If we were to have a fire in the United States like Grenfell, the MCM industry will be in trouble. Efforts are already ongoing to make only FR (fire retardant) core panels for architectural construction to avoid future fire issues.
In addition, the energy requirements for wall and roof assemblies will continue to increase (higher insulation, less thermal bridging, etc.) Many of these items are covered in new codes that are being written.
Finally, carbon sequestration issues are starting to be the way that people are making material choices. First it was LEED, then product category specific life cycle assessments, now carbon. What will be the next metric developed? I’m not so sure that we are still not just finding our way in this effort.
I think ordering buildings, components and accessories will be done online the vast majority of the time in the next 10 years.
It would be incredible if the life expectancy of building-integrated solar products would equal the life expectancy of metal building envelopes. Right now, the metal envelope is going to outlast the solar and that seems like a real shame. I hope that we can see advancements in the solar industry so that the life expectancies are similar.
Demand for sustainably manufactured and sourced building materials, like steel, is very likely to intensify over the next decade. Renewable energies, like solar PV panels, should boost demand for steel roofing and steel building systems.
I predict that the residential re-roof market will grow to 25%, and the number of regional/local manufacturers will double in the next 10 years.
If my brain can visualize nano solar chips into the PVDF paint, then someone somewhere is already on it!
