Build better efficiency into high-performance facades

Mark Halliday, Divisional Façade and Technical Manager at ARBO, part of CARLISLE Construction Materials, discusses the need for a fabric-first approach to façade specification as part of improved building performance. 

With global warming sending more storms and extreme weather our way, energy prices soaring, and an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, it has never been more important to prioritise airtightness in building envelope specification. 

According to Climate Group, the international not-for-profit organisation, buildings account for around 40% of global carbon emissions, and this figure is set to double by 2050 if action is not taken. Energy efficiency and renewables are part of the answer, but the building fabric also has a significant role to play, with a performance-led approach to design and specification needed. 

Fire safety and performance 

Regardless of the façade finish, the specification of materials used in the build-up is just as important as the performance and aesthetics of the exterior walls. In 2023, changes to the Building Safety Act (BSA) embedded greater accountability for specification choices and their contribution to building performance across the delivery chain, which means that the whole project team needs to prioritise functionality, buildability, and sustainability. 

Carlisle Construction Materials prioritised those principles when developing ARBOShield Pro, which brings together a range of high-performance products to deliver complete solutions that elevate performance and buildability. The ARBOShield Pro Fire-Resistant Façade System is an extensive group of products with Class A or B reaction to fire, and W1 resistance to water penetration. 

But specification of the façade membrane is not the only critical factor in ensuring performance. Any building product can only deliver its designed performance if it is appropriately specified and correctly installed, which is why the ARBOShield Pro range has been developed for ease of installation and buildability, backed by technical and on site support. 

Performance in detail 

Structural openings are the most vulnerable parts of any façade and poor performance or installation values can compromise the airtightness, watertightness and fire safety of the whole façade. For this reason, selecting rigorously tested and compliant systems that combine performance with ease of installation is essential. 

The ARBOShield Pro External Perimeter Class A Membrane (EPAM) has been developed to address these requirements by ensuring a neat, fire safe, compliant installation on all window, door and façade structural openings. Creating a watertight and airtight seal with certified fire resistance, the ARBOShield Pro EPAM connects a concrete structural frame or steel frame to SFS sections and exceeds current Building Regulation and Approved Document B requirements for a fire and weathertight seal. 

 For projects where an EPDM façade membrane has been specified, the ARBO Easy Stick GS EPDM provides an airtight and waterproof membrane for around windows and structural openings. Naturally UV-resistant, permanently flexible, and resistant to extreme temperature variations, it provides a robust, long-term solution for improved performance. 

Sealing for success 

Alongside façade membranes and tapes, sealants can also play an important role in façade performance. Delivering a waterproof seal that acts as a barrier against moisture, air infiltration, dust and other contaminants, sealants protect a building’s structure and aesthetics by preventing water damage and thermal bridging. 

ARBO’s extensive sealant range of sealants includes solutions for all façade requirements. Where fire safety is essential, the ARBO range of intumescent and fire resistant mastics and sealants can deliver safety, waterproofing and airtightness performance for expansion joints, glazing, windows and doors, and brick and blockwork. 

Façade designs can be complex, particularly at the most vulnerable points where complexity and installation error could compromise building performance. Selecting products designed to work together, developed for ease of installation, and proven to deliver performance can make a substantial difference to the safety, thermal efficiency, and longevity of the façade. 

www.arbo.co.uk