During the summer months, we usually put a layer of sunscreen on to protect our skin from damage and burns, which can contribute to skin cancer. But why do we call it “sunscreen?”
Generally speaking, the term “screen” means a “barrier.” A barrier is like a block that provides a specific type of defense to reduce the level of damage from any negative climate impact. Most people might think the exterior cladding of a building should be able to provide the full barrier function required to prevent water leakage when it rains. Building construction professionals and scientists all know that unfortunately that is not the case: moisture will always find a way into a building’s enclosure, no matter how well the building was constructed or which specific cladding type was used.