Ventilated façade systems. Design and workmanship faults affecting the functionality and safe use

Ventilated facade systems are increasingly used in modern construction industry. It is connected with a wide range of available wall claddings which allow to create distinctive architectural buildings (ventilated facade system made of fiber cement sheets won the prestigious European Prize for Urban Public Space 2016). If constructed properly, the ventilated facade systems have a positive effect on thermal insulation properties of building walls. With an increasing interest in this type of facade solutions, one can also notice an increased number of problems with the quality of the design documentation and construction works which affect the safe use of the building, thermal insulation properties of partition walls, the comfort of use. The paper presents basic faults found in the design and workmanship of the ventilated facade systems.