Rainscreen cladding is a kind of double-wall construction that utilizes a surface to help keep the rain out, as well as an inner layer to offer thermal insulation, prevent excessive air leakage and carry wind loading. The surface breathes just like a skin as the inner layer reduces energy losses.

The biggest reason why rainscreen cladding is used in construction is to prevent water damage caused by rain. The outer cladding layer deflects most of the rain that falls, while any water that passes through simply drains out through the ventilation cavity. The airflow through the cavity also means that any moisture that gets onto the outer layer will dry quickly.

Rainscreen cladding also helps control the temperature inside the building. In buildings without this cladding system, rain can draw heat from inside of a building. When these panels are installed, rain can no longer comes into contact with the building itself. This means that rain no longer affects the temperature inside the building, turning the ventilation cavity into an extra layer of insulation.