What thickness and panel specifications are recommended for a metal cladding wall in high-rise applications?

For high-rise applications, panel thickness and specifications are dictated by combined structural, serviceability and fire performance requirements rather than a single prescriptive value. Typical aluminum façades use base sheet thicknesses from 1.0 to 2.5 mm for single-skin profiled panels and 2.0 to 4.0 mm for heavy-duty or larger-span cassettes; stainless steel gauges are similarly chosen based on strength and dent resistance. Engineers calculate required thickness by considering wind pressures (including dynamic gusts), panel span between supports, stiffening ribs, fastening pattern and allowable deflection limits. Large-format panels often require thicker gauges or internal stiffeners to control flutter and fatigue. Composite panels (ACM) specify face thickness (commonly 0.5–0.7 mm for faces of ACM) combined with a selected core thickness to meet fire and thermal criteria; however, tall building codes may require non-combustible cores (mineral-filled) which affect overall thickness and weight. Attachment and support systems (rail spacing, clip size, bracket span) must be sized to match panel stiffness and provide adequate safety factors. Seismic design, thermal movement considerations and maintenance access loads (façade access equipment) also influence specification. In high-rise contexts, a conservative design approach, validated by structural calculations and peer review, plus full-scale mock-up testing where necessary, ensures the chosen panel thickness and system will meet longevity, performance and safety requirements.