Sunday 24 September 2017

Summary - Draft 1 (Cladding)

In the article “Use of Cladding in Buildings Here Have Grown in Recent Times”, Mokhtar (2017) reports the increasing use of cladding in Singapore and its benefits and risks. Cladding is a layer of panels added to the exterior facade of buildings to cut energy use, improve building appearance or provide shade. The use of cladding, however, came under the limelight after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy. The ventilation gaps between the cladding and the building’s wall cause the fire to spread upwards rapidly, drawing oxygenated air from the bottom of the facade and fueling the fire. In Singapore, the use of cladding is regulated. For example, cladding material must not allow fire to spread along its surface when ignited. Besides meeting statutory regulations, a building owner was cited to have included measures to prevent fire from spreading between levels and regular certification of fire protection systems. Cladding has its usefulness, but its associated risks need to be mitigated – cladding materials must meet safety requirements to minimize fire risk.

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