BIPV
August 12, 2026
When architects and developers evaluate a solar facade, the conversation usually starts with color, finish, and wattage. But the installation system, the structural and electrical framework that actually attaches modules to the building, often determines whether a project is feasible at all.
Schedule, building type, facade geometry, and retrofit constraints all point toward a different answer. Mitrex offers three core installation systems, CladiShield, Claditized, and CladiFab, so project teams can match the system to the project rather than the other way around.
Every Mitrex solar facade module is engineered to function as part of a complete wall assembly, not a standalone panel bolted onto an existing structure. Whether a building requires a unitized system, a standard rainscreen application, or an entire prefabricated assembly that includes the air and moisture barrier, insulation, and sub-framing, Mitrex installation solutions turn individual modules into a continuous, weather-tight building envelope.
Because the installation system carries so much of the project's structural and scheduling logic, it is typically the first technical decision a design team makes, well before finishes or colors are selected.
CladiShield is Mitrex's ventilated rainscreen system, and the most widely used installation approach across Mitrex projects. Rather than supplying cladding modules alone, CladiShield is delivered as a complete wall solution, including a high-performing air and moisture barrier, continuous insulation, and adjustable sub-framing.
Electrical connections run concealed behind each module, so the wiring never interrupts the finished facade. The ventilated cavity between the cladding and insulation also improves thermal performance and reduces moisture accumulation over the life of the building.
CladiShield is compatible across all three eFacade product lines, LITE, PRO, and PRO+, with system thickness varying by product:
This system has been proven at scale on projects including the Myron & Berna Garron Health Sciences Complex (SAMIH) at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the SunRise residential development in Edmonton, both of which rely on CladiShield's rainscreen configuration for large-scale, multi-elevation installations.
CladiFab is Mitrex's prefabricated wall system, purpose-built with all the insulation and layers built into the module. Components are manufactured and pre-assembled off-site, then shipped ready for installation.
Like the other two systems, CladiFab keeps all electrical components concealed. It carries a Sound Transmission Coefficient rating of 55 (ASTM E90), the highest of the three systems, along with its own structural load ratings under ASTM E330 and a 15-minute fire stay-in-place rating under NFPA 285.
Claditized is Mitrex's unitized facade system, built around large, precision-engineered modules that span slab to slab, similar in principle to a precast concrete panel system. Instead of assembling smaller components on-site, entire wall sections arrive ready to mount.
This approach shifts most of the fabrication and quality control into a factory setting, which shortens on-site construction time and reduces the number of trades required to close in a facade. As with CladiShield, wiring and electrical components stay concealed within the panel assembly.
Claditized carries a Sound Transmission Coefficient rating of 35 (ASTM E90), slightly higher than CladiShield's 34, reflecting the added mass of its unitized construction. It is generally best suited to high-rise or schedule-critical projects where speed of enclosure matters as much as design flexibility.
The right installation system depends less on the module itself and more on what the project needs from its envelope:
Whichever installation system a project uses, the underlying performance standard doesn't change. All three systems are engineered to meet the same fire, structural, and durability requirements, including NFPA 285, EN 13501 A2-s1,d0 fire classification, and ASTM E330 wind load testing, and all are backed by Mitrex's 25-year power performance warranty.
The installation system is a construction decision. The performance and longevity of the facade are not up for negotiation regardless of which one a project chooses.
Interested in identifying the right installation system for your next project?
News & Articles
In commercial construction, even minor delays can carry significant consequences. Tight schedules, multiple trades, evolving site conditions, and coordination across disciplines leave little room for systems that require extensive customization or specialized installation practices. Historically, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics have been perceived as complex, innovative in concept but challenging to execute. At Mitrex, we've taken a different approach. Our goal has always been to make solar facades function like a true building material: practical to install, responsive to real-world construction conditions, and adaptable to the needs of modern projects.
In commercial construction, even minor delays can carry significant consequences. Tight schedules, multiple trades, evolving site conditions, and coordination across disciplines leave little room for systems that require extensive customization or specialized installation practices. Historically, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics have been perceived as complex, innovative in concept but challenging to execute. At Mitrex, we've taken a different approach. Our goal has always been to make solar facades function like a true building material: practical to install, responsive to real-world construction conditions, and adaptable to the needs of modern projects.
Mitrex solar facades combine the function of building cladding with long-term on-site energy generation, transforming the building envelope into an income-generating asset. While upfront costs may exceed conventional materials in some scenarios, stacked incentives, operational savings, and long-term durability significantly improve lifecycle value and payback performance.
Mitrex solar facades combine the function of building cladding with long-term on-site energy generation, transforming the building envelope into an income-generating asset. While upfront costs may exceed conventional materials in some scenarios, stacked incentives, operational savings, and long-term durability significantly improve lifecycle value and payback performance.
Mitrex solar facades are backed by a lifetime product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty, ensuring both material integrity and long-term energy output. With optional labour coverage for full-scope installations, this article explains how Mitrex warranties provide confidence, reduce project risk, and support long-term asset performance
Mitrex solar facades are backed by a lifetime product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty, ensuring both material integrity and long-term energy output. With optional labour coverage for full-scope installations, this article explains how Mitrex warranties provide confidence, reduce project risk, and support long-term asset performance
.svg)
