Welcome to the Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA), an international not-for-profit industry association dedicated to serving the rainscreen market in North America.
RAiNA was founded in January 2020 and is the leading authority on rainscreen assemblies. RAiNA also provides a forum for designers, trades, test agencies, and material suppliers to gather to determine best practices, interpret and inform codes, as well as educate and address technical concerns in the industry.
A rainscreen is defined as an assembly applied to an exterior wall that consists of, at minimum, an outer layer, an inner layer and a cavity between them sufficient for the passive removal of liquid water and water vapor.
Rainscreens effectively manage moisture and provide exceptional opportunities for energy-efficient performance via continuous insulation and reducing thermal bridging. Assemblies that fall into this definition range from masonry to clip and rail, and pressure-equalized systems.
RAiNA is the leading authority on rainscreen design and construction. By joining, you become part of a network of experts who play an integral role in growing and evolving the industry. Architects, design professionals, building owners, contractors, and manufacturers work hand-in-hand to develop key technical and marketing data, promote education and training, and develop standards to guide and govern rainscreens.
Join RAiNA to become part of a network of experts who play an integral role in growing and evolving the industry. We look forward to hearing from you!
RAiNA's mission is to work together with our membership, industry, and trade to be the recognized authority on rainscreen wall assemblies in North America. Our vision is to be the recognized rainscreen authority, supporting performance-driven rainscreen assemblies that contribute to more durable, resilient, healthy, energy-efficient and safe buildings.
1. Integration of Expertise – In order to achieve optimum performance of a rainscreen wall assembly, the input of many parties is required. This includes design professionals, enclosure consultants, testing agencies, manufacturers of various wall materials, contractors, etc. RAiNA values expertise across the board and will work to connect experts to drive the most effective outcomes.
2. Building Science-based Performance Criteria – A measurable understanding of material and assembly performance gives designers the tools to make the right choices for their product needs. Prioritizing topics that can be measured, tested, and discussed objectively through data will strengthen the publications and standards produced by RAiNA.
3. Sustainable Long-lasting Building Enclosures – The most sustainable building is one that does not need to be rebuilt. Emphasizing the benefits of a properly constructed rainscreen wall assembly helps to ensure the wall assembly will effectively perform for years to come. The walls will not only look good, but will reduce environmental impact (energy use/carbon emissions), keep the building working, and the occupants safe and healthy.
4. Design Aesthetics – RAiNA values beautiful buildings that can last for generations. High-performance building envelopes are capable of displaying virtually any designer’s vision for a beautiful facade. A rainscreen wall assembly supports designs using a wide variety of different materials, colors, and textures with almost limitless configurations for linear reveals, cavity depths, façade off-sets, and curvatures; all without compromising performance.
This new Division 01 specification will serve as a critical tool for architects, specifiers and contractors to achieve better performance outcomes in rainscreen wall assemblies.
The Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA) has released a new Division 01 specification to establish clear, unified performance requirements for rainscreen wall assemblies, addressing critical ...
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