Defining the Safety Baseline of Building Facades: How PFM Controls Risk from the Source
Safety. Responsibility. Long-Term Value.
These three principles are the starting point of every project delivered by PFM.
The Overlooked Risk Behind Stone Facade Installation
If you have visited construction sites in parts of Central Asia or the Middle East, you may have seen a common installation method for stone facades: workers simply apply adhesive to the back of the stone panels and stick them directly onto the wall.
At first glance, it may seem fast and cost-effective.
But in reality, this method carries significant safety risks.
In China, this type of adhesive-only stone cladding installation without reliable mechanical anchoring has already been officially prohibited.
In November 2024, China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the Catalog of Prohibited and Restricted Technologies for Housing Construction and Municipal Infrastructure Projects (Second Batch), officially classifying adhesive-only stone fixing systems as a prohibited construction technology. Starting from August 8, 2025, such methods are no longer allowed in newly constructed projects across China.
Why was it banned?
Because adhesive-only systems cannot reliably withstand:
Freeze-thaw cycles
Material aging and degradation
Wind loads
Structural movement and thermal stress
Once the adhesive fails, stone panels can detach from the facade — creating severe safety hazards.
However, in some overseas markets where regulations and technical standards are still developing, this method remains widely used.
The underlying reason is simple: reducing construction costs.
PFM’s Answer: Safety Is Non-Negotiable
At PFM, we have seen facade projects overseas using extremely simplified stone installation methods — adhesive application combined with minimal wire fixing.
To us, this is alarming.
Because behind that “simple” construction approach lies a serious structural safety risk.
PFM’s position is very clear:
We do not take projects that compromise safety.
Not because we do not want the business, but because the first core value of our brand is safety.
Instead of low-cost adhesive fixing systems, PFM adopts professional mechanical stone cladding systems, including:
Back-bolt anchoring systems
Steel or aluminum support frameworks
Engineered metal brackets and fixing components
Even if a stone panel cracks, the mechanical anchoring system continues to hold the panel securely in place, preventing sudden detachment.
We also perform comprehensive structural calculations for:
Wind load
Dead load
Seismic force
Thermal expansion stress
Every project is supported by detailed engineering calculations and technical documentation.
Most importantly:
Critical facade installation procedures are supervised on-site by experienced Chinese installation specialists — not remotely managed from behind a screen.
Because true safety is not achieved through inspection after completion.
It is engineered from the beginning.
Designed into the system.
Built into every installation detail.
Responsibility: Not Just for the Project, but for Human Life
People sometimes ask us:
“If you insist on such high standards, aren’t you worried about losing projects?”
Of course we are.
But we are more concerned about something else:
What happens if, five years later, the stone facade starts falling from the building?
What if someone gets injured?
That is a responsibility we are unwilling to ignore.
At PFM, our second core value is responsibility.
This responsibility goes beyond the client or contract itself.
It extends to:
The people who use the building every day
The pedestrians walking below the facade
The children playing near the entrance
The employees working inside the building
We refuse to use unsafe stone cladding methods not because we do not understand cost control — but because we understand responsibility even more clearly.
Long-Term Value: Building Facades That Stand the Test of Time
PFM’s third core value is long-term value.
We do not build projects simply to complete delivery and walk away.
We build with a different expectation:
Ten or twenty years later, the facade should still remain structurally secure and visually reliable.
The building owner should not have to pay again for large-scale repairs, facade failures, or avoidable accidents.
Winning projects through the lowest price may generate fast profits.
But behind those short-term savings can be:
Expensive future maintenance
Legal disputes
Structural failures
Even loss of human life
PFM chooses a different path.
We believe in creating lasting value through quality engineering and responsible construction practices.
Because true value is never short-term.
True value is measured by time.
Three Questions Every Building Owner Should Ask
If you are evaluating an overseas facade contractor or stone facade supplier, ask these three questions:
1. Is the stone facade installed using adhesive-only fixing, or a mechanical anchoring system?
2. Who performed the structural load calculations?
Is there a complete engineering calculation report?
3. How much responsibility is the contractor willing to take for the long-term safety of the building?
The answers to these questions will quickly reveal whether a company prioritizes safety — or simply prioritizes profit.
At PFM, we are confident enough to put our answers on the table.
Because our values are not marketing slogans written on a wall.
They are embedded into every project we build.
Safety. Responsibility. Long-Term Value.
These three principles define why PFM refuses unsafe, low-cost facade solutions.
We believe truly visionary developers, architects, and project partners will always choose:
Safety over cheap pricing
Responsibility over luck
Long-term value over short-term profit
If you believe the same, PFM is the right partner for your project.
