Brief presentation explaining Rear Ventilated Rain Screen facade design

1. Rear Ventilated Rain Screen
Superior Wall System for Brilliant Buildings
- July 21, 2015page 1

2. Define RVRS
• Cladding stands off the moisture resistant surface
to create a drainage plane and ventilation cavity.
• Vertical cavity for stack effect.
• The wall is open top and bottom to allow ventilation,
• Intermediate gaps can be open or closed; aesthetic
decision.
• The Rear Ventilated Rain Screen can be built over an
insulated wall system, or simply over structure.
(see discussion on designing thermally broken
insulated RVRS systems)
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3. - July 21, 2015page 3

4. 4
Key Attributes of RVRS Facades?
• Remove water and vapour in active, natural manner from assembly
• Exterior takes abuse of the weather - full heat, the sun, the wind…
• Ventilation helps the building AND the façade product
• Accommodates any amount of insulation
• Insulation is always drying - better effective R
• Simpler, more easily built and inspected - no caulking
• Lighter thinner systems than concrete and brick
• Unlimited choice in panel selection.
• Better energy efficiency than most curtain wall
• Less expensive than many other systems

5. History and Standards
• Ventilated façade early adopted in Europe, a skin to shield the
building from the elements
• DIN 18516 – German Construction Standard
– Specifies all key attributes
– Spacing behind panel minimum 20mm
• Materials developed to leverage ventilation
– High density fibre cement
– Phenolic
– Ceramic
– Porcelain
– Metals
- July 21, 2015page 5

6. RVRS suitable for all building types
HouseCondo HotelUniversity SchoolHospital

7. Panels
page 7
Zinc
ACP
FRC &
GFRC
Phenolic
PorcelainCeramic
ACP
Stone
veneer
Unlimited choice

8. Rear Ventilated Rain Screen
(Moisture Management)
Drainage and ventilation
Some water gets
in, and then
drains out.
Condensation
and water vapour
vented to
exterior.

9. Alternatively – Single Skin Construction. Water always
gets in causing deterioration
Crack

10. Drained cavity Rainscreen eg Masonry
• Masonry uses Rainscreen term – different
than RVRS
• Drainage of water that penetrates the
brick is allowed to drain out
• Limited to no ventilation; closed top and
bottom of wall.
• Less active plenum; reducing benefit of
ventilation
• Constructability issues with ensuring
drainage is working
• Heavier, more steps to build
- July 21, 2015page 10

11. RVRS (Insulation)
NATURAL INSULATION – 0.5 R Value from RVRS
Energy Efficiency
Consumption of
AC/Heating
Acoustic Insulation

12. RVRS
(Temperature Regulation)
When the outside temperature is HOT, the ventilated rain
screen cladding has a cooling effect on the building
• Most of the sun’s rays are reflected
• Ventilating effect of the air gap

13. RVRS
(Temperature Regulation)
When the temperature is COLD outside the same process occurs:
• Most of the cold air is
reflected by the exterior
architectural panel
• The remaining cool air will
partially dissipate by the ventilating
effect of the air gap between the
architectural panel and the structural wall
• Insulation is protected, so will remain effective

14. - July 21, 2015page 14
Detail in
practice

15. EA Design Guide – all conditions
- July 21, 2015page 15

16. 16
Key Attributes of RVRS Facades?
• Remove water and vapour in active, natural manner from assembly
• Exterior takes abuse of the weather - full heat, the sun, the wind…
• Ventilation helps the building AND the façade product
• Accommodates any amount of insulation
• Insulation is always drying - better effective R
• Simpler, more easily built and inspected - no caulking
• Lighter thinner systems than concrete and brick
• Unlimited choice in panel selection.
• Better energy efficiency than most curtain wall
• Less expensive than many other systems