Quote:
Originally Posted by dbp80203
I live in what would be considered by NYC standards as a pre-war building - masonry construction with terra cotta accents cemented into place. When I look at the photos of the siding panels being installed - I see the terra cotta is floating/raised above a surface, and can see space between the individual pieces.
I am presuming this was done on purpose, to provide expansion/contraction flexibility, and the actual skin surface to the building will be the surface underneath the terra cotta. Am I wrong? I am bringing this up because of the Grenfell Tower in London.
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You are seeing this building correctly, this is indeed terra cotta that is not directly a part of a masonry construction, but is instead clipped onto each facade panel in a pre-fabricated piece. Yes probably done for expansion/contraction, water handling, lighter weight, less labor, & ease of maintenance.
Grenfell tower in London? Completely different. That building affixed flammable insulation to the exterior of a concrete facade, and that insulation is what caught fire all the way up. This building acts more like a traditional curtain wall skyscraper instead of a masonry building, where the facade is built from non-combustible & fire-rated components and hangs on the structure.