Lightweight Steel Framing Research Articles

Upcycling EPS waste and mineral wool to produce new lightweight gypsum composites with improved thermal performance

Energy efficiency and waste management are crucial for sustainability of construction sector. In this research, a new gypsum composite material is presented in which traditional raw materials have been partially replaced by thermal insulation waste from facades energy retrofitting projects, using an innovative process to recover this waste. Consequently, a novel lightweight gypsum composite has been developed with a replacement of up to 14.7 % by weight of the original material with EPS waste, adding mineral wool as reinforcement fibres (0.375 %wt.). Thus, thermal behaviour analysis of these new composites has been conducted, both material itself and of its performance as part of a real construction system, including finite element analysis of the construction system. In addition, the physicochemical, physical and mechanical characterisation of the new composites has been carried out. Results show that the developed new material has a density 20.3 % lower than the traditional gypsum composite, resulting in a 30.4 % reduction in thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the use of these new lightened gypsum composites as finishing boards in lightweight steel frame (LSF) wall systems reduces the overall thermal resistance of the wall by up to 10.6 % with just 25 mm thickness. On the other hand, the mechanical resistance of this new material exceeds the reference values established by current standards, ranging between 4.18 and 1.87 MPa for flexural strength and between 7.87 and 4.27 MPa for compressive stresses. Additionally, the developed composites have shown a reduction in both total and capillary water absorption compared to traditional gypsum by 19.6 % and 40.0 % respectively, enhancing the material’s durability and its excellent thermal properties throughout its lifespan.

Experimental investigation on an innovative built-up cold-formed steel I-section connection

Bolted connections for built-up cold-formed sections are studied using different section configurations, gusset plates, and bolt arrangements. This paper presents the study of a connection between beam and column in light-weight steel frames with spans ranging between 8.0 and 12.0 m and a maximum height of 6.0 m that are used in agricultural sheds. The cross section of the beam and column is a novel built-up cold-formed cross section. A total of eight connections were tested and studied. The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of serval factors on the moment capacity and failure modes of the connection. The experimental study considered the effects of different shapes of tie plates, numbers, and spacings of bolts, as well as the effect of strengthening angles with different numbers of bolts in the connections. The experimental results showed that the failure modes in all connection types were due to a local failure in the connecting parts. The experimental results revealed that the configuration type has a great influence on the moment capacity of the connection.

Seismic behavior of lightweight steel frame with thin-walled steel skeleton-lightweight concrete wall

In this study, an innovative prefabricated lightweight steel frame with thin-walled steel skeleton-lightweight concrete composite wall structure (LSF-TSLC) is proposed. The proposed LSF-TSLC has the lightweight steel frame (LSF) as the vertical load-bearing system, whereas the thin-walled steel skeleton-lightweight concrete composite wall (TSLC) acts as the main component for horizontal earthquake resistance. A full-scale LSF specimen and three full-scale LSF-TSLC specimens were prepared considering the variables of wall installation method (embedded, external) and thin-walled steel skeleton distribution (frame type, truss type). The corresponding seismic behavior was experimentally investigated by evaluating the hysteretic characteristics, failure mode, ultimate bearing capacity, deformation performance, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation, and strain characteristics. The results showed that the plastic hinges appeared at the beam ends and column bases of LSF. Due to the shear failure, the embedded and external TSLC exhibited grid cracks and diagonal cracks, respectively. The LSF and TSLC had a good coordinating deformation capacity, while the LSF-TSLC structure had two seismic fortification lines. Compared with LSF, the ultimate bearing capacity and stiffness of LSF-TSLC were increased by 2.1 times and 5.1 times, respectively. The deformation capacity and energy dissipation of LSF-TSLC were significantly improved compared to LSF. The self-tapping nail joint of the embedded wall and the high-strength bolt joint of the external wall had reliable connectivity performance. The numerical simulation of LSF were conducted to verify the plastic analysis model for LSF. And the ultimate bearing capacity calculation method for the LSF-TSLC structure was proposed based on the Strut-and-Tie model.

Effect of middle stud on ultimate strength and behavior factor of brick masonry shear wall in cold formed steel frame

AbstractLightweight steel framing is one of the modern construction technology systems. This system is mostly used for low to mid-rise buildings. The lightweight steel framing system has many advantages, including lightness, ease of installation, high execution speed, and being more cost-efficient. Since the manufacturers of cold formed steel frames use bricks in an unprincipled way to cover these structures and because of less laboratory research in this regard, in the present research to principled use of this structure, the effect of the middle stud was evaluated on seismic behavior of brick shear wall in cold formed steel frame with brick face. For this purpose, four cold formed steel frames were made in two different configurations (without middle stud and with middle stud) using cement sand mortar, wire mesh, and brick shear walls. Based on the results, the middle stud would cause weakness in the permissible deformation of the brick walls, and in shear walls without middle stud, deformations occur along with the acquisition of resistance to larger deformations. Accordingly, the presence of the middle stud increases the average shear strength by 30%, and this increase in resistance causes a decrease in the behavior factor and ductility of the walls, which practically indicates the seismic behavior of the frames with the middle stud.

Hygrothermal resilience of typical lightweight steel-framed wall assemblies in hot-humid areas under future climate uncertainty

Ensuring the hygrothermal performance of lightweight steel-framed (LSF) wall assemblies is critical for the sustainability of LSF buildings in hot-humid regions; however, climate change poses new challenges. Therefore, this study aimed to bridge the gap in understanding the characteristics of hygrothermal load changes and the hygrothermal resilience of different LSF wall assemblies. Future climate data for each decade of this century (from 2030 to 2090), under various carbon emission scenarios, were generated based on a typical meteorological year (TMY) for hot-humid areas to evaluate the impact of climate change on hygrothermal loads. The hygrothermal resilience of four typical LSF wall assemblies, with either ventilated rainscreen cladding or face-sealed stucco cladding, with or without external insulation, was evaluated through simulation and comparative analysis. The results indicated that the thermal load would increase with increasing carbon emissions and over time, with the annual average external temperature peaking at 25.8 °C by the end of this century. The frequency of months with a high or critical moisture load would increase, although the moisture load may fluctuate across scenarios and years. Consequently, the cooling and dehumidification loads may increase by 52–60 % and 40–88 %, respectively. The hygrothermal risk within the walls may increase, with maximum increases of 2.8–8.0 % in the annual average relative humidity, 2.7–3.0 °C in the annual average temperature, and 10–35 % in the wetness duration. However, the impacts could be reduced by using ventilated rainscreens and external insulation, with further precautions needed to mitigate the increasing hygrothermal risk in areas with thermal bridges and rainwater leakage, as well as at the outer interface of the external insulation. These findings could provide a reference for the design of LSF buildings adapted to climate change in hot-humid areas.

The Relevance of Surface Resistances on the Conductive Thermal Resistance of Lightweight Steel-Framed Walls: A Numerical Simulation Study

The accurate evaluation of the thermal performance of building envelope components (e.g., facade walls) is crucial for the reliable evaluation of their energy efficiency. There are several methods available to quantify their thermal resistance, such as analytical formulations (e.g., ISO 6946 simplified calculation method), numerical simulations (e.g., using finite element method), experimental measurements under lab-controlled conditions or in situ. Regarding measurements, when using the heat flow meter (HFM) method, very often, the measured value is based on surface conditions (e.g., temperature and heat flux), achieving in this way the so-called surface-to-surface or conductive thermal resistance (Rcond). When the building components are made of homogeneous layers, their Rcond values are constant, regardless of their internal and external surface boundary conditions. However, whenever this element is composed of inhomogeneous layers, such as in lightweight steel-framed (LSF) walls, their Rcond values are no longer constant, depending on their thermal surface resistance. In the literature, such systematic research into how these Rcond values vary is not available. In this study, the values of four LSF walls were computed, with different levels of thermal conductivity inhomogeneity, making use of four finite elements’ numerical simulation tools. Six external thermal surface resistances (Rse) were modelled, ranging from 0.00 up to 0.20 m2·K/W. The average temperature of the partition LSF walls is 15 °C, while for the facade LSF walls it is 10 °C. It was found that the accuracy values of all evaluated numerical software are very high and similar, the Rcond values being nearly constant for walls with homogeneous layers, as expected. However, the variation in the Rcond value depends on the level of inhomogeneity in the LSF wall layers, increasing up to 8%, i.e., +0.123 m2·K/W, for the evaluated Rse values.

Development of structural type-based physical vulnerability curves to debris flow using numerical analysis and regression model

Urbanization has significantly increased the risk of debris flows to houses located at mountain boundaries, particularly in South Korea, where urban centers are surrounded by mountains. The degree of damage to a house strongly depends on the structural rigidity of the building, even when exposed to the same hazard intensities. However, the structural characteristics of buildings are usually disregarded in vulnerability assessments. In this study, vulnerability curves were proposed for three different structural types of buildings: brick masonry, light-weight steel frame, and wood structures, using numerical and regression analyses. A total of 22 debris flow events from 2011 to 2020 and 63 cases of damage to unreinforced structures were collected and analyzed. Back analysis of the debris flows was performed using Flow-R, and the impact pressure acting on each structure was calculated. Three different vulnerability curves were proposed using various linear and nonlinear regression analyses; the Avrami equation provided the highest statistical significance. The vulnerability curves of three different structures were similar for the slight damage range. However, over the slight damage range, the wood structure was the most vulnerable at a given hazard intensity, whereas the brick masonry structure was the least vulnerable. Validation was performed using data from recent debris flow events, revealing precise damage level predictions for 9 out of 11 buildings. Compared with previous research, the degree of damage at the same hazard intensity was found to be significantly dependent on the structural type. The developed vulnerability curve for each unreinforced structure can be used as key data for vulnerability and risk assessments.

Influence of cladding attachment structural elements on the thermal performance of lightweight steel-framed walls

The thermal transmittance characteristics of the building envelope significantly influences the whole building energy performance. Lightweight steel framed (LSF) systems with cladding attached back to structures using thermal clips or bracket systems are widely used in heating dominated climates. Thermal bridging associated with the cladding structural elements that bypass the exterior insulation to attach the cladding cannot be avoided, but their impact can be significantly mitigated. This study investigates the thermal influence of a generic aluminum cladding attachment system that has varying levels of complexity associated with thermal breaks, and rail penetration into the insulation. A total of five configurations were assessed besides a reference configuration, which was devoid of any cladding attachment structure. Three-dimensional finite element software (HEAT3) and a small-scale calibrated hot box apparatus were employed to perform the analyses. The objectives were to show the influence of the cladding attachment elements and demonstrate the ability of hot-box measurements and numerical simulations to quantify the influence. Results show a small deviation between numerical simulations and experimental measurements, ranged between - 0.85% and 3.70%. The variations in thermal transmittances properties of the investigated wall assemblies are presented, which vary from 40% to 57% compared to the reference case. These findings highlight the significant influence of the structural elements that bypass exterior insulation and how small variations of the same system can impact the whole thermal performance. The heat loss through the cladding attachment structural elements, which bypass exterior insulation, can be reduced by using thermal breaks like neoprene spacers appropriately.

A Novel Offsite Construction Method for Social Housing in Emerging Economies for Low Cost and Reduced Environmental Impact

Offsite construction methods have shown many advantages over traditional construction techniques, especially related to efficiency and productivity during the construction phase. Nevertheless, offsite construction generally involves oversizing the internal structure of the modules due to the internal stresses produced during transport and lifting operations, producing an increase in material usage, direct cost, and carbon footprint. In developing countries, the direct cost of social housing is the most important factor determining the feasibility of construction. For this reason, oversizing the internal structure of the modules can play an important role in the adoption of a modern construction technique such as offsite construction systems. In order to solve this issue, a temporary reusable stiffener structure is proposed to allow an economical offsite construction system using a lightweight steel framing structure used in traditional methods. The reusable structure was designed using a finite element method, and the direct cost and carbon footprint of the structure were evaluated. The results show that the proposed construction strategy allows for a low cost and reduced environmental impact due to a lower usage of materials in the modules and the possibility of a circular economy approach to the reusable structure.

Optimization of Thermal Bridges Effect of Composite Lightweight Panels with Integrated Steel Load-Bearing Structure

In order to maintain the quality of construction for nearly zero energy buildings and to reduce the pressure on construction workers with the addition of the need for faster and simpler structures, the use of cavity-insulated LSF (lightweight steel frame) panels is increasing. Requirements for performance quality, quality of life, and low energy consumption have led to the need for closer examination of heat transfer through building elements. Due to the impact on increased heat losses, thermal bridges can cause structural damage due to the increased risk of water vapor condensation on the interior surface. In this paper, numerical heat transfer analysis with the optimization of thermal bridges for LSF cavity insulated walls was made in order to reduce the overall transmission heat losses. The effects of different cavity insulation materials (mineral wool and polyurethane foam) on overall heat transferred through the building elements were analyzed. Additionally, in order to reduce the effect of thermal bridges caused by the steel frame structure, the PVC spacers between the steel and sheathing panels are introduced into calculation models. Lastly, additional layers of insulation were added on the internal and external sides of the LFS panels in order to minimize the effect of thermal bridges and maximize air tightness. Combinations of all three setups were made for wall–window, ceiling–wall, wall–floor joints for the numerical calculation. For each setup, the temperature distribution and overall heat transferred through the building elements were calculated. Different thermal bridge designs have a significant influence on the overall heat transfer, and by choosing the optimal design, the transmission heat losses can be reduced by up to 67%.

Accuracy of 2D numerical models towards the prediction of the fire resistance on LSF partition walls

Lightweight steel framing (LSF) walls are commonly used in modern buildings due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and readiness for installation. However, empty cavities within these walls can pose a fire risk if not properly addressed. In order to ensure the fire resistance and performance of LSF walls with empty cavities, various modelling techniques can be employed. Two-dimensional thermal models can also be used to simulate the behaviour of LSF walls with empty cavities in a fire scenario. These models can predict the spread of heat through the empty cavity, allowing designers to identify potential fire hazards and make adjustments to the design to mitigate those risks.Three different computational solution methods were used to compare the fire performance of LSF walls with void cavities. Solution method 1 considers the air-structure interaction in the cavity region. Solution method 2 considers the existence of interface elements for the radiation heat transfer in the cavity region allowing the cavity temperature prediction. Solution method 3 considers the convection and radiation in the cavity region with a prescribed cavity temperature from experiments (hybrid). Solution methods 1 and 3 give a small root mean square error (RMSE), when compared with solution method 2. Solution method 3 gives a better approximation because can capture the main fire events during the fire, such as the cracks and fall off. Based on the parametric study, a new proposal is presented to predict the fire resistance by insulation, depending on the gypsum type and thickness.

Hygrothermal performance optimization of lightweight steel-framed wall assemblies in hot–humid regions using orthogonal experimental design and a validated simulation model

As a layered construction, lightweight steel-framed (LSF) wall assemblies are applicable to different climates and used worldwide. Due to ill-informed construction and material designs, moisture-related durability problems occur, especially in hot–humid areas. Here, a hygrothermal simulation model of typical LSF wall assemblies was validated, and the influences of six construction layers (each with three sets of parameters) on the overall properties and performance were investigated via orthogonal experimental design (OED). Each layer exhibited various impact trends and contribution ratios at different positions. To reduce moisture risks, LSF wall assemblies should generally prevent the infiltration of outdoor moisture as much as possible while strengthening the inward drying capacity. The optimal configuration should comprise multiple water and vapour barriers with a ventilated layer, external insulation, permeable cavity insulation and interior sheathing board with a finish. Finally, this optimization method comprising the hygrothermal simulation and OED techniques could be applied to the hygrothermal performance of LSF wall assemblies under certain climatic conditions.

Experimental study on the seismic performance of a cold-formed thin-walled steel–concrete composite column-H steel beam frame

For lightweight steel frame structures consisting of steel H-beams and cold-formed steel columns filled with concrete, seismic performance comparison tests and numerical simulation analyses were performed for bare and infilled frames. The effects of the lightweight wall panels, the axial compression ratio and the wall thickness of the steel sections of the columns on the seismic properties of the structure were investigated. The failure of the bare frame was concentrated in the weld fractures at the beam-column joints. When the wall panels were embedded in the frame, the damage was concentrated at the corners and edges of the wall panels and the connectors. The wall panels significantly improved the initial stiffness of the frame, early energy dissipation and resistance, and the wall panel energy dissipation rate was initially as great as 91%. As the axial compression ratio increased, the resistance of the structure significantly decreased. Under monotonic loading, the resistance on the structure with an axial compression ratio of 0.4 was reduced by nearly 44% compared to the structure without axial compression. Increasing the wall thickness of the steel sections of the columns increased the load-bearing capacity of the structure, but the increase diminished with increasing wall thickness.

Thermal Performance of Lightweight Steel Framed Facade Walls Using Thermal Break Strips and ETICS: A Parametric Study

The thermal performance of lightweight steel framed (LSF) facade walls depends on many factors, such as the steel studs, the batt insulation, the external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), and the sheathing layers. Moreover, the high thermal conductivity of steel could negatively affect their thermal performance due to the consequent thermal bridge effect. Furthermore, in LSF walls, the batt insulation is usually bridged by the steel studs. Thus, some analytical calculation procedures defined in standards (e.g., ISO 6946) are not valid, further complicating their thermal performance quantification. In this research, a parametric study to evaluate the thermal performance of facade LSF walls is presented. Seven relevant parameters are assessed, most of them related to the use of thermal break strips (TBS) and ETICS. The 2D numerical models used to predict the conductive R-values were experimentally validated, and their precision was successfully verified. As earlier found in a previous research work for partition LSF walls, it is also more effective for facades to increase the TBS thickness rather than their width, with the R-value increments being slightly smaller for facade LSF walls. These features were more pronounced for double TBS and for the smaller stud spacing (400 mm). The major thermal performance improvements were found when increasing the ETICS insulation thickness and decreasing their thermal conductivity.

Thermal Performance of Load-Bearing, Lightweight, Steel-Framed Partition Walls Using Thermal Break Strips: A Parametric Study

Thermal bridges are a very relevant issue for lightweight steel-framed (LSF) construction systems given the high thermal conductivity of steel, which can negatively compromise their thermal behaviour, reduce their durability, and decrease the building energy efficiency. Several thermal bridge mitigation strategies exist, including the attachment of thermal break strips (TBS) to the steel studs’ flanges as one of the most widely employed techniques. In this research, the relevance of TBS to the thermal performance improvement of load-bearing LSF partition walls was assessed by performing a parametric study, making use of a validated 2D numerical model. A sensitivity analysis was performed for five different key parameters, and their importance was evaluated. The assessed parameters included the number of TBS and their thickness, width, and thermal conductivity, as well as the vertical steel stud spacing. We found that these parameters were all relevant. Moreover, regardless of the TBS thermal conductivity, it is always worth increasing their thickness. However, the increase in the TBS width does not always lead to increased thermal resistance; a thermal performance reduction was noted when increasing the width of the TBS at higher thermal conductivities. Therefore, it was concluded that it is more efficient to increase TBS thickness than their width.

Study of Cost and Construction Speed of Cladding Wall for Lightweight Steel Frame (LSF)

The strategic issue faced by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Republic of Indonesia (PUPR) is the large housing backlog, especially in the urban areas. Low-income communities earning less than 2 USD/day are found as the most vulnerable to lack of access to affordable housing. This experiment aims to find an alternative solution on building construction material in accordance with the Ministry of Public Housing regulation No. 11 of 2011 about affordable housing guidelines. The experiment was carried out on an LSF to compare four different wall cladding materials. The building area was 36 m2 and the total wall cladding area was 95 m2. The wall cladding materials used were metal sheet, lightweight concrete brick, gypsum reinforced cement (GRC) board, and unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) fiber. The experiment collected data on purchases of materials to develop the S-curve and measure construction progress. Then, the work unit price analysis (WUPA) approach was carried out to simulate the labor coefficient of construction speed and its comparison to the material costs of the four wall cladding materials. The experiment on this 36 m2 house found that metal sheet is the most efficient material, which took 22.7 h to cover a 95 m2 wall. Later, it was followed by uPVC fiber with 46.6 h, GRC board with 59.7 h, and finally lightweight con-bricks with 85.7 h. Apparently, the metal sheet not only presented the most efficient construction time, but also provided the lowest construction cost with 115.960 IDR/m2 (8.24 USD/m2). It was followed by uPVC fiber at 133.37 IDR/m2 (9.48 USD/m2); GRC board at 146.91 IDR/m2 (10.44 USD/m2) and finally lightweight con-bricks at 156.88 IDR/m2 (11.15 USD/m2). Through WUPA, this study also found that efficient workmanship (construction speed) of the labor greatly affects construction costs.

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Validation of Thermal Break Strips’ Improvement in Facade LSF Walls

Thermal bridges may have a significant prejudicial impact on the thermal behavior and energy efficiency of buildings. Given the high thermal conductivity of steel, in Lightweight Steel Framed (LSF) buildings, this detrimental effect could be even greater. The use of thermal break (TB) strips is one of the most broadly implemented thermal bridge mitigation technics. In a previous study, the performance of TB strips in partition LSF walls was evaluated. However, a search of the literature found no similar experimental campaigns for facade LSF walls, which are even more relevant for a building’s overall energy efficiency since they are in direct contact with the external environmental conditions. In this article the thermal performance of ten facade LSF wall configurations were measured, using the heat flow meter (HFM) method. These measurements were compared to numerical simulation predictions, exhibiting excellent similarity and, consequently, high reliability. One reference wall, three TB strip locations in the steel stud flanges and three TB strip materials were assessed. The outer and inner TB strips showed quite similar thermal performances, but with slightly higher thermal resistance for outer TB strips (around +1%). Furthermore, the TB strips were clearly less efficient in facade LSF walls when compared to their thermal performance improvement in load-bearing partition LSF walls.

Integrated decision support for embodied impact assessment of circular and bio-based building components

The construction industry is accounted for one third of all waste generation in the European Union (EU) countries. The Interreg Circular Bio-Based Construction Industry (CBCI) project was conceived to explore the circular principles and bio-based materials for enhancing sustainability in construction industry. This study provides a new approach for decision support via a case study on early design phase of a demo terraced single family house; the living lab (LL) located in Ghent (Belgium). The decision support utilizes circularity tools and life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. For this purpose, nine preliminary designs (PD) for the building envelope were assessed in a comparative study, which consists of three basic construction methods: masonry, light-weight steel and wood framing construction supplemented with bio-based materials. Environmental impact assessment was supported with the circularity tools focusing on the reuse and recyclability potential in the end-of-life (EoL) scenarios. The integration of LCA and circularity tools displayed that bio-based design PDs have an increased performance due to the avoided environmental impact through reuse and recycling in the EoL scenarios. As a result, a novel approach that integrates circularity calculations with LCA methodology was provided to improve long-term impact analysis on circular buildings with more precision in end-of-life scenario development.

Case Study in Modular Lightweight Steel Frame Construction: Thermal Bridges and Energy Performance Assessment

This paper proposes an improvement of the conventional Lightweight Steel Frame (LSF) wall structure suitable for the design of high-performance modular buildings. A mobile module, named MUZA, is used as a case study building to analyse the performance of such LSF structures in terms of their thermal bridging effect on the U-value of the opaque envelope elements, linear heat losses at junctions, and moisture condensation risk, as well as thermal bridging effect on the overall energy performance of the building. The study included an additional climate- and orientation-dependent analysis that examined the performance of MUZA under various conditions. The main conclusion is that the steel studs increase the U-value from 28.4% to 41.6% compared to cases without the studs, which consequently increases transmission losses through opaque elements. Thanks to the continuous covering of the metal studs with thermal insulation, the thermal bridges at the element junctions are minimized, and in almost all cases, the Ψ-values are well below 0.1 W/(m·K) and are free from moisture condensation. The overall impact of thermal bridges on heating energy demand is significant, while the impact on cooling energy is less pronounced. The designed module with the proposed LSF wall structure can meet the Croatian requirements for Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB), but the shading devices and photovoltaics orientation must be optimized depending on the climatic conditions and the orientation of the large transparent openings. MUZA can be a promising solution for post-disaster housing, providing better indoor environmental quality, healthy living conditions, and low energy bills for the affected people. In addition, it can also be used for permanent housing when a fast and robust modular construction is required which is also energy efficient and sustainable.

In-plane seismic behavior of lightweight steel drywall façades through quasi-static reversed cyclic tests

A lightweight steel (LWS) drywall façade is one of the most widely used architectural non-structural components in a building. This paper presents the results of in-plane quasi-static reserved cyclic tests carried out on 14 different full-scale façades made with LWS framing. The main goal of the study is to investigate the effect of various construction details on the seismic response of the selected facades. The investigated parameters include single or double frame walls, type of sheathing panels, presence of finishing, variation in surrounding constructional elements, absence of track members, type of connection to the surrounding constructional elements, and presence of protrusion. The effect of the construction parameters on the lateral response of the façades was examined in terms of strength, stiffness, force–displacement hysteretic response, and damage mechanisms. Therefore, the damage phenomena observed during the tests are reported, associating them with the three damage limit states based on the level of damage. For the definition of seismic vulnerability, the fragility curves for different façade typologies are also presented. Finally, based on the fragility data, the evaluation of seismic performance according to IDR limits for non-structural components given by Eurocode 8 is also performed.