade and natural light. One of the easiest ways to do so is simply move workspaces closer to the windows and facing outwards. This allows the people to make the most of the natural daylight that is in abundance for the majority of the working day.

By having bright interior surfaces, there is going to be a much greater level of reflectance than you otherwise might have. This will allow you to improve the depth of the place. You do need to be aware of not having overly shiny and bright surfaces which may increase glare. This is why matte light hues and colours will be preferred.

It is vital that the building orientation has been done in adherence with the overall urban design of the area. This allows you to identify the main sources of light and heat and where they will be concentrated on the structure. Carefully designing the height of a building can have a massive effect in the energy costs, as you can optimise everything to ensure superior diffuse lighting is present. Northern exposure is always a good idea for generating as much indirect diffuse lighting as possible.