What is a panelised facade?

Panelised facades are made from composite panels that comprise insulated core bonded between an external facing which forms the weather barrier, and an interior skin which acts as a vapour barrier. This creates a robust, single-component product which can offer high levels of thermal, structural and fire performance which allows for more accurate specification, reducing the need for onsite adjustments and site waste.

How can panelised facades improve build quality and speed? 

These panels can be mechanically lifted and installed to the structural frame with a single fix using the appropriate fasteners, with no need for multiple layers to be assembled, as with a site-assembled ventilated rainscreen facade. This not only reduces construction time and requires less labour but helps to ensure installation consistent quality across the whole building as all the elements have been factory engineered together. Unlike wet trades, their construction is not weather dependent, making project completion more predictable and allowing the building envelope to be made weathertight fast. 

As rigid insulation is an integral part of the insulated panel, the continuity of the insulation is guaranteed, with no risk of sagging, slumping or missing insulation. Meanwhile, the panel edges are factory engineered to firmly link together, simplifying detailing, and minimising the risk of thermal bridging — all helping to achieve an airtight construction. This is bolstered by the fact many facade panels are available with high-performance insulation. For example, our QuadCore insulation core has a thermal conductivities of 0.018 W/mk. This allows the required U-value to be achieved with a thinner, lighter panel. 

Learn more about the insulation choices for facade systems.

What design options do panelised facades offer?

Whilst rainscreen facades can of course allow designers to have more choice over the final facade finish, panelised facades are a good option for those looking to create metallic, modern elevations. The panels are available in many different height and width dimensions, and with different profiles from completely flat to profiled, making them look very similar to rainscreen cassettes from the outside of the building. 

The panels are coated with a protective paint layer, typically PU, or PVDF based. These are available in a vast range of colours and finishes — including those designed to replicate the look of more expensive and heavy materials, such as stone or corten steel. The paint often also includes substrates which prevent corrosion or UV damage, providing better colour stability, gloss retention and weather resistance. Specialist coatings can be used on the interior sheets to meet the demands of their application.

Panelised facade systems can be made available with specialist fabrications that can improve both the energy performance and overall aesthetics of the building. Manufactured from the same coil as the panels, components such as flashings, top hats, aperture units, louvres and column cases help to seamlessly complete the building’s overall appearance. In addition, products like insulated preformed corners provide insulation continuity, reducing thermal bridging. Wall daylighting solutions can also be integrated to the panelised facade system design. These can sometimes even be fitted via the same fixing method as the panels, meaning that there is no need to cut or adjust the panels on site. 

It is worth noting that, even if a rainscreen facade is preferred, there is the option to use a hybrid solution which incorporates an insulated panel substrate with a direct fix external cladding cassettes. In these facade systems, the insulated panels provide thermal performance and weatherproofing for the building along with an external support structure for the outer facade. This combination supports faster installations than with a conventional built-up system whilst retaining greater design flexibility in the facade finish. 

Are panelised facades difficult to maintain? 

Panelised facade systems typically need minimal maintenance throughout their lifetime and often come with excellent panel-and-coating warranties which provide ongoing peace of mind. Depending on application and specification, these can guarantee both the thermal, structural, and acoustic performance of the panel and the environmental resistance of the coating for up to 40 years. 

What panelised facade options do we offer?

We offer a range of insulated wall panels and coating options for all kinds of projects. Our standard range of insulated wall panels includes everything from the industrial trapezoidal to nine distinctive profiles with our Architectural Wall Panel. However, for projects looking for a more architectural aesthetic, we have created Kingspan Evolution. This super smooth panel contains our unique, high-performance QuadCore insulation and is available in a range of colours and minimalist profiles — from a streamlined flat option Axis recessed jointing details Recess, or subtle grooves Multi-Groove to create the illusion of using smaller-width panels or cassettes.