Rain Screen Systems Minimize Erosion Problems

Rains screen systems typically are designed based on the principle of redirecting water away from the building's surface. Rain screen systems give air an entry point at the base of the system and an exit point at the top of the system. Rain screen systems are built this way to allow water that may have penetrated a panel joint on a building to be partially removed by the draft effect, thus minimizing any erosion to the panels over time. Probe is the U.S. representative for the Fischer Advanced Curtainwall Technology (ACT) System which is an open joint ventilated rain screen system. The open joint design allows air pressure to equalize itself between the outside surface, the rain screen system and the inside cavity. This reduces the amount of wind driven rain water that enters the wall cavity. No caulks or sealants are needed, resulting in a cleaner exterior envelope.

A rain screen system is comprised of an outer panel, a ventilated hollow space and an inner sheet. In heavy, wind blown rain, moisture forms a film across the vertical and horizontal joints, but with a rainscreen system, the majority of the water is deflected off the outside face of the building. Any water that may have penetrated during the rain storm is removed by drainage. Since a rain screen system is pressurized and the joints are slightly open, pressure equalization in wind blown driving rain is immediate. Pressure inside the hollow space of the system is equal to the pressure outside; therefore, rain does not have a tendency to enter the hollow space.

Probe has been incorporated since 1988 and has done business primarily in the stone industry throughout the tri-state area. Probe supplies the materials, pricing, technical assistance, basic engineering support and CAD layouts to insure that your project progresses smoothly from start to finish.