Steel Buildings in Europe

Part 2: Concept Design 2 - 70 6.7 Energy efficiency Thermal insulation pro vided in th e building envelope is traditiona lly the architect’s responsibility. However, the st ructural engineer must be involved in the developm ent of appropriate deta ils and layout. Supporting system s for cladding may be m ore com plicated in order to m eet therm al perform ance requirements, involving eccentric connection to the supporting steelwork. Steel members that penetrate the insulation, such as balcony supports, need special consideration and detailing to avoid ‘t hermal bridging’. Therm al bridges not only lead to heat loss, b ut may also lead to con densation on the inside of the building. 6.8 Cladding Cladding sy stems that m ay be used in m ulti-storey bu ilding depend on the building height and the degree of fenest ration. Fully glazed facades are widely used, although provision for solar shading generally has to be m ade. An example of a fully glazed cladding is shown in F igure 6.4. The following cladding systems are generally:  Brickwork Ground supported up to 3 storeys. Supported by stainless steel angles attached to edge beams for taller buildings  Glazing systems Generally triple glazing or double layer facades supported on aluminium posts or glass fins  Curtain walling Aluminium or other lightweight façade that is attached to the perimeter steelwork  Insulated render or tiles Cladding system supported on light steel infill walls, mainly used in public sector buildings and residential buildings.