Over the past thirty years, pre-fabricated building construction has grown due to the many benefits found in this system of erection which streamlines both the engineering and construction processes. Industry analysts have taken note of many optimistic trends and are predicting a continued 6.56% growth rate in the off-site construction market for the 2016-2020 period, as owners realize the inherent efficiencies possessed over traditional construction methods.
Additionally, a myriad of panel wall products are available for residential, commercial, and industrial facilities to take advantage of their structural strength, productivity efficiency, and design flexibility. Panel walls are lightweight, structurally sound, one piece construction components with superior insulation values, pre-engineered for end-use as exterior and interior walls.
The pre-fab construction model includes both panel wall building and modular buildings. Both systems use building components, manufactured in a controlled environment, which are then transported and assembled on-site; yet, modular construction features limited customization and box-like units that are assembled to create an entire structure.
High-performance panel wall building construction offers flexibility in the design layout, optimized use of the construction crew, a considerable reduction in structure weight, a substantial decrease in scaffolding, and a significant reduction in required manpower over traditional engineering, construction, and erection processes. The result is a building design that is highly cost effective, energy efficient and extremely strong.
With a growing emphasis on ‘green’ and BIM structural models, the use of prefabricated panel wall construction is also expected to increase for larger, more complex projects. Model-driven prefab engineering positively impacts project schedules, increases construction safety, enhances structural quality, lowers overall project costs and eliminates construction waste.
According to a NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) construction report, the following productivity improvements have been reported from prefabricated construction users:
66% reported a reduction in project schedule; with 35% reporting 4 weeks or more of early project completion
up to 44% less construction site waste reported by 77%
65% reported a decrease in project budget of up to 6%
The manufacturing industry has responded to the growing trend of prefab construction with many types of panel wall products that can be engineered to fit any architectural design. Proper and efficient panel wall building requires detailed and accurate panel wall construction drawings to effectively convey the following information:
panel-to-foundation or footing connections
panel-to-panel alignment and joint details
panel-to-plank, deck edge, and joist connections
panel opening details for head and jambs (eliminating on-site window, door, and louver framing)
panel openings for MEP system rough-ins
exterior architectural panel order of assembly and erection
interior load-bearing wall and shear wall details
wall-to-roof connections
Applications for Panel Wall Construction Drawings
The diversity of panel wall applications, panel types, and proprietary panel wall systems require skilled architectural designers and drafters familiar with panel wall building layouts and proper CAD detailing. Here is a summary of just four of the available industry products and their applications for all types of construction projects:
Architectural Insulated Panels are custom engineered to meet architectural aesthetic requirements and possess the required structural and thermal specifications for the exterior envelope. These panels are designed against delamination and are available in a multitude of facades including anodized aluminum or copper, translucent polycarbonate or glass, stone or wood cladding, metal or aluminum, and engineered resins.
Strict quality control and manufacturing standards combine the exterior skin with the interior core to present flawless beauty in addition to a structurally and thermally superior product. Specific construction drawing details are required for erection to protect the product’s R-value and maintain the system’s expected performance. These factors are crucial to buildings that are seeking LEED’s qualification for sustainability and energy performance.
Building applications for architectural insulated panels include office complexes, hospitality, residential, religious, recreational, and healthcare facilities.
Structural Insulated Metal Panels (SIP) are lightweight, yet strong (often reducing the structural steel column grid system). SIPS offer owners, engineers, and contractors an alternative building method with the flexibility and application range of traditional construction methods. The metal exteriors are available in a variety of skin colors and textures and are combined with a variety of insulation cores – from composite materials to EPS rigid foam insulation.
Even though many SIP panel wall products utilize tongue-and-groove joinery methods, construction drawings are required to create a highly advanced structural system and must accurately convey door and wall framing, eaves detailing, upper-level floor connection details, foundation connections, panel to panel order of installations, and panel to roof details, .
Building construction applications cover a wide spectrum including industrial, multi-family projects, commercial, residential, and warehousing. Increasingly, structural insulated metal panels are being used for exterior energy retrofits in buildings to bring them in compliance with energy codes; and in homes to prevent inside air from escaping through gaps and cracks in the building envelope.
Residential and Commercial Metal SIPS offer high-performance wall systems which feature air barriers that eliminate the need for house wrap, vapor and moisture barriers for a continuous sealed envelope, structural walls to eliminate wood or metal framing, and the required foam insulation and metal sheathing. Construction using panel wall is faster and waste is eliminated, saving the owner thousands of dollars per project.
Interior panel wall systems feature acoustic engineering and specialty or textured finishes from wood grain to powder coatings. Final design and drafting documentation includes creating floorplan layouts, final construction detail drawings, product customization, bill-of-material reconciliation, and installation guidelines for the contractor.
Applications include not only residential and commercial construction but also interior wall and ceiling components for airports, schools, hospitals, cleanrooms, data centers, cinemas, and many other interior specialty applications.
Metal Building Systems offers a highly affordable construction option and must integrate thermally efficient metal wall systems that are durable, affordable, and flexible to create functional interior spaces. Panel wall construction drawings are the main source of contractor information to customize these modular buildings to owner specifications.
When completed these simple exterior shells become tailor made to suit a wide variety of applications including warehouses, clean room manufacturing, distribution centers, training facilities, agricultural and farm, disaster relief offices, emergency shelters, and military field shelters.
Panel Wall Considerations When Using Panel Wall Construction
As architects and engineers continue to appreciate the feasibility and economics of panel wall construction method, these systems are being specified at an increasing rate. Outsourcing this interior and exterior specialty division of your next project can grow your A&E firm by adding to your range of services, increasing architectural creativity while decreasing project estimates for more contract bid awards.
When considering panel wall systems and construction the following factors are a general guideline to the vast array of product choices:
Panel type – Architectural Insulated, Metal SIPs, Residential SIPs, Cold Storage Insulated, Fire Rated Panels, and Metal Building Systems
panel wall skin color, finish, and texture
Panel interior insulation core
Panel thermal and structural properties
Panel thickness and length
Fasteners that are compatible with substrate
System compatibility with other construction methods
Proper sealant used during installation
Amount of flexibility and customization in proprietary systems
Accounting for panel movement
Consult with our engineering and design team to consider the cost-effectiveness of panel wall building systems for your next project. Once the appropriate wall system is selected and design layout completed, our team of designers and detailers will produce accurate panel wall construction drawings to complete the design-bid contract.
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