Go to any industrial business in the UK, and you will see the same weathered metal panels covering the warehouses and commercial buildings. Industrial Cladding Systems protect the internal structures from weather elements, however, the panels do not last forever. Understanding the signs will prevent emergency expensive repairs.

Visible Damage

A good starting point will be looking for signs of damage and deterioration. Panels can be dented due to interactions with forklifts or loading bays. A surface scratch will not cause any operational issues, however, if there is visible, impacted metal, that should be addressed. Deep crevices and abnormalities require some investigation. 

Rust shows that deterioration is present. Surface rust on steel may seem irrelevant, but can and will be a problem in the future. This will eat away at the panel, and should be addressed. Panels have fasteners that hold them in place, and highly corroded fasteners may result in the panel losing structural integrity before any of the others do. Coastal areas are even more susceptible to damage due to the increased levels of moisture in the air.

Look for fissures or fractures in the panels. These often occur around fixing points or edges where panels join. A hairline fracture can grow and allow water into the building envelope where it can damage insulation and the internal structure. 

Water Getting Where It Shouldn’t

Water ingress is often the main reason why Industrial Cladding Systems are replaced too early. If you are spotting stains around the internal walls, especially after it has rained heavily, look for signs of failures on your cladding. At times, the answer is even obvious, e.g., the panel is missing or the flashing is broken.

Pay extra attention to the roof-to-wall junction. This is where many systems fail to perform their required function first. If they have been poorly maintained, the sealants dry out and crack, and water is able to track down behind the cladding. These areas need to be sealed and inspected frequently.

Performance Issues

If your heating bills have increased suddenly, one possible cause could be failing cladding. Issues such as gaps between panels, damaged insulation behind sheets, and thermal bridging through corroded fixings all reduce thermal performance. Cladding with integrated insulation from Industrial Cladding Systems should maintain consistent internal temperatures. If they aren’t then something is wrong.

Condensation is a sign of bad ventilation, and moisture getting trapped in insulation. The fact that condensation is forming internally suggests poor long term performance of your cladding. 

Structural Concerns 

If panels are loose and rattle with wind, this indicates issues with fixing. The Industrial Cladding Systems should be able to withstand wind without causing movement. Panels that lift indicate failure of fasteners, or substrate deterioration.

Also, keep an eye out for sagging or bowing, particularly in horizontal panels. This is an indicator that the supporting structure is failing or the panels are at the end of their service life. This requires a professional assessment.

Making the Call

Not every issue needs a full replacement. If the damage is localised, individual panel replacement is acceptable. If the overcladding is still in good structural condition, it can be a good option. But if the problems are widespread and particularly if structural movement or water ingress is present, it is time to usually do a proper replacement. 

Get a survey done by someone who really knows what they’re looking at. Cladding surveyors are good building surveyors who can see issues and give realistic options. Ignoring cladding problems and deterioration always results in further damage, and is always more costly in the end. It is better to deal with it on your terms than to let it get to a point where the failure of a component causes you to down tools.