Journal · Performance

Facade performance guides

A facade has to keep out weather, manage heat and light and stay serviceable for years. These guides explain the main performance questions and what each number includes.

16 articles

Glass tower rising into low cloud
Performance

Facades and earthquake movement: how glass and frames cope

An earthquake makes each floor move sideways relative to the next. A facade that spans those floors has to follow the movement without losing its glass.

7 min read
City skyline hazy at sunset with a chimney in the foreground
Performance

Dust and pollution on facades in Indian cities

City dust and soot do not just make a facade look tired. They streak, stain and settle where water runs, and good detailing decides where that happens.

8 min read
Brick and glass healthcare building glowing at sunset
Performance

Facades for hospitals and healthcare buildings

A hospital facade works for decades behind people who cannot simply move out for repairs. That changes how windows, joints, glass and maintenance are planned.

7 min read
Hotel terraces lit at dusk above a pool and garden
Performance

Facades for hotels and hospitality buildings

A hotel facade is the brand's first impression and the wall of every guest room. Both jobs shape the glass, doors, railings and maintenance plan.

7 min read
Tower facade with stepped balconies against a teal sky
Performance

Designing a facade you can clean and maintain

Maintenance is decided at the drawing board. If cleaners, inspectors and glaziers cannot reach each part, the facade will age faster than it should.

7 min read
Dark-framed window looking onto a snowy garden
Performance

U-values for facades: what the number includes

Two products can both claim a low U-value and perform differently. The difference is usually what the number covers: glass centre, frame or whole unit.

7 min read
Green-tinted glass facade sweeping into a point
Performance

Aluminium facades and embodied carbon: what to ask for

Embodied carbon is the emissions locked into a facade before it is ever used. Asking the right questions early shapes the result more than any late swap.

7 min read
Dark glass towers rising into a stormy blue sky
Performance

Wind load on facades: what it means for glass and frames

Wind is the main everyday force on a facade. Understanding how it reaches the glass, the frame and the anchors helps you read a specification and ask better questions.

7 min read
Glass tower reflecting a cloudy sky
Performance

Low-e coatings explained for facades

A low-e coating is a thin layer on glass that changes how heat radiates through it. Where it sits and which type you choose decide whether it helps your building.

7 min read
Mirror-glass building reflecting clouds and sky
Performance

Glass reflectivity and glare: choosing for the neighbours too

A facade is seen from outside as well as inside. The glass you choose for solar control can also reflect sun onto streets and neighbouring buildings.

7 min read
Low sun flaring across a balconied brick and glass facade
Performance

Facades for India's climates: what changes from Delhi to Bengaluru

A facade that works well in Delhi NCR can struggle on the coast. Here is how glass, shading, frames, drainage and finishes should change across India's main climate types.

8 min read
Rainwater dripping from a roof edge over green foliage
Performance

Monsoon-proof facades and windows: how to keep the rain out

Most monsoon leaks have ordinary causes: wind-driven rain, blocked drainage, failed sealant and poor sill details. Here is how to design, test, install and maintain facades and windows so they stay dry.

8 min read
Sweeping metal cladding curve against a pale sky
Performance

Facade maintenance: a practical inspection checklist

A facade needs planned inspection, not just occasional cleaning. Use this guide to organise access, spot early defects and keep a useful maintenance record.

6 min read
Warm light behind a glass pane beaded with condensation
Performance

Condensation on windows: finding the real cause

Water on a pane can mean several different things. Find out where it forms, when it appears and what the room conditions are before changing the facade.

6 min read
Dark aluminium-clad facade with rows of slim-framed windows
Performance

Thermal breaks: why aluminium frames need insulation inside them

Aluminium is strong, light and slim, and it conducts heat very well. A thermal break is how a frame keeps those advantages without becoming a heat path.

7 min read
Vertical metal ribs catching light and shadow across a facade
Performance

Movement joints: why a facade must be allowed to move

A facade looks fixed, but it is not still. Heat, wind and the building's own settlement all move it. Movement joints are how it gets through that without damage.

7 min read

General guidance for orientation, not a specification. Applicable standards, values and details are confirmed per project with the facade consultant.

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