Reader Response on Cladding Draft 1
In the article, “Use of Cladding in Buildings Here Have Grown in Recent Times”, Mokhtar (2017) reported the increasing use of cladding in Singapore and its benefits and risks. Cladding is a layer of panels added to the exterior facade of buildings to cut energy use, improve building appearance or provide shade. The use of cladding, however, caught attention worldwide after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy. The fire had spread upwards rapidly due to the ventilation gaps between the cladding and the building’s wall, drawing oxygenated air from the bottom of the facade and fueling the fire. In Singapore, the use of cladding is regulated. For example, cladding material must not allow fire to spread along its surface when ignited. Besides meeting statutory regulations, a building owner was cited to have included measures to prevent fire from spreading between levels and regular certification of fire protection systems. While it is undeniable that the use of cladding has many advantages, it ...