Part 1: Architect’s Guide 1 - 30 5 BASIS OF GOOD DESIGN: THE ENVELOPE 5.1 Façades 5.1.1 General remarks When steel is the material of choice for construction, façades are made up of a series of fabricated products which fulfil the following functions: load-bearing capacity, air tightness, water tightness, protection against intrusion, thermal and acoustic insulation, fire protection and, of course, aesthetic appearance. Application of these products for façade systems guarantees a high level of precision and performance and therefore demands a certain degree of design rigour, particularly in the connection and cladding details of the various components. With its component elements, the steel in a façade can be used for secondary frames (light steel elements or double skin façade with steel sheeting or trays), support for external facing, cladding and, lastly, for decoration and solar protection. Steel construction solutions can also be combined with other types of façade facing: steel cladding, stone, brick, terracotta, wood and glass (see examples in Figure 5.1). They offer a true palette of architectural solutions in terms of appearance, shape and finish. The huge range of façade dressings can influence performance and provide solutions for all types of project (Figure 5.2), including: Public amenities Offices Apartments and hotels Commercial buildings.
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