Fire protection on building exteriors – How to de-risk facade selection

The use of combustible cladding on high-rise buildings has come under increased scrutiny ever since the Grenfell and Lacrosse tower fires. In the years following, the need for fully compliant Deemed-to-Satisfy non-combustible cladding materials has grown exponentially. In response, the New South Wales (NSW) government has created an important oversight panel for this issue, as well as a funding program called Project Remediate to help building owners who are required to replace combustible cladding on their residential buildings.

Fire Protection on Building Exteriors: How to De-Risk Facade Selection discusses the development of Project Remediate, and how it is helping building owners and designers identify fire-safe, fully compliant cladding and reduce risk during the facade selection process. In this paper, we look at what Project Remediate is and the role of the Cladding Product Safety Panel. We then examine the types of facade products that should be used when replacing combustible cladding and what requirements they need to meet, with a focus on fire safety, structural adequacy, durability, and weather tightness.

Network Architectural presents ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, a fully compliant aluminium cladding product that has satisfied all testing requirements for the Project Remediate recladding scheme. This product was introduced exclusively for the Australian construction market and has been scientifically proven to be the safest aluminium facade product in real-life fire tests around the world.

Download this white paper to learn more.

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1’s extraordinary safety and sustainability profile

Launched in early 2019, ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 has since become the gold standard for non-combustible cladding. Four years in the making, this stand-out product is an outcome of a close partnership between ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd and Network Architectural, and has been designed specifically for Australia.

Network Architectural’s flagship product, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 mineral core barrier composite panel is manufactured by ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd and fully compliant with the relevant building codes and regulations in Australia, explains ​​Llewellyn Regler, Technical Manager at Network Architectural. “It has obtained A1 classification according to the European fire protection standard EN 13501-1, which is the highest rating in what is considered to be one of the most stringent component fire test standards in the world,” Llewellyn adds. “To my knowledge, ours is the only aluminium composite panel in the world that actually meets that standard.”

This exceptional fire safety profile of the non-combustible product is matched by its outstanding sustainability credentials. Underscored by ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s very own sustainability philosophy – encapsulated by the notion of “Kaiteki” – and verified through an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) produced by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 is manufactured in an environmentally conscious manner.

“ALPOLIC and its affiliated materials are 100% recyclable,” explains Mr Hee Kok Koon, General Manager ALPOLIC Division, ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd Chemical Singapore. “In our manufacturing plants, we recover both aluminium (other metals) and the core material for recycling, to keep an environment-friendly operation. Furthermore, our production plants of ALPOLIC are compliant with ISO14001, and also designated as a wide district industrial waste disposal facility. Therefore, we can take back scraps from customers for recycling in our facilities under the proper operating standard.”

But that’s not all – the product requires less energy to produce than solid aluminium, and saves more energy through its insulating properties. “Aluminium requires a substantial amount of energy to produce,” says Mr Hee Kok Koon. “However, ALPOLIC is more rigid than solid aluminium, which means it serves the same function while utilising 300% less aluminium. As a result, it saves more than half the electricity required to produce the solid aluminium panel of the equivalent rigidity.”

The environmental benefits continue after installation. “ALPOLIC reduces the building’s energy consumption due to its thermal insulation properties,” adds Mr Hee Kok Koon. “When the product is used for external or internal cladding, the air space between ALPOLIC and the backing wall forms a thermal insulation layer and increases the wall system’s energy conservation performance.”

On top of that, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 comes with a ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd-backed 20-year full cover warranty. Considered to be one of the most comprehensive in the building industry, the robust warranty means that in the event of a defect caused by the manufacturer, ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd will replace it at no cost to the building owner.

Being the gold standard in non-combustible cladding and the safest product of this kind in the world – and boasting such an outstanding sustainability profile, it’s no wonder ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 continues to be go-to for specifiers who require the best in non-combustible cladding. And, after several months of rigorous testing, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, has now officially met all the testing requirements set out by the NSW State Government as a suitable and safe replacement product as part of the Project Remediate recladding scheme.

“The project will involve re-cladding all the type two residential buildings in New South Wales that have dangerous polyethylene cladding on them,” explains ​​Llewellyn. “It was an extensive testing process, and it’s an extensive project because around 225 buildings in New South Wales will have to be rectified as part of it.”

Press Release: ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 satisfies all testing requirements for Project Remediate

Network Architectural’s fully compliant aluminium cladding product, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, has officially met all the testing requirements set out by the NSW State Government as a suitable and safe replacement product as part of the Project Remediate recladding scheme.

Network Architectural is pleased to announce that our fully compliant aluminium cladding product, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, has now satisfied all testing criteria set out by the NSW State Government-appointed Cladding Product Safety Panel (CPSP) for use in their Project Remediate recladding scheme.

This means that all building owners registered with Project Remediate now have access to the world’s safest and most tested aluminium cladding product in ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 as a replacement product on their buildings as it has been deemed fire safe and compliant with all relevant regulations.

“I am pleased to say that the ALPOLIC NC/A1 now has successfully passed all of the stringent testing set out by the CPSP and has been granted the necessary documentation that ticks all the boxes for approval that are required for use in Project Remediate,” Clint Gavin, National Sales Manager for Network Architectural explains.

“Together with ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s 20-year full rectification cover manufacturer’s warranty from a globally-trusted brand, this will provide total peace of mind when installing the world’s most successfully tested and safest aluminium facade material, ALPOLIC NC/A1.”

This approval comes after several months of rigorous testing in line with the standards set out by the CPSP in their November 2021 Industry Briefing in regard to further testing for Bonded Laminate Materials (BLMs).

For more, read our article: ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 meets all NSW Government testing requirements as a DtS non-combustible cladding for use in Project Remediate

We look forward to working together with building owners and industry stakeholders now and in the future to provide safe, fully tested cladding solutions for their construction projects.

For more information please contact:

Network Architectural
Clint Gavin
National Sales Manager
Email: clint@networkarchitectural.com.au
Phone: 0448 480 477

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 meets testing requirements as a DtS non-combustible cladding for Project Remediate

Combustible cladding materials have become a significant challenge for the construction industry in recent years resulting in the search for alternative non-combustible cladding solutions.

After several incidents involving combustible cladding in residential buildings, both here in Australia and overseas, the demand for a non-combustible, fully compliant cladding material has increased exponentially. All industry stakeholders now want a way to improve the integrity of a building whilst also ensuring the safety of the occupants inside.

Because of this, the NSW Government has worked to establish a key oversight panel for this matter, as well as a funding program, titled Project Remediate, to assist building owners that are required to replace combustible cladding on their residential buildings.

Project Remediate and the Cladding Product Safety Panel (CPSP)

In 2020, the NSW Government commissioned the Cladding Product Safety Panel (CPSP) to provide expert advice to the NSW Cladding Taskforce and the Cladding Support Unit on the suitability of cladding replacement products and wall assembly methods.

At the same time, the NSW Government also established Project Remediate, a funding scheme designed to provide the owners of Class 2 residential apartment buildings in NSW with a 10-year interest-free loan and an assurance service for the remediation of combustible cladding on their residential buildings with CPSP-approved materials.

In April 2021, the CPSP released their first report on non-combustible material alternatives. At the time, they outlined four materials that they had deemed suitable replacements for combustible cladding. While Bonded Laminate Material (BLMs) was not one of these initially approved materials, the CPSP noted that they would give further consideration to BLMs moving forward.

This culminated in the release of additional testing criteria for BLMs just a few months later.

The CPSP’s additional testing criteria for BLMs

In November 2021, as part of an industry briefing, the CPSP announced the following criteria that would be used as additional testing on Bonded Laminate Materials for fire safety and compliance:

  • Tests to be conducted on two representative types of BLM:
    • Aluminium skin – mineral core
    • Aluminium skin – aluminium core
  • Testing will include joints and penetrations
  • BLM (as a whole assembly) will be tested to determine spread-of-flame and smoke development as per AS/NZS 1530.3

The tests for spread-of-flame and smoke-developed indices will be conducted on the front and back of each of the two representative materials:

  1. BLM with no perforations and no joints
  2. BLM with electrical cable-sized perforation (20mm x 20mm)
  3. BLM with bathroom exhaust-sized perforation (200mm x 200mm)
  4. BLM prepared with intersecting horizontal and vertical joints

As part of this testing phase, Network Architectural’s ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 DtS non-combustible cladding was one of two BLM products that were selected to be tested. This phase took close to 5 months to complete, and results were released soon after.

This image is an extract from the CSIRO’s Advisory Report on Additional Testing for ALPOLIC™ NC. View full report.

The final results of the CPSP’s BLM testing

In April 2022, the CPSP released their second report, providing an update on the additional replacement cladding materials that had now been approved for use in Project Remediate.

After undertaking the testing specifications for the purpose of meeting CPSP Report 2 requirements, Network Architectural was extremely pleased to find that our BLM product, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, had ticked all the boxes and passed all necessary testing criteria to be approved for use in the Project Remediate program.

For more, see Press Release: ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 satisfies all testing requirements for NSW Government’s Project Remediate recladding scheme

This means that not only does our DtS non-combustible cladding meet all Australian Standards set out by the National Construction Code (NCC), but it now also meets the additional fire testing safety criteria which has been made mandatory by the CPSP to be considered for use as a replacement for dangerous, flammable cladding under Project Remediate.

Further evidence of the suitability of Bonded Laminate Materials (BLM) as replacement products for Project Remediate can be found in the recently released NSW Government’s Project Remediate Cladding Replacement Pattern Book. Click to download your copy below.

So, whether you’re already registered for Project Remediate or you’re simply looking for the world’s safest, most tested facade material for your next construction project, you can now feel safe in the knowledge that the ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 has been thoroughly tested and approved by the NSW Government.

This image is an extract from the CSIRO’s Advisory Report on Additional Testing for ALPOLIC™ NC. View full report.

Are you looking for compliant, fire-safe cladding for your next construction project?

Network Architectural is your trusted partner for innovative facades and ceilings.

Our ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 fire-safe aluminium composite cladding takes fire protection to the next level. With a non-combustible mineral core containing zero polyethylene, our fully compliant material is far superior to other aluminium cladding alternatives on the market.

Plus, with ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s 20-year unconditional full rectification cover manufacturer’s warranty, you’ll have total peace of mind using the world’s most successfully tested and safest aluminium facade material available today.

Additional benefits of ALPOLIC™ NC/A1

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 has an A1 rating under European testing and is also vastly superior to outdated (solid aluminium) products in terms of environmental sustainability with 500 times better thermal conductivity, a higher energy rating and an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) produced by GECA.

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 also provides superior flatness and is not susceptible to ‘oil-canning’, an inherent property of solid aluminium. Oil canning is the rippling of metal cladding caused by thermal expansion due to heat. It causes unsatisfactory aesthetics and stress on the structural integrity of the system that is not permitted under Project Remediate guidelines and can lead to a defect notice.

Available from Network Architectural, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 comes in a large selection of colours and finishes, and has an industry-leading 20-year warranty. It has superior durability and impact resistance, and comes standard with Lumiflon FEVE paint technology, making it highly resistant to weathering, UV radiation, corrosion and colour fading.

Learn more about ALPOLIC™ NC/A1

If you would like to learn more about ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, contact us today on (02) 8316 5000 or visit our website here.

Our team of architectural cladding and building supplies experts will be happy to help.

Actions speak louder than words: Our compliance and certifications journey

Whether it’s ensuring compliance with local building standards, demonstrating a product’s fire safety profile or offering an insight into its environmental impact, ensuring the products are independently assessed and verified has become the norm.

Network Architectural hold themselves to the highest of standards, and it is important to them to ensure that their product offering reflects that. In practice, that means going above and beyond the standard certifications stipulated by the Building Code. “That really is the minimum standard that you have to build to,” points out ​​Llewellyn Regler, Technical Manager at Network Architectural. “It’s the bare minimum. We should always try to go beyond it, build beyond just compliance.”

This ambition is aptly expressed in their flagship non-combustible product – ALPOLIC™ NC/A1. The stand-out aluminium composite panel is compliant with the C1.9(e)(vii) clause of the NCC, plus the product obtained A1 classification when tested to the incredibly stringent European fire protection standard EN 13501-1. But Network Architectural and the manufacturer of the panels, ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd, have taken the ambition to go above and beyond further. The signature product is verified through the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) produced by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) and the companies have obtained CodeMark certification through SAI Global. “We want to be as transparent as possible,” Llewellyn states. “And back up our claims with evidence.”

CodeMark verifies compliance with the Building Code through a third-party assessment that involves a detailed review of all relevant test results, as well as a comprehensive audit of the manufacturing facility – in this case, ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s factory in Japan – as well as Network Architectural’s Australian headquarters. The process is defined by the independent character of the enquiry and its scrutiny – both welcomed by Network Architectural. “It was an extensive process but we’re very happy to be working with SAI Global, because we’re confident that we have CodeMark certification that stands up to utmost scrutiny,” says Llewellyn.

Another independent certification that doesn’t leave one stone unturned is the EPD produced by GECA – a certification Network Architectural and ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd consider to be one of the initiatives that set ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 apart from other products on the market.

“There are many cladding companies out there who focus on solid aluminium products and brand them as 100% recyclable,” Llewellyn says. “And there is this perception that if something is recyclable, then it has to be good, right? But what about the energy required to recycle the product? Where does it get recycled, and what does it get turned into? An EPD includes all of that. With an EPD, actions speak louder than words.”

ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd, a global leader in aluminium composite panels, has an advanced sustainability agenda, which means they didn’t have to change anything for the purpose of obtaining the declaration because strong sustainable practices were already underpinning their manufacturing processes. Although it took almost nine months to secure the EPD, Llewellyn explains that for ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd and Network Architectural, the initiative is an investment – and a demonstration of the brands’ confidence in their own product. “Knowing that our product has CodeMark certification and an EPD shows the person who buys our panel that we stand by it,” Llewellyn explains. “And I think that definitely sets our product apart from other cladding alternatives on the market.”

Q&A with Llewellyn Regler, technical manager at Network Architectural

Llewellyn Regler - Technical Manager

Tell us about your current role with Network Architectural. How did it come to be?

I’m the Technical Manager for Facades with Network Architectural, and the way this role came about was quite interesting. Not long after I joined the company, the Grenfell Tower fire disaster occurred and the company needed someone who would have the knowledge of – or wanted to learn about – the Building Code and fire standards related to cladding. I took on the role about six years ago and have been doing it ever since.

Network Architectural’s signature non-combustible product, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1, took four years to bring to life. Can you tell us what sets it apart from other products in the market?

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 is a mineral core barrier composite panel that was initially manufactured by ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd exclusively for the Australian market to meet Australia’s strict building code requirements. Due to the success and high performance of the product, ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd then launched ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 globally and successfully tested to Euroclass A1 13501-1, the most stringent component fire test in the world.

What really sets it apart – beyond the fact that it passes all the fire tests in Australia, and is manufactured by the world leader in aluminium composite panels – is the fact that it comes with a 20-year full cover warranty backed by the globally trusted ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd. If there is a manufacturing defect in the panels, will replace it at no cost to the building owner. In my opinion, it is the most comprehensive warranty within our industry. Plus, you don’t have to wash the facade or do any maintenance to maintain the warranty.

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 is considered to be the world’s safest aluminium facade product where fire safety is concerned. What has been the compliance journey to get the product certified in Australia?

First of all, for the compliance of a product like this with the C1.9(e)(vii) clause – commonly known as the Bonded Laminates Clause – you have to test each layer to AS 1530.1 for non-combustibility. On top of that, the adhesive layer needs to be less than two millimetres in total thickness within the panel. Our panel passes AS 1530.1. on the aluminium skins and the mineral core, and it has 0.035 millimetres of adhesive on either side of the panel. The panel is then tested to AS 1530.3., and it can’t exceed the spread flame index of more than 0, and the spread of smoke index of more than 3.

Passing these tests – and I’d consider them to be the bare minimum – means that the product can be used in applications where non-combustible materials are required, like Type A or B construction. From our perspective, we wanted to go above and beyond, so we also conducted a large-scale AS 5113 fire simulation test. The test results, by far, outperformed any other aluminium façade material in the country.

Can you talk us through the process Network Architectural and ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd went through to obtain CodeMark certification?

We successfully obtained our CodeMark certification through industry leading certification provider, SAI Global. The certificate demonstrates compliance with the Building Code through an independent assessment, which includes reviewing relevant test results as well as the audit of the ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd factory – which was organised remotely, since the panels are manufactured in Japan. It’s an incredibly extensive process, but we’re very happy to be working with SAI Global, because we’re confident that we will have a CodeMark certificate that stands up to utmost scrutiny. They really pride themselves on the work that they do.

Obtaining the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for the ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 was very important to Network Architectural and ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd. How long did it take and how involved was Network Architectural in the process?

It was an intense and extremely thorough process that probably took the better part of nine months to achieve. The EPD was compiled and produced by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) who were very professional in the way they communicated and worked directly with ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd in Japan on cataloguing their processes and reviewing their practices. As the EPD is a product based environmental declaration, Network Architectural’s role was more to facilitate the communications between GECA in Australia and ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd in Japan.

ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd had the majority of the documentation and processes required to obtain the EPD as they already had extensive sustainability practices in place.

Let’s talk about those. ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd operates under the sustainability principles of “Kaiteki” – what do they entail?

Kaiteki is an original concept of ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s grounded in the notion of sustainable wellbeing of people, society and our planet with the mission to create innovative solutions, based on ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s core values of sustainability, health and comfort. This philosophy is reflected in the way they conduct their business. For over 20 years they have been producing fire safe products for the Australian construction market. ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd’s decision was based on safety before profit and that really encapsulates how they approach sustainability as part of their broader business ethos.

Network Architectural works closely with ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd. Is their sustainability philosophy reflected in the way your company operates?

Although we’re two separate companies, we’re extremely privileged to work with ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd so closely, and I think we often see ourselves as an extension of their business model, because we’re the exclusive distributors of their products in Australia.

And I think that – like ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd – we conduct ourselves in the most sustainable way. For instance, we recycle any material that can be recycled, we use rainwater tanks which service all the plumbing, we have solar panels which generate more than enough power for us to operate which means some of that energy is fed back into the grid. Like ALPOLIC™ by Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec Co., Ltd, we’re serious about our commitment to sustainability and it informs all facets of our business and operations.

Case study: NSW Parliament House

Background

A symbol of great historical, political and societal significance, NSW Parliament House consists of a heritage-listed complex of buildings where the Parliament of the state of NSW resides. Located on the east side of Sydney’s Macquarie Street, the edifice has recently undergone a refurbishment by renowned architectural, interior design and urban design practice, Brewster Murray.

As part of the project, the highly flammable and dangerous polyethylene filled combustible cladding on the rooftop had to be replaced with a safer, non-combustible alternative. “That combustible cladding was actually on the list of products banned by the New South Wales Government,” explains Omer Pervanic, the Managing Director of OP Projects Pty Ltd. “So it was really important to find a solution for that.”

Challenges

Apart from bringing the historical building up to standard with a non-combustible product, it was paramount that it had an appropriately engineered substructure, to accommodate the range of weather conditions the roof surface is naturally exposed to throughout the year.

Omer adds that the rooftop space posed quite a challenge in terms of access and safety. “There was no edge protection for our team, so we had to work with life lines and static lines to install the panels,” he describes. As a result, it was paramount for the new cladding product to require little to no maintenance, in order to minimise the need to operate within this difficult to access space.

Lastly, particularly because of the representative character of the facility, it was important for the new product to fit in with the overall aesthetic of the exterior, and match the existing colour of the building for a stately, consistent look.

Solution

ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 from Network Architectural is the world’s safest aluminium facade product, and the only composite material that has been classified for the highest fire protection class A1, according to the European fire protection standard EN 13501-1.

Widely considered the golden standard in non-combustible cladding, the product was a natural fit for this project – and with the largest selection of colours and finishes on the market available, matching the aesthetic of the building exterior wouldn’t be a problem.

After completing a robust feasibility process to remove combustible cladding, as part of the recent re-cladding of all the Telstra Data Centres in Australia, Brewster Murray compared fire test results and performance data on solid aluminium, corrugated core bonded Laminates and the ALPOLIC™ NC/A1. The superiority of the Network Architectural product was clear.

“The Network Architectural product is 100% non-combustible,” Omer says. “It’s passed a range of fire tests – and offers robust documentation to support that. Alongside our recommendation to choose the product we supplied the supporting documentation to the client. As a result, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 was accepted as part of the NSW Parliament House works.”

On top of the outstanding fire safety and durability credentials, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 offers a 20 year full cover warranty, which includes rectification costs for material failure. And due to the superb Lumiflon FEVE paint technology, which makes the cladding exceptionally resistant to weathering, UV radiation, corrosion and colour fading, ALPOLIC™ NC/A1 requires virtually no maintenance. “The product is top quality,” Omer enthuses. “And Network Architectural were very responsive. We ordered the product and it was ready to pick up the next day.”

Omer adds that before ordering the panels, his team had to go through the process of inhouse shop drawing, during which the architect and designer on the project asked some technical questions about the bending, cutting and folding of the panels. “We consulted Network Architectural to understand how the product works, and how it reacts in those circumstances,” Omer says. “They were very helpful and provided a selection of technical charts that answered all of our questions.”

 

Click here to download a copy of this case study or for more information, please contact us.

Environmental Product Declarations – A key requirement in external facade selection

Specifying eco-friendly and sustainable products is one way to reduce the impact of building and construction on the natural environment. With the plethora of building products on the market, objective and unbiased environmental information is needed to enable architects and specifiers to compare similar products based on their environmental performance. For this purpose, no tool is more important than Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

In this whitepaper, we take a closer look at EPDs, what they are, how they work, and their benefits. In doing so, we demonstrate the importance of EPDs in design and construction, and their positive impact on sustainable building, particularly in the context of external facade selection.

Download this whitepaper to learn more.

Case study: Durlum airtight metal ceilings

Background

When it comes to providing the best possible healthcare, being able to restrict and manage airflow to reduce the transfer of airborne pathogens is paramount. For this reason, hospitals, clinics, and specialty health facilities are complex buildings that must enable the highest hygiene standards possible, while remaining functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Healthcare facilities are highly trafficked, routinely operating 24 hours a day. This makes it essential that they are constructed from reliable, robust materials that are easily cleaned and maintained. While walls and floors are commonly streamlined, the ceiling accommodates many services which are crucial to the effective function of the building. Aside from the basic lighting, air conditioning and sprinkler services that can be found in most buildings, there are also healthcare-specific items such as communication speakers, curtain support rods, emergency lighting, directional signage and exit information that must be contained within or on the ceiling.

Furthermore, certain areas of hospitals – particularly isolation wards, infectious disease rooms and operation theatres – commonly have airtightness requirements to prevent the spread of airborne particles. Designing a system that can accommodate essential services while remaining airtight is crucial.

Challenges

The key challenge lies in creating a system that is airtight, but still accessible to the ceiling void above.

Some institutions for instance require the ceiling plenum of an infectious disease room to be fumigated each time a patient has been transferred. As such, the accessibility solution needs to be able to withstand frequent demounting. In addition to being able to interface with all of the services and penetrations mentioned above, the system must also accommodate anticipated installations of communication or medical equipment in the future.

Solution

Durlum has a proven system which is made specifically for healthcare environments and has been installed in hospitals and other healthcare facilities throughout Europe and Asia for more than 30 years. The pandemic of recent times has seen demand for such systems increase dramatically and the installation of airtight ceilings are no longer contained to specialist areas but are now being installed in many general areas within hospitals as well.

The metal panel system allows access through any panel rather than having a dedicated access hatch. This allows greater flexibility in floor layout and enables services to be more easily repaired or maintained without disrupting the care occurring below.

Test certificates of airtight function are available for consultants’ use in planning for the performance requirements of the ceiling. Durlum has also recently introduced an airtight lighting module to the ceiling which solves what has been one of the more difficult problems with airtight ceilings.

Click here to download a copy of this case study or for more information, please contact us.

Specification of metal ceilings for transportation projects

With its growing population, Australia’s transport infrastructure needs across road, rail, ports and airports are increasing. Designers, architects and specifiers play a critical role in infrastructure projects that need to manage risk and safety, and ensure both community and commercial viability. For airport and railway station buildings, a well-designed metal ceiling can transform a space into a striking piece of modern architecture, as well as fulfil the vital functions of light, acoustics, concealing and interfacing with electrical and mechanical services.

Download this whitepaper for an introduction to the key considerations when designing metal ceiling systems for transport infrastructure buildings.