Excellent day yesterday at Zak World of Façades Auckland; many thanks to all event sponsors!
Below is our take on the key themes:
*****Executive Summary:
- Successful façade projects rely on long-term strategies, early involvement of all stakeholders, and innovative design practices focused on sustainability and performance. Leadership, collaboration, and a focus on reducing risks and improving durability are critical to the success of commercial façades.
**** Long-Term Strategy Over Short-Term Gains:
- Facades play a crucial role in building efficiency and sustainability.
- The new political landscape tends to promote short-term thinking, but the correct strategy for facades and sustainability is long-term.
- The newly created Society of Façade Engineers will be excellent for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
**** Leadership and Collaboration:
- Successful façade projects are driven by collaboration, early involvement, and leadership from all stakeholders.
- “Think slow, act fast” - good planning upfront leads to faster execution and better results.
- Emphasis on avoiding reliance on automated tools like BIM without solid understanding of what makes buildings work well.
- The leadership should take responsibility for the outcome, pushing for clear ownership of design and performance.
**** Energy Modeling and Design:
- The importance of using multiple energy models with increasing accuracy as the project progresses.
- Early engagement with energy modellers is essential (starting from day 2 of the project).
- Curtainwall performance and specifications must be established early to avoid surprises later in the project.
- The focus on U-value performance (especially because of H1 regulations) can be misleading; air-tightness and solar heat gain are also critical.
- Encouraging early involvement from all stakeholders (architects, structural engineers, services, and energy modellers) for optimal results.
**** Façade Durability and Risks:
- Facade remediation liability costs double every 10 years;
- BCA's risk scoring system helps assess the risk of façade projects based on criteria such as structural performance and historical success.
- Facade engineers need to be involved early to advise on movements (horizontal, lateral and wind loading) that affect weathering and durability of the facade. Too often this data is kept from the facade subcontractor!
Emphasis on reducing the risk of leaks and minimizing reliance on sealants.
****Building Code and Liability Reform:
- The BCA's liability settings are being reconsidered, with potential shifts in where liability should lie (i.e., not with the homeowner).
And a few eye-candy facade pictures!
Find full details of all speakers and sponsors - https://lnkd.in/g8Bwqvad
