Terracotta rainscreens

Abstract

The essential principles of rainscreen cladding are discussed in the section on metal rainscreens. Terracotta rainscreens have developed into patented proprietary systems from prototypes within the last ten years. Over that time the sizes of terracotta panels have increased and fixing systems have developed for use as solar shading screens to glazed walls as part of an overall rainscreen system for a building facade. Hollow terracotta sections are reinforced with aluminium sections set into them to form louvred screens that can match with adjacent areas of cladding. Terracotta is fixed either on rails, into aluminium or stainless steel panels, or on individual brackets like masonry cladding with concealed fixings. Vertically-set or horizontallyset rails are used to suit a range of joint arrangements that imitate traditional masonry bonds, or can be stack bonded in the manner of wall tiling or glass blocks.