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Rainscreen Cladding

Rainscreen Façade – Principles & Design CPD

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Our engaging and informative RIBA accredited CPD seminar covers the design, principles and benefits of specifying rainscreen façades.

During your CPD you will learn:

  • Benefits to the building
  • Fixing methods
  • Façade support options 
  • Typical details e.g. panel layout and joints
  • Standards and conformity

Attendees of the presentation will be sent a CPD RIBA Certificate. Complete the form here Request a CPD – EQUITONE

Please note this CPD seminar is open to UK practices only.

Fire Performance That Sets the Standard

Building Products Index Ltd Cladding, Insulation, Rainscreen Cladding, Render Leave a Comment

View the SAS Render Systems (SAS Europe) entry on BPindex

Visit the SAS Render Systems (SAS Europe) website

In today’s construction landscape, fire safety is no longer just a requirement – it’s a defining factor in façade design. With increasing scrutiny on materials and system performance, selecting the right solution has never been more critical.

At SAS Render Systems (SAS Europe), our systems are engineered to deliver dependable, proven fire performance. Both ProRend EIFS External Wall Insulation and ProWall Rendered Rainscreen provide specifiers, contractors, and building owners with complete confidence.

ProRend EIFS & ProWall Systems. Built for Compliance. Designed for Confidence.

Fire classification is more than a technical label – it’s assurance that your façade system is fit for purpose.

Working in line with BS EN 13501-1, our systems are designed to deliver appropriate fire performance depending on the project requirements:

  • A2-s1,d0 → Limited combustibility, minimal smoke, no flaming droplets
  • B-s1,d0 → Very limited contribution to fire with low smoke production

Allowing the correct solution to be specified based on building height, use, and risk profile.

ProWall Rendered Rainscreen, A Smarter Approach to Fire Safety

ProWall, with a 60-year BBA certificate for durability, is designed as a ventilated rainscreen system, enhancing fire performance while delivering a robust and durable façade.

Why ProWall Stands Out

  • A2-s1,d0 fire classification as standard
  • Suitable for steel frame and timber frame construction
  • Fully aligned with current UK fire regulations
  • Engineered using non-combustible components throughout

What sets ProWall apart is its ventilated design:

  • Reduces heat build-up within the façade
  • Limits potential fire spread pathways
  • Integrates seamlessly with intumescent cavity barriers

The result is a system that not only complies with regulations but also actively contributes to improved building safety.

Ideal for:

  • High-rise developments
  • Education buildings
  • Residential and commercial projects

ProRend EIFS, Flexible Performance Without Compromise

ProRend EIFS is a BBA-approved external wall insulation system offering adaptable fire performance, allowing systems to be specified to suit each project’s requirements, whilst providing a decarbonisation solution and enhanced insulation.

EPS Systems: Efficient. Economical. Energy-Saving.

  • Provides excellent thermal efficiency and cost-effectiveness
  • Typically achieves B-s1,d0 classification
  • Commonly used to reduce heat loss or pre-existing structures, such as buildings with solid walls (no cavity) or older constructions.

A practical and proven solution for improving thermal performance with a breathable and weather-resistant rendered façade solution.

Mineral Wool Systems: High Performance Where It Matters Most

  • Achieves A2-s1,d0 classification
  • Suitable for higher-rise and higher-risk buildings
  • Non-combustible and highly breathable

Combining thermal performance with enhanced fire safety, ProRend EIFS mineral wool EWI system meets the demands of modern construction.

 

It’s Not Just a Product – It’s a System

Fire performance is achieved through intelligent design and correct detailing.

SAS render systems are designed to incorporate, where required:

  • Fire breaks at floor levels
  • Intumescent cavity barriers at openings (within ventilated systems)
  • Careful detailing around:
    • Windows and doors
    • Service penetrations
    • System interfaces

Because even the best materials rely on correct design and installation to perform effectively.

The SAS Approach

SAS Render Systems provides complete façade solutions, with fully backed technical support for every project from start to finish.

With over 35 years of industry experience, we support you with:

  • Project-specific specifications
  • Fire compliance guidance
  • Technical detailing and design support
  • On-site guidance

When you choose SAS, you’re choosing a partner focused on safety, performance, and long-term reliability.

If you have a project in mind, our technical team is ready to help you specify with confidence.

01647 24620
info@sas-europe.com

sas-europe.com

Alumasc Launches Skyline Rainscreen Cladding: A Refined Solution for Prestigious Facades

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Alumasc Launches Skyline Rainscreen Cladding: A Refined Solution for Prestigious Facades

Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS) has expanded its Skyline Architectural Aluminium offering with Skyline Rainscreen Cladding: a premium aluminium system developed to meet the aesthetic and performance demands of prestigious developments, where visual impact and long-term durability are paramount. 

Designed with architects and designers in mind, Skyline Rainscreen Cladding is CWCT tested, and engineered to combine clean, contemporary lines with robust technical performance. It elevates the architectural character of any façade; ensuring maximum weather protection and building compliance.

Designers can specify either Secret Fix Panels or Cassette Panels, each offering its own distinct visual benefits and straightforward installation methods. Panels are available in a wide range of colours and finishes, to support creative freedom on commercial, residential, leisure and mixed-use developments. 

Secret Fix Panels – Seamless Design Freedom

Skyline Secret Fix Panels are designed to deliver a flawless, uninterrupted façade aesthetic. Fixings are concealed by each subsequent panel, leaving no visible fixings. This creates a sleek, high-quality finish particularly well suited to landmark or design-led schemes. Installation can be vertical or horizontal, offering flexibility in façade composition, and enabling architects to respond creatively to building form and proportion.

The interlocking panel design incorporates discreet shadow gaps – 4mm on the shorter edges and 10mm on longer edges – adding depth to the façade without any visual clutter. Available in face widths from 300mm to 700mm, and fully customisable in size and colour, Secret Fix Panels allow equally for bold architectural statements and more understated, elegant expressions. 

Cassette Panels – strong lines and contemporary definition

For projects seeking a more pronounced architectural expression, Skyline Cassette Panels provide a striking alternative. The precision-engineered cassette system features an overlapping joint design with a bold 25mm shadow gap. Discreet colour-coded fixings are neatly located within the shadow gap, allowing for efficient installation whilst maintaining flawless clean lines.

Cassette Panels are installed in a vertical orientation only, and are available in face widths from 250mm to 750mm. Designers can combine varying panel sizes across the façade to introduce texture, scale and visual interest.  

CWCT Testing

Achieving the standard set by the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) involves rigorous testing for watertightness, air permeability, wind resistance and impact resistance. 

CWCT Testing is one of the industry’s most demanding assessment standards, evaluating the entire system including the panels, fixings, joints, rails, and supporting structure.

For AWMS, this testing isn’t just about compliance. It’s a commitment to specifying architects, providing them with assurance that Skyline Rainscreen Cladding is designed, engineered, and validated to perform consistently under the harshest of real-world conditions. 

Robust UK Manufacture, Efficient Installation

Both Secret Fix and Cassette Panels share comprehensive manufacturing and installation benefits. 

The range offers an extensive colour palette, including 27 standard Qualicoat-certified colours. We can also match any BS or RAL colour of choice, including anodic colours and stone-effect finishes. When powder coated, aluminium achieves a fire rating of A2-s1,d0 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2018, supporting compliance on demanding projects.

Manufactured entirely in the UK from 3mm-thick aluminium, Skyline Rainscreen Cladding panels are produced under ISO 9001 quality accreditation and ISO 14001 environmental management standards. Aluminium’s inherent durability offers a life expectancy of up to 40 years in rural or suburban environments and up to 25 years in industrial or marine locations, while remaining 100% recyclable.

Installation is straightforward via Skyline’s rail and bracket system, with panels typically installed from top to bottom, left to right.  Both systems are fully compatible with other Skyline elements, including fascias, soffits, copings, window surrounds and door canopies, ensuring a cohesive future-proof envelope design for today’s most ambitious architectural projects.

Technical Expertise and Support

Every Skyline project benefits from the backing of Alumasc’s technical experts, who provide detailed design guidance, bespoke CAD drawings, and on-site support from concept to completion. The Skyline technical team has contributed to the design and detailing of some of the UK’s most prestigious developments. Their collaborative approach ensures each installation is tailored precisely to the project’s needs, delivering optimal performance and the best possible architectural finish.

Download the new Skyline Rainscreen Cladding brochure here.

For more information, call 01536 383810 or visit www.alumascwms.co.uk

Rockpanel becomes Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver on 98% of portfolio

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Rockpanel becomes Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver on 98% of portfolio

We’re proud to announce that 98% of our product portfolio is now Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver.

This certification, following the certification of the Colours range last year, represents another significant milestone in our mission to support more sustainable and responsible building practices without compromising on design or performance.

From material health to circularity, we’ve successfully met the rigorous version 4.0 standard across five key sustainability categories.

Design for a greener future

As the construction industry faces growing pressure for transparency and responsibility, we’re proud to support our sustainability goals with one of the strictest third-party verifications and measurable actions. Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the world’s most advanced, science-based standard for designing and manufacturing products today that support a healthy, equitable, and sustainable future.

With 98% of our product range now Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver, Rockpanel continues to support a healthier and more transparent built environment — and to empower architects, specifiers, and contractors to design with purpose.

What does this mean for you?

✅Rockpanel is a trusted sustainability partner with 98% of its portfolio certified
✅ Confidence in material health and product circularity
✅ Verified Clean Air, Climate Protection, and Water Stewardship
✅ Commitment to Social Fairness
✅ Support for green building certifications and public tenders
✅ Designed for long life, easy installation, and aesthetic versatility

“For us, sustainability is not a tagline. It’s how we do business.”
– Jeroen Ebus, Managing Director, Rockpanel

Join us on our journey!

“Learn more about what Cradle to Cradle Certified® means for your next project — or download our sustainability brochure full of actual sustainability knowledge, data and inspiration.

Cradle to Cradle certified products

 

 

NEW CLADDING CPD FROM MARLEY

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Marley has launched a new RIBA-accredited CPD for its Weatherboard external cladding range titled – ‘Modern Design Considerations for Rainscreen Cladding’.

Available in person, or online, the CPD has been designed to educate specifiers considering modern rainscreen cladding systems. The hour-long CPD seminar also supports specifiers and architects looking to gain knowledge on the various applications of rainscreen systems and its architectural uses.

Suitable for specification on residential and commercial buildings, today’s rainscreen cladding applications are creating a blend of contemporary façades and traditional aesthetics. Delivering greater design flexibility, increased weather and moisture protection, and enhanced thermal performance for sustainable building design.

Marley’s new CPD covers all aspects of its Weatherboard fibre cement cladding solution – ranging from the origins and current variants of the system, through to technical standards and guidance for system installation and detailing.

Renowned for its durability, low maintenance, fire resistance and sustainable properties, a fibre cement external cladding system, such as Marley’s Weatherboard, is a great option for specifiers looking to deliver attractive and high performing buildings.

Kevin O’Neill, National Sales Manager – Weatherboard for Marley, comments: “The creation of our new CPD, covering all aspects of rainscreen cladding, provides specifiers and architects with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of a product solution proving to be increasingly popular in the market.

“The RIBA-accredited CPD outlines the design considerations, performance credentials and technical angles, which are all essential to establish a full understanding of fibre cement rainscreen cladding and the many benefits it delivers.”

For further details on the newly launched Marley CPD ‘Modern Design Considerations for Rainscreen Cladding’, please visit Marley’s website.

Ventilated fibre cement rainscreen cladding ‘Design Principles and Project Integration’ NEW RIBA CPD offered by Cedral

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Cedral’s new RIBA approved CPD is now available to book!

Specifying rainscreen cladding is a perpetual challenge for architects, balancing aesthetic goals, functional performance and regulatory compliance.

Modern fibre cement rainscreen cladding systems should comply and exceed strict fire safety regulations, ensure proper ventilation to manage moisture and condensation, and achieve energy efficiency and sustainability targets.

Adding to this complexity is the need to integrate the chosen cladding seamlessly into diverse building designs, from contemporary commercial facades to traditional residential developments, while adhering to tight project timelines and budgets.

Cedral’s latest CPD presentation “Ventilated Fibre Cement Rainscreen Cladding: Design Principles and Project Integration” has been designed to give architects practical guidance and design inspiration to ensure project success.

The learning objectives from the CPD will simplify rainscreen cladding specification, reduce risk and realise your aesthetic vision. Topics covered include:

  • History and performance characteristics of fibre cement
  • Key principles of rainscreen cladding; including the importance of ventilation and the benefits it brings to buildings
  • Specification support including installation options, technical support, building regulations, fire performance and NBS management
  • Project integration; including aesthetic options and functionality
  • Sustainable considerations

Benefits of a Rainscreen Facade

Building Products Index Ltd Cladding, Rainscreen Cladding Leave a Comment

View the EQUITONE entry on BPindex

Visit the EQUITONE website

Our engaging and informative RIBA accredited CPD seminar covers the design, principles and benefits of specifying rainscreen facades.

During your CPD you will learn:

  • What rainscreen cladding is
  • Materials
  • Fire classification and wind loadings
  • Fixing methods & facade support options
  • Façade benefits to the build including thermal properties
  • Typical details e.g. panel layout and joints
  • Examples of build

Attendees of the presentation will be sent a CPD RIBA Certificate. Complete the form here Request a CPD – EQUITONE

Please note this CPD seminar is open to UK practices only.

Rockpanel products become Cradle to Cradle certified level silver!

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View the Rockpanel entry on BPindex

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Rockpanels two most popular product ranges, Rockpanel Colours and Rockpanel Natural are Cradle to Cradle Certified® at silver level, verifying that the products are safe, more sustainable, and are supporting a circular product life cycle, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a globally recognised standard which credits solutions that support the circular economy and make a positive impact on both people and the planet. This certification further represents yet another initiative consolidating our position as a responsible manufacturer.

Being Cradle to Cradle Certified is also recognised by several major building rating schemes such as e.g. LEED, and DGNB. Therefore, when using a Cradle to Cradle Certified product, you can earn more points in these building rating schemes.

Download our free brochure now!

Do you want more information and facts about Rockpanel and sustainability? Download the brochure or request a printed copy.

When a product is Cradle to Cradle Certified® it is internationally recognised as a safer, more sustainable product that supports the circular economy.

What is Cradle to Cradle Certified?

Cradle to Cradle Certified® is the world’s most advanced, science-based standard for designing and making products today that enable a healthy, equitable, and sustainable tomorrow.

Cradle to Cradle Certified is a holistic standard that verifies a product’s performance across five critical areas of sustainability including: Material Health, Product Circularity, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.

When a product is Cradle to Cradle Certified® it is internationally recognised as a safer, more sustainable product that supports the circular economy. Product designers, manufacturers and brands rely on the Cradle to Cradle Certified® product standard as a pathway for designing and making products with a positive impact on people and our planet by following their main concepts.

Our Cradle to Cradle journey

In May 2024, we became Cradle to Cradle Certified at Silver level for our most popular and best-selling range in Europe, Rockpanel Colours, as well as our Rockpanel Natural product range.

We firmly believe that building materials should have as little impact on the environment as possible – therefore we are fully aware that we are on a journey and that this is only the beginning.

We are proud that two of our best selling product lines, Rockpanel Colours and Rockpanel Natural have been certified Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver. To learn more about our detailed score for each category, please see below:

Download our Cradle to Cradle Certified® certificate

Download certificate

Go to our Cradle to Cradle Certified® products in the United Kingdom: Rockpanel Colours

Welsh Slate tops the heights, and the menu, at The Peninsula London

Building Products Index Ltd Cladding, Rainscreen Cladding, Worktops Leave a Comment

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View the Welsh Slate website

London’s latest luxury hotel, and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels’ first in the UK, has opened to much acclaim, and with Welsh Slate at its very heart.

With architecture conceived by Hopkins Architects to gracefully harmonise with the heritage buildings of Belgravia, The Peninsula London also embodies a sleek, spacious aesthetic that floods its exquisite Peter Marino-designed interiors with natural light.

The world-class 190-room hotel, along with 25 opulent luxury residences, centres around an expansive entrance courtyard off Grosvenor Place, landscaped in the style of a classic English garden with hand-crafted granite paving, cascading ivy, wisteria vines and two 120-year-old Japanese maple trees.

It is here that Welsh Slate’s own heritage probably makes its most obvious mark, as the courtyard columns are faced with Cwt-y-Bugail cladding. This cladding also features as individual slabs measuring up to 2.2m long x 900mm high x 40mm thick on the facades of the two storeys of penthouse apartments which top the multiple storeys of Portland stone below. Welsh Slate also tops the menu in the upper-level restaurant terraces where Cwt-y-Bugail features on the waiters’ stations.

Cwt-y-Bugail Honed slate is a premium Welsh slate known for its natural beauty and durability. Its rich, dark grey colour, and smooth, Honed finish complements the timeless elegance of The Peninsula London perfectly.

The 40mm-thick slate used for the external cladding provides a stylish but robust and weather-resistant layer of protection, while the slate used for the internal cladding on the courtyard columns adds a touch of sophistication and refinement.

Hopkins Architects said: “Materials for this prestigious project were carefully selected, with the project team visiting quarries across the UK to select the very best.  Welsh slate, used to form the piers on the top two storeys, was selected from a quarry near Anglesey, with individual slabs measuring up to 1.4m x 900mm high x 40mm thick.”

The 20mm-thick slate used for the waiter stations in the restaurant terraces is both durable and easy to clean, making it ideal for a high-traffic area.

Matthew Allen, production director at Tekne, who installed the waiters’ stations, said: “The Welsh Slate counter tops are a quality product, were very easy to install, and look absolutely fabulous. Being produced from a natural, hardwearing material will make them particularly low maintenance and resilient to the London atmosphere/environment.”

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Cwt-y-Bugail Honed slate offers many practical benefits, being a low-maintenance material that is easy to clean and maintain. It is also resistant to fire, water and staining.

Hopkins Architects’ brief for The Peninsula London, was to create a hotel and residences of exceptional quality. Looking across three Royal Parks as well as the grounds of nearby Buckingham Palace, The Peninsula London faces Wellington Arch and surrounding public space.

The unique context and history of this site, formerly a 1960s office block, have been carefully explored and are reflected in the architectural design, detailing and a materials palette which is limited to the highest quality materials typical to the area.

SAS Render Systems Achieve A2s1d0 Fire Classification

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ProWall Rendered Rainscreen System and ProRend EIFS Mineral Wool External Wall Insulation systems have both recently achieved a fire classification of A2s1d0, making them one of the safest and most effective options for external wall insulation on the market.

A fire classification of A2s1d0 means that the material has been tested and found to be limited combustibility (A2 – Limited Combustion), has low smoke emission (S1 – emissions very little or absent), and does not contribute to the spread of fire (D0 – no burning droplets). This is one of the highest fire classifications that can be achieved for building materials, it demonstrates the safety and reliability of both our rendered rainscreen and mineral EWI system.

The ProWall rainscreen cladding system is a carrier board system, typically used in timber frame construction. It provides an attractive and durable finish to an exterior of a building. This system is made up of a 12.5mm cement-based carrier board fixed to either timber batons or rails that are made of either aluminium or steel. A 6mm layer of a flexible basecoat called Lite-Q is then applied and a glass fibre reinforcement mesh is fully embedded.  This reduces the chance of cracking, as timber and steel frame structures tend to move within the first two years of construction.

                                              (ProWall System used on                              (ProWall System structure)

                                         Travelodge Camborne Redruth)

The façade finish is a silicone render called ProRend Colourtex Uniform, available in over 65,000 colours. The Colourtex can be either applied by trowel application or sprayed via a simple hopper and compressor set-up. In being applied this way it speeds up the application as well as reduces overall building costs. The ProWall system is accompanied by a plethora of additional sundries that help with contraction, and expansion in addition to ventilation. The Technical team at SAS can provide full technical support.

The ProRend EIFS system uses mineral wool insulation, which is made from natural rocks, such as basalt and dolomite. These are melted and spun into fibres. It is a highly effective insulator, with excellent thermal and acoustic properties. The mineral wool is non-combustible and has low smoke emissions, contributing to our high fire classification of the system. This particular system is commonly used on projects over 18m in height, and commercial buildings such as offices and warehousing, and larger residential buildings with multiple occupancies which require excellent insulation along with a higher level of fire safety compliance.

                                          (ProRend EIFS System used                      (ProRend EIFS System structure)

                                       on Cornerstone Housing, Exeter)

ProRend EIFS can be affixed to numerous different substrates with a simple change in fixing type and embedment depth. From sheathing boards on steel structures to masonry builds inclusive of brick and block. Exactly like the ProWall system, the basecoat, glass fibre mesh and Colourtex Uniform are all applied to create the final rendered finish.

Together, the ProWall and ProRend EIFS systems are both effective in protecting buildings whilst being safe in the event of a fire. As stated before, they are suitable for use on a variety of different buildings, such as residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

The technical team at SAS Render Systems are happy to discuss your project requirements and provide full technical support at all stages.

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