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Rainscreen façade systems have dominated construction industry news since the Grenfell Fire Tragedy in 2017. We look at the need to fill the rainscreen cladding knowledge gap and the other challenges the industry faces, and why addressing the knowledge gap is so important.
The UK construction sector faced a challenging year in 2024. According to the Office for National Statistics, the construction sector experienced a 22% decline in new orders in Q3 off 2024.
The industry is also facing significant challenges in terms of legislation and processes, and a concerning skills gap, which has been exacerbated by the specialist knowledge required for modern building techniques such as rainscreen façade systems.
There are mixed figures online as to how many new workers the construction industry needs to employ.
However, CITB’s Labour Market Intelligence Report, predicts the estimated number of extra workers needed for the 2025-2029 period is 47,860 per year. That is 1.8% of the 2024 workforce. This means the construction sector needs to recruit approximately 239,300 workers over the next five years.
The percentage of workers required differs for each occupation group.
Extra workers required per occupation group:
Pressure on construction companies has also increased on the back of the Building Safety Act 2022, and its subsequent updates. This is combined with significant increases in materials costs and the increase in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICS).
The drive towards improved fire safety in the form of the government’s Remediation Action Plan will likely feature as a driving force behind construction sector growth.
The government’s objective to remediate all buildings over 11 metres in height with unsafe cladding by 2029, will require a significant increase of trained and rainscreen cladding installers and rainscreen cladding supervisors.
By training the installers they will be able to identify the correct fire safe materials and become equipped to properly instal façade systems to ensure the safety of residents.
Rainscreen cladding also plays a vital role in making buildings more energy efficient. The fundamentals of correctly incorporating an air gap between the rainscreen cladding and the backing wall can help to reduce a building’s reliance of heating and cooling systems.
Correctly installed cladding will help to prolong the life of a building by preventing rot and mould caused by excess moisture.
Rainscreen cladding is a facade system that protects a building from the elements by creating an air gap behind the outer cladding panels.
The air gap allows for ventilation which helps manage moisture and prevent condensation, thus protecting the building’s structure from damp and rot.
The system also provides thermal and acoustic insulation, contributes to aesthetic appeal, and includes design features and non-combustible materials to prevent fire from spreading.
After the Grenfell Fire Tragedy in 2017, it became obvious that a substantial number of building facades were either incorrectly installed or were installed using unsafe materials, or both.
The rainscreen cladding knowledge gap is multi-faceted and encompasses:
Fire safety
Fire safety is a critical area of concern. A lack of standardised testing, data sharing, and the potential use of combustible materials in facade systems, can create an elevated risk of fire spread in high-rise buildings.
Regulatory compliance
Complexities involved with the Building Safety Act 2022 and other regulations impose strict requirements on cladding systems. This creates challenges for industry professionals to keep pace with their legal obligations and with best practices.
System design and specification
A lack of in-depth knowledge about designing for specific performance requirements can lead to ineffective systems that fail to protect against water ingress or fire.
Shortage of specific cladding skills
The construction industry is facing a skills shortage across the board. Specialist cladding knowledge will be vital for the ongoing development of modern buildings and modern building techniques.
CITB research in 2025, has evidenced shortages of workers in the rainscreen façade systems field. CITB also highlighted a need for an extra 500 specialist workers in this field per year.
Filling knowledge gaps in any industry can have significant benefits. In the construction industry, those benefits can be life-changing and lifesaving.
Mitigating the risk to life and property
Upskilling the construction workforce can help to reduce the risk of devasting fires in tall buildings.
Mitigation of structural damage
Improperly designed or installed façade systems can lead to increased moisture which causes structural damage and reduces the building’s lifespan. Upskilling can help to preserve the building and make it more efficient due to the reduced maintenance requirements that come from correct installation.
Ensuring legislative compliance is adhered to
Improving the skills of the construction workforce can ensure legislation is adhered to and reduce the risk of hefty penalties.
Improving performance
Gaps in knowledge can lead to systems that do not effectively perform their primary functions of weather protection, insulation, and fire safety.
At 3B Training, we have been delivering health and safety training to the construction industry since 2011. Our health and safety training has helped to improve the knowledge and skills of thousands of construction industry professionals.
We are now providing training for rainscreen cladding installers and for rainscreen cladding supervisors. The training is being offered in conjunction with CITB, who have collaborated with employers, Government, and other stakeholders for opinion and information. The result is updated training guidelines for the inspection and installation of façades that meet improved fire safety standards. This will help to ensure the construction industry can support the Government’s cladding remediation initiatives.
The training courses run from February 2026 and provide comprehensive knowledge and skills which will help to ensure future fire safety of tall buildings.
Click here to can find out more about the rainscreen cladding installer course.
To find out more about the rainscreen cladding supervisor course, click here.
3B Training looks at what rainscreen cladding is and what the benefits are. How it works and if installers need to be qualified.
We look at why installers should be qualified to install rainscreen cladding systems to ensure the system’s long-term performance and safety. Also, to mitigate the risks of water ingress and structural issues.
This article explores the current training landscape, the trends shaping it in 2025, the challenges holding it back, and what’s next for employers, training providers, and policymakers aiming to build the workforce of the future.
