Ventilated facades : Ventilated facades

Our technical section today is devoted to one of the most progressive systems of our time - to the technology of ventilated facades.
Ventilated or the so-called "hinged" facade is the system consisting of facing, thermo insulation and metal sub constructions (in rare cases wooden). The principle of system is that the technological backlash left between the thermo insulation and facing provides free movement of the air streams. Thus the natural movement of the air in the backlash lets the wall to be constantly dry, not letting the condensate and moisture accumulate. This air gap reduces the losses of heat; it is a kind of a temperature buffer: the temperature of air in it is approximately 3-4 degrees higher than outside the building.
The general scheme of arrangement of layers:
So, we have a system where materials are located according to the reduction of parameters of their heat transfer, and resistance to steam penetration grows from outside towards inside.
Let"s consider in brief how each of the materials in "the common sheaf" acts.

1. THE BEARING WALL.
The wall is a point of a support for our system. When making the hinged facade the following parameters are essential: deviations of the wall from the vertical and the horizontals, the "fallen" corners that are detected using the method of geodetic shooting. Also of importance are the material it is constructed of and the degree of its deterioration (if there is some).
2. SUBCONSTRUCTION.
Sub construction is the basic bearing part, equipment for fastening the facing materials, a bit later we shall tell about the different kinds of these materials.
3. THE LAYER OF HEAT AND SOUND INSULATION.
The choice of thermo insulation is very important. This layer necessarily should be made of rigid plates of big density - no less than 40-80 kilos per square meter, having both fire-resistant and rat-resistant properties. It is necessary for prevention of "slipping" of heat insulation along the wall of a building on the expiration of the time of operation, for counteraction against the temperature differences and for protection against rodents. To fasten the thermo insulation special concrete inserts of "umbrella" type are used.
The thermo insulation layer itself protects the wall from variable freezing and thawing and thus levels the temperature fluctuations of the wall and acts against the occurrence of the deformations that are especially bad for the high-altitude structures. Thus the external warming allows to increase the service life of bearing walls of the reconstructed buildings, and to reduce expenses on the construction of the foundation of the new buildings.
Thermo insulation has one more advantage - it increases the thermo accumulating properties of the wall. The wall warmed outside cools down 6 times more slowly than the similar wall on which thermo insulation layer is placed inside. One more advantage of thermo insulation layer is increasing more than twice the sound insulation in a wide range of frequencies. Summing up the conversation about thermo insulation we shall note that the basic thickness of heater used for the central areas is 50-150 mm, for Siberia and the North - 150-250 mm, the optimal way is to use wool based on basalt fiber - Rockwool, ("Venty-Bats").
4. THE STEAM-PENETRABLE FILM.
The steam-penetrable film does not let moisture penetrate on thermo insulation and at the same time, does not prevent evaporation of condensate into the atmosphere. Manufacturers offer thermo insulation material with ready-made laminating - steam-penetrable material is put on the surface of thermo insulation plates. The experts of our company consider it best to use the steam-penetrable film Tyvek or a similar one as the complete covering with film reduces the number of bridges of cold at the joints of thermo insulation plates and guarantees stability of characteristics of the heater in time.
.5. THE AIR BACKLASH.
The air backlash works according to the principle of a vent pipe - thus not allowing the atmospheric and internal moisture to gather on the surface of the wall. One more important function of the air buffer is decreasing the heat losses of the buildings.
6. FACING.
The facing material " sounds a finale " of all the system. It allows seeing the building in a new "exclusive designer suit". This "suit" protects the whole construction from adverse atmospheric influences, and in summer it carries out the function of a sun-protection screen. The way of fastening of facing allows avoiding internal pressure in the material and excludes the occurrence of cracks. The choice of facing materials is extremely rich and their number quickly grows: metals, composite materials, concretes, fibro cements, special glass, high pressure laminates, and also ceramic granite and natural stone. The spectrum of their sizes is wide: from large - up to small-size plates and panels, a variety of finishing and color scale. Ways of installation and fastening give boundless opportunities for imagination and aesthetic finishing of buildings.
SLOPES OF APERTURES
In any constructive decision of window slopes and doorways the detailed study is necessary of the units of interface with the ventilated facade. Engineers of the company "Balt-Stroy" carry out these calculations, applying the principle of modules. We need to be in close cooperation with the organization mounting window and door blocks to avoid the incorrect assembly interface. The experts of the company are ready to take under their responsibility the installation of the glassing of the buildings, thus relieving the Customer from unnecessary efforts.
Slopes can be made of different materials: metal-base laminate with pural coating, aluminum, ceramic granite or other material.
ADVANTAGES OF THE VENTILATED FACADE:
- Reduction of expenses for operation
- Safety of aesthetic look for a long term
- Reduction of expenses on heating energy in 3-3, 5 times
- Steam-penetrability
- Prevention of formation of condensate
- Increase of sound insulation of a building
- Wide architectural opportunities
- An opportunity of all-weather conduction of works
Technical calculation of the experts of "Balt-Stroy" has shown that the average time of recovery of outlay of the system is from 5 to 8 years.
Once having chosen the system of ventilated facade, the Customer will forget the eternal problem of maintenance of an aesthetic look of the building as the service life of such facades is from 20 to 50 years depending on the chosen material.
Company "Balt-Stroy" will create a new exclusive look of a building which will be your "business card".