A study of the rainscreen concept applied to cladding systems on wood frame walls
Morrison Hershfield Limited
1990
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Technical Series 96-214
Morrison Hershfield Limited, (1990), A study of the rainscreen concept applied to cladding systems on wood frame walls, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Technical Series 96-214.
| Abstract: |
| This project was undertaken to investigate the performance of the Rainscreen Principle applied to residential claddings on wood frame construction. The study included a full scale simulation, of the rain penetration control performance of three cladding types each having a sealed and leaky air barrier system. The three cladding types include vinyl siding, stucco, and a brick veneer. All cladding systems were mounted on a conventional wood frame wall. The wood frame walls were equipped either with a flexible polyethylene air barrier system or a gypsum interior finish air barrier system. The walls were subjected to simulated wind driven rain from a water spray rack and a simulated wind pressure load. In addition, the test walls were subjected to steady state wind load conditions as well as variations in wind gusts.
The study undertook an examination of the pressure equalization performance of one of the cladding systems on a construction model placed in a boundary layer wind tunnel.
The study also developed a simple mathematical model that simulates the pressure equalization performance of a rainscreen wall. The output of the model provided a satisfactory correlation between predicted results and the laboratory measurements for pressure equalization performance.
This study has revealed that the Rainscreen Principle applied to the design and construction of cladding systems on wood frame walls limits the penetration of rain more effectively than a non-pressure equalized wall. To achieve rain penetration control, the rainscreen wall is dependent on certain design and construction features. These include an effective air barrier system in particular, adequate venting and drainage of the cladding system, and effective compartment seals located at corners. |
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This publication in whole or part may be found online at:  here. |
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