Fixing and Sealing Materials

Description

An important, though not so obvious area in metallic construction buildings is cladding mounting in the structure. Nevertheless, the building's proper functioning and integrity is dependent to a large extent upon fastening parts, thus careful attention must be given to their selection.
Ordinary building materials are steel with some form of surface coating (zinc, chrome and paint coating), stainless steel for increased corrosion resistance, or aluminum.
The most frequently used types of fastening materials are the following:
a) Self - drilled screws
b) Self - tapping screws
c) Capped rivets
The last two fastening material types require two installation phases (drilling and screwing / securing) instead of one, required for self - drilled screws.

Mounting materials used for cladding are divided in two main categories:
a) Primary fastening materials, used for mounting of cladding sheets to the structure.
b) Secondary fastening materials, for joints between cladding sheets. It is common practice in (roof) cladding to fix screws at the ridges of trapezoid: however, suitable fastening means for gutter fixing are available too.

The contrary applies to side cladding, where fastening is performed in gutters, especially when panels are located in a horizontal manner. The cladding technician must exercise attention as to stand on the overlaid cladding sheet joining; otherwise, the connection may fail (as indicated in the figure below).