Façade performances assessment and essential on-site and off-site laboratory testing

The paper illustrates characteristics and performances of curtain walling kits intended to be used as part of the building envelope. Façade systems represent generally the building skin, aiming to satisfy a growing complexity of functional demands such as the stringent green energy requirements given by most of the building codes and to ensure weather resistance (e.g. wind load, air tightness and water penetration). Curtain walling determines the comfort level of the occupancy but also safety in use, heat retention and solar control, included acoustic and fire requirements, building and seismic movements, with or without failure analysis (test/assessments/calculation methods). The authors discuss about the common well known standards (ISO, EN, voluntary guideline and technical notes) used in carrying out off-site (laboratory) and on-site performance tests and procedures. The manufacturer should establish protocols and method statements to meet performances set by the European product standards for a common market (CPR) but also to achieve parameters and requirements set specifically project by project. Today curtain walling performances are assessed by rigorous tests performed directly by the manufacturer or by an independent third party (i.e. under harmonised AVCP system - Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance). The FPC (Factory Production Control) shall address the standards to ensure that the declared characteristics are maintained during the production and, later, with the installation on site.