Summary
Rain screen cladding systems aim to
protect a building’s wall construction
from damages that can occur through
moisture penetration. The air cavity
design behind a cladding material
allows air to flow through the space,
which dries the insulation as well as the
back of the cladding panel.
The fiber cement product line offered
by American Fiber Cement Corporation
is installed as a rain screen system. As
the system mitigates mold and other
moisture related issues in a wall, the
fiber cement panels also benefit from
the use of a rain screen to keep them dry
and thus, preserve their look and
composition.
The panels are attached to the wall substrate
with horizontal and vertical profiles, which
hold the panel’s 3.2 lb/ft2 of dead load as
well as the wind load forces on the panel.
The vertical channels provide a desired
chimney effect, which produces air flow
along the wall cavity.