Technologies
Technologies Response Technologies Artefacts
Climate Change
Energy Efficiency
Locally Sourcing Materials Circular Economy Principles
Materials | A Circular Economy Facade System
By selectively utilising materials that possess high energy efficiency, as measured by their U values, the structure can effectively store greater amounts of heat during daylight hours, subsequently releasing it during cooler evening periods.
By procuring materials from local sources, the embodied carbon footprint associated with transportation and distribution of the material can be significantly minimised. This approach can foster sustainable practices, while also promoting local economies and communities.
Mass Timber Construction | Embodied Carbon
By applying circular economy principles, the goal is to prioritise the end-of-life of the structure by utilising easily recyclable and reusable materials, designing for deconstruction as well as responsibly sourcing materials through reclamation of by-products of other industries.
By creating a modular rainscreen facade system, the exterior material can be easily replaced after the end of its service life, and by prioritising circular economy principles, the facade can be made out of recycled products, such as recycled plastic shingles and recycled plastic containers, allowing the local community to be involved in the design of the facade. As this is currently only a concept, further issues need to be resolved such as a creating a universal attachment system, and ensuring that the attached claddings are safe.
Timber Rainscreen Recycled Plastic
Shingles Plastic Containers
Mass timber envelopes creates opportunities for envelope systems with high energy efficiency, low embodied carbon and high thermal mass properties allowing for natural heat distribution, reducing energy consumption. This current envelope has a U value of 0.126W/m²k, which falls within Passivhaus standards.
Building & Life Safety
Fall Prevention
Fire Resistance
As the cladding spans the height of the building (9 metres) it is vital to ensure worker safety when working at heights during the installation of the cladding, through working platforms such as scaffolds that have railings and handguards preventing possible injuries from falling.
In Pyrolysis, when wood is burnt it creates a protective layer, which can help to make timber more resistant to fires. During pyrolysis, the surface of the wood is partially burned, which creates a layer of char that can help to insulate the wood and protect it from further burning.
Weather Loads Solar Resistance
A main safety concern for a facade is the ability to resist weather loads and not to become detached to the building due to forces such as strong winds. This can be achieved by ensuring there are proper fitting attachment mechanisms in place that securely hold the facade in place.
Withstanding solar exposure is important to prevent melting and the associated health hazards, such as the release of toxic chemicals and fumes, causing respiratory problems and skin injuries and molten droplets or splatters that can cause burns or injuries to the skin or eyes.
Constructibility - Plastic Shingles & Containers
The current cladding system of my design is a cedar timber cladding, which has a service life of 40-60 years. After its service life, it can be easily recycled an then reused into other products.
The recycled plastic shingles allow the community to donate their used plastic, which is then reformed into shingles, which can be attached to the facade. These have an expected service life of 50 years
Tools
Assembly
Recycling plastic containers into a facade system gives them a new life, preventing them from ending up in a landfill, as it takes PET plastics 200-500 years to decompose. It also offers community involvement in the facade building process.
Disassembly
By having the ability to assemble the facade through hand operated tools opposed to machinery, it lowers the embodied carbon of the facade construction. Moreover it is much safer, allowing the community to be involved in the facade assembly.
Community Construction
The use of screws avoids adhesives and allows the facade to be sustainably dismantled and reused for other purposes after its service life. The exposure of the screws may be aesthetically undesirable, but it is functional and sustainable.
A
Modular Facade System
The project's objective is to develop a modular cladding system based on circular economy principles. The system creates a unitised framework that can accommodate recycled materials donated by the community, thus providing a new lease of life to these items that would otherwise end up in landfills. The construction method is simple and intends to allow members of the community to participate in building parts of the cladding. This approach fosters a sense of personal connection between the building and the community of Burnley.
As my buildings programme is family mediation, having a facade that is constructed using hand tools provides the opportunity for family involvement in the replacement of the facade after the end of its service life. It also relates to the RIBA sustainable outcomes of creating opportunities for social interaction.
Processes - Quality Control & Maintenance of Donated Items
Shingles - Factory QC Why PET Containers? Visual Inspection Damage Repairs
As the replacement cladding involves community interaction, the first stage of assembly begins by collecting donated plastics, in a circular economy strategy to integrate non - biodegradable materials into a facade system to avoid landfill waste.
The manufacturing of the plastic shingles by melting the plastics, and moulding them into plastic shingles. This stage involves the greatest amount of embodied carbon, but conserves natural resources as it utilises existing plastics into a new form.
Using a unitised framework system, the cladding can be fitted onto the building. The framework is currently “conceptual” and needs to be able to fit the three types of cladding, timber, plastic shingles and PET containers.
Once the cladding reaches the end of its service life,the horizontal elements of the framework can be easily unscrewed, allowing for the fast and sustainable replacement of the cladding, minimising material waste.
As the shingle cladding melts the donated plastics to reform them into the shingle shape, there is less quality control issues as the material is being reformed. Alongside being prefabricated in factory conditions, this minimises any quality control issues.
The motive behind attempting to reuse containers as a cladding arises from the issues of the current recycling system of plastics, where only 2% of all donated plastic are effectively recycled. This necessitates a need for sustainable reuse.
After plastic containers are donated (in specific sizes such as 1L or 2L to ensure they will fit together in the cladding,) they need to be checked for any damage, as any structural flaws to the containers could lessen its structural integrity.
Cracks in the containers can be repaired by using a two part expoxy resin that fills the crack in the container. This ensures the container is not wasted and further contributes to circular economy principles as the items are not discarded in a landfill.
As the cladding is community donated, the first stage begins with the donation of the containers. These will need to be standardised sizes (1 litre, 2 etc.) to ensure that they would be able to be fitted onto the modular cladding system.
At the end of its service life as cladding, the containers can be recycled into new products such as playground equipment and flower pots, or it can be donated to plastic recycling plants to ensure these containers contribute to a circular economy.
Position Architectural Design Position + Technical Detail Design Purpose BA3 Technologies Part C Saif Hajazi | &rchitecture
Heat stored during the day Heat released at night
Circular Economy
drill. The containers use less embodied carbon
to the shingles,
not
and reformed
carbon emissions. Above eye level, trained construction workers can install the rest of the containers, utilising the modular cladding system to maximise speed and efficiency and
materials.
Supervised by trained staff members, the cladding can be installed easily using nails and a
compared
as they do
need to be reheated
which uses
minimising wasted
Plastic Collection Shingle Manufacturing Installation Disassembly/Post Life
Container Donation Community Installation Worker Completion Disassembly/Post Life The containers must be cleaned to remove any dirt, debris and containments. PET containers can start to turn yellow when exposed to prolonged UV lighting, so they can be cleaned using commercial plastic cleaners to remove the yellowing effect. To avoid the containers yellowing due to UV exposure, they can be coated in a silicone coating. This coating can last 15-20 years, and makes the containers resistant to UV rays and also protects the plastics from long heat exposure which is vital as a cladding. The modular frame will allow for the quick and efficient removal of the containers through the use of a screw system. This means that the each container can be separately removed, allowing them to repaired and recoated, further avoiding landfill disposal. As PET containers can take 450 years to decompose, at the end of its service life as a cladding, the containers can be easily removed and then reused and recycled into other purposes, such as being used for plant pots or for equipment in a playground. Container Cleaning
Coatings
Maintenance End Of Life
Protective
Easy
Re-use
BA3 Technologies Part C Saif Hajazi | &rchitecture
Prototype 1 - Snap On Click Cladding System
Clips Fixing Vertical Battens Container Attachment Shingle Attachment
The vertical battens are screwed into the buildings structure, they provide structural support to the cladding and create separation for ventilation.
The clips that hold the claddings are then attached by a bolt into the battens, allowing for the easy removal of the clips post service life.
The cladding can then be snapped into the containers. They are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances to provide a secure fit.
As the shingles lacks straight edges, a timber batten is screwed into the back of the shingle, this can then be snapped into the cladding clips.
The current cladding system on my fragment uses a typical screw system, where the cladding is attached to the structure by installing screws through the cladding, horizontal and vertical battens and then into the OSB sheathing. It is a fast and efficient system that minimises waste.
Current Cladding System Issues
In the first step, an aligning hole is drilled through the batten and clips, and is attached by a locking nut creating a non permanent fixture.
The cladding can then slide into the clips. This will make an audible click, that affirms that the cladding is securely fitted into the clip.
This same principle applies to the shingle, except the screwed in timber batten provides the needed surface area for the clips to attach.
Since the clips are made with precise tolerances for a snug fit, removing them can be difficult and requires prying, which could damage the clip.
To address the challenge of cladding replacement, I propose a new system that suspends the horizontal battens and cladding, avoiding damage to the sheathing and breather membrane. This approach significantly reduces costs, minimises materials required for building restoration, and simplifies maintenance. Expanding this system into a circular modular cladding system would offer sustainability benefits through the attachment of recycled plastic shingles and containers. This universal system would also allow for the replacement of individual components, improving cost efficiency and maintenance ease.
Prototype 2 - Z Bracket Cladding System
Vertical Battens Horizontal Rails
Cladding Brackets Detailing
The first step of installation is the vertical battens. These connect to the building and provide separation for ventilation.
The Horizontal rails are then attached to the vertical battens, and are shaped to allow the cladding brackets to fit onto them.
Nut & Bolt Holes Tighten
To Bracket
Using a drill, holes are cut into the corners of the cladding aligning to the holes on the Z bracket.
The cladding brackets are prefabricated to the correct spacing that allows the shingles and the containers to be attached.
After the brackets are bolted onto the cladding, they can be fitted onto the horizontal rail, and further secured using nuts and bolts.
Attach to Rail Seamless Finish
After the holes are cut, the Z Bracket can be secured to the cladding with nuts and bolts, allowing for easy disassembly.
The containers are then placed onto the horizontal rails and secured to the rail with nuts and bolts, allowing for a waste free installation.
The final result is a seamless finish. It is a quick and efficient system that allows for easy cladding replacements after its service life.
As the clips alleviate the necessity for screw attachments of the claddings, there is a minimal amount of materials needed in the assembly.
The ability to 3D print plastic clips means they can securely fit any cladding size and shape, thanks to their precise custom manufacturing.
Vertical battens create a 25mm gap for drainage and ventilation, while secure bolts and precise clips help the system withstand weather loads.
While the tools required are minimal, the containers require a significant number of bolts and clips, which can impact the system's sustainability.
Steel L Angle Mesh Attachment Mesh Attachment Cladding Fixing
The Steel L angle is connected to the buildings structure. This provides space for ventilation and holds the perforated metal sheet.
The metal sheet is connected to steel angle using a U bracket and nuts and bolts, allowing for efficient, waste free assembly/disassembly.
The bottom of the sheet has U clip bolted to a metal spring, which provides tension & flexibility in windy conditions, distributing wind loads.
The cladding is then attached simply using nuts and bolts, by utilising the many holes in the sheet. This is a very fast and efficient mounting system.
2mm Holes are cut into the claddings. Unlike the Z Clips, these can be cut anywhere, and do not have to align with any brackets
Required
The Z clip system is a very efficient system that has very few tools. This reduces waste and allows for easy cladding replacement.
Using Nuts and bolts means the system can be installed and removed by hand, which is simple, carbon free and reduces waste.
Climate Performance
Horizontal rails ventilate the cladding to prevent moisture build-up and mould. The close fit of the cladding allows rainwater to shed to the ground.
System's metal use (brackets, nuts, bolts) is a clear negative, but recycled materials & responsible reuse can minimise embodied carbon.
The metal sheet system can be installed easily through only by hand and a drill, creating a sustainable, waste free system.
Using the perforated metal sheet as a “grid” the claddings can be attached and then bolted into one of the many holes on the sheet.
At the end of it service life, the cladding can be easily disassembled by hand through the use of nuts and bolts without any brackets.
A replacement cladding such as the shingles can then be installed quickly, sustainably and efficiently, reusing the same nuts and bolts.
A Universal System Environmental Impact
The use of a perforated sheet acts as a grid, which allows any shapes and sizes of cladding to be installed, allowing for a universal system.
Building Life and Safety
As the envelope is designed to operate independently and allow for many types of materials to be used as a cladding, the envelope without the cladding needs to be efficient enough to provide sufficient thermal performance without the cladding impacting the thermal efficiency.
The envelope's U value is 0.17W/m²k, just above passivhaus 0.15W/mk. The cladding may bring it to the passivhaus number, showing the systems efficiency.
From an embodied carbon perspective, the reuse of materials in a continual cycle in a circular system alleviates the embodied carbon of the cladding.
As demonstrated, a concern I had when using plastic containers as a cladding was that it could melt in exposure to direct sunlight. However, when calculating this possibility, the containers do not reach anywhere close to its melting point, making it a safe cladding material.
Conclusions On Prototypes
The perforations in the sheet allow for a greater level of ventilation, and the use of a metal sheet reflects solar radiation, reducing heat absorption.
In this system, the only change of material is the cladding, as the nuts and bolts can be reused, creating a waste free, sustainable system.
Building Life Cycle Safety - Scaffolds Low Tech Assembly
The cladding system is designed to be low risk in installation, but at heights, scaffolding is required. Secure scaffolding can help reduce the dangers involved.
The safety in installation is further emphasised through the use of low tech installation using hand tools and tightening, minimising risks of injuries.
a cladding system, achieved through a universal modular cladding system.
As the system uses minimal parts with the cladding being community donated, this minimises costs whilst contributing to a circular economy.
Supervision by a trained professional is vital during the attachment of the cladding to ensure safety and a secure installation with the
When utilising nuts and bolts, the correct torque must be applied to ensure a safe and secure fitting to the mesh, to avoid a risk of detachment.
PET could crack by debris so it's important to have a simple detachment system to allow for damage repairs, that could pose a safety risk.
Prototype 3 - Suspended Mesh System
Tools Required Ease Of Disassembly Climate Performance Climate Performance Environmental Impact
Process Installation Guide System Analysis
Container
Disassembly Shingles Fixing Tools
Prototyping
Bolts Cutouts
Fixing
Installation
System Analysis
Process Installation
System
Prototyping Process
Guide
Prototyping
Guide
Analysis
Tools
Climate
3D Printed Clips
Required
Performance Environmental Impact
Container
Attachment Disassembly
Attachment Shingles
Issues Clips Installation
Thermal Performance - Envelope U Value Calculation Circular Principles UV Resistance UV Exposure Calculation Thermal Expansion Fire Resistance Life-cycle Cost Community Installation Simple But Secure Impact & Repair
As plastic is prone to expansion, the calculation estimates that at a rate of 1.71mm per year, the impact is minimal allowing it to be sufficient as a cladding. As containers are combustible, to avoid the spread of fire, they can be coated sustainably using chlorine to make them fire resistant, limiting fire spread. 50 Years 30 Years 50 Years As my building is designed to be a mediation hub for Burnley for the foreseeable future, the cladding evolves as the building ages, which is achieved sustainably through circular principles of using donated items as
community cladding installation. Snap On Cladding System The snap-on cladding system is the simplest installation method, as the cladding can be attached without screws, nuts, or bolts. While the clips are manufactured with tight tolerances for safety, this method may be deemed less secure than other systems due to the lack of nuts and bolts. Additionally, this mechanism has a significant environmental impact as the clips are customized to fit specific cladding, leading to the need for reproduction for different cladding items and contributing to the system's embodied carbon.
a myriad of
However, this
comparatively
that accommodate different shapes and sizes. Ultimately, while this system offers unparalleled security, its flexibility is limited. The suspended mesh system provides the best middle ground between the clips and the Z brackets. The system is extremely simple, as it uses a suspended perforated metal sheet that acts as a grid, accommodating for different sizes and shapes of claddings. The mesh can be made out of a long lasting metal such as zinc which lasts 100 years, allowing for 2-3 cladding changes before the mesh needs to be changed. Furthermore it also has a low environmental impact, as the nuts and bolts can be reused, and there is no used of specialised clips and brackets that only accommodate a specific size or shape of cladding. Ultimately, this system remains the most suitable out of the three prototypes, due to its ease of assembly and low environmental impact.
Suspended
In essence, this fast attachment system compromises security and sustainability for convenience. The Z-bracket cladding system is widely regarded as the most secure attachment method due to its utilisation of metal brackets and rails. This system employs nuts and bolts to secure the brackets directly to the horizontal rails, providing exceptional robustness. Nonetheless, this attachment technique comes at a significant cost in terms of adaptability and interchangeability, as the process entails
steps.
system has a
lower environmental impact than the clip system, as the brackets can be prefabricated with multiple apertures
Z Bracket Cladding System
Mesh System
Suspended Mesh Cladding System | Plastic Container Fixing
| 1:5@A2
Reflections on Technologies Position & Design Insights
Suspended Mesh Cladding System | Recycled Plastic Shingle Fixing Top Attachment | 1:5@A2
Key:
1. M6 Locking Nut & Bolt (1)
The locking nut connects the bracket to the horizontal L plate. This allows the bracket to be easily detached if it needs to be replaced.
2. Horizontal L Plate
The Horizontal L plate spans across the top of the cladding and suspends the metal sheet from the structure. This gives separation for ventilation, preventing mould and mildew, and keeps water from ingressing into the buildings structure.
3. Steel U Bracket (1)
The steel U bracket is an important joint, as it connects the suspended perforated sheet to the horizontal L plate. They are spaced in 100mm increments, allowing it to handle the load of the cladding. The system is attached exclusively by nuts and bolts, allowing the metal sheet to be easily replaced at the end of its service life, and minimising waste by disassembly through hand tools only.
4. M6 Locking Nut & Bolt (2)
The locking nut connects the metal sheet to the horizontal batten. Using the holes already existing in the sheet, it is tightened on the opposite side by a nut, creating a secure connection suspending the metal sheet from the structure.
5. Self Tapping Screw
The self tapping screw connects the horizontal L plate to the buildings structure. Self tapping screws do not require pre drilled holes, therefore this allows for faster installation. This is designed to be a more permanent fixture, as the horizontal L plate does not need to be replaced, and it has to carry the loads of the metal sheet and the attached cladding.
6. 5mm Perforated Zinc Metal Sheet
The Perforated Zinc metal sheet acts as a “grid system” where the multitude of holes allow for different sizes and shapes of cladding to be attached using nuts and bolts, creating a universal cladding system. The use of zinc is a conscious decision, as it has a service life of up to 100 years, which allows it to be used for 2-3 cycles of cladding. Moreover zinc is the fourth most recycled metal in the world, and can be recycled without any loss of quality, contributing to a circular economy.
7. Waterproofing Membrane
Suspended Mesh Cladding System | Recycled Plastic Shingle Fixing Bottom
| 1:5@A2
The waterproofing membrane is exposed on the exterior, and is used a second barrier of protection after the cladding to protect the cladding from the elements, if any water was to make it through the cladding and the ventilation gap.
8. 18mm OSB Sheathing
The 18mm OSB sheathing is lightweight, which allows it to be efficiently installed. Furthermore, as its constructed from recycled wood chips, this lowers the embodied carbon of the envelope system.
9. Plastic Containers / Recycled Plastic Shingle
In this system, I have chosen to use plastic containers and recycled plastic shingles ,to use recycled plastics donated by the community to avoid landfill waste and contribute to a circular economy. However in this universal system, any item can be attached, but its crucial that is thoroughly tested, such as being able to resist weather loads and to be fire resistant to ensure occupant safety.
10. M6 Locking Nut & Bolt (3)
M6 Locking nuts and bolts can be used to attach and secure the cladding items to perforated metal sheet, creating an efficient securing system through the use of hand tools, allowing for the quick attachment and detachment of the cladding. The nuts and bolts can be reused for different claddings, further minimising waste.
11. Steel U Bracket (2)
A steel U bracket is used to attach the spring system at the bottom of the cladding system. This attaches by using an M6 nut and bolt to secure it to the metal sheet, allowing for the springs to be easily replaced.
12. M6 Locking Nut & Bolt (4) The M6 nut and bolt is used to attach the bracket to the metal sheet. This allows is to be easily assembled and removed, incase of failure to the springs.
13. Tension Spring
The tension spring aids in improved wind resistance, keeping the zinc sheet stable under wind loads as the sheet is only 5mm thick. This further helps the sheet not detach from the building, improving the systems safety. These are spaced every 100mm to provide sufficient stability.
14. M6 Locking Nut & Bolt (5)
The spring is attached the U bracket using a nut and bolt, securing it to the bracket and to the metal sheet. The use of disassembly through hand tools is crucial, as springs often have a low service life as they are under constant tension.
Technical
Integrative Systems
Design
Detail
|
Conclusions
BA3 Technologies Part C Saif Hajazi | &rchitecture
Top Attachment
Attachment
Suspended Mesh Cladding System | Plastic Container Fixing Bottom Attachment | 1:5@A2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 8 10 11 12 13 14 11 13 14 12 10 9 2 3 4 5 6
A Circular Economy Cladding System Hand Tool Installation/Disassembly Waste Free Cladding System Community Installation/Contribution The use of a system entirely assembled and disassembled through the use of hand tools is achieved through the use of brackets, nuts and bolts, creating a system that minimises waste by avoiding permanent fixtures and allowing for the reuse of components. The creation of a circular economy cladding using donated items to avoid landfill waste is achieved with a universal suspended mesh system allowing any item to be used as cladding. This promotes the sustainable reuse of items that wouldn’t otherwise be considered suitable as a cladding. The system is achieved using a minimal amount of items, and each are assembled in the same manner, using hand tools exclusively, to create an efficient system without the use of specialised tools, allowing for a simple assembly and disassembly without specialised equipment. With a mediation programme that is community centric, I wanted to involve the community in the contribution and installation of the cladding. This has been achieved by using community donated items, and using nuts/bolts facilitates a low tech installation, allowing for community installation.
