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Cladding and Curtain Wall Construction 437
economy and ease of fixing, the tiles can be cast on to a slab of plain or reinforced concrete,
which is then fixed in the same way as stone facing slabs. Mosaic is the term used to
describe small squares of natural stone, tile or glass set out in some decorative pattern. The
units of mosaic are usually no larger than 25 mm 2 . A mosaic finish as an external facing
should be used as a facing to a cast concrete slab in the same way as tiles.
7.6 Cladding panels
The word cladding is used in the sense of clothing or covering the building with a material
to provide a protective and decorative cover. Cladding panels, usually storey (floor) height, serve
the function of providing protection against wind and rain, and resistance to the transfer
of heat from inside to outside, without providing structural support. Available in a wide
range of sizes, colours and surface finishes they contribute to the aesthetic of the building.
Precast concrete cladding panels
Precast concrete cladding units are usually storey height, as illustrated in Figure 7.18, or
column spacing wide as spandrel or undercill units for support and fixing to the structural
frame. Units are hung on, and attached to, frames as a self-supporting facing and wall
element which may combine all of the functional requirements of a wall element.
Structural frame
Concrete
floor
Storey height precast
concrete cladding units
Figure 7.18 Storey height precast concrete cladding.