Frontek is the collection of ventilated ceramic facades by Group Greco Gres. These extruded porcelain tiles are extremely hard, light, and resistant, and they have an exclusive honeycomb system that strengthens them while reducing their weight.
This ventilated façade system breaks through with force because it offers quick installation solutions and flexibility in solving singular points. It has vertical profiles and different clips that allow the piece to be anchored in various ways, meeting any need that may arise during the assembly. In addition, it provides projects with all the energy advantages of a ventilated façade system and provides innumerable possibilities to take care of the aesthetics of the building through designs that allow the combination of pieces placed horizontally and vertically.
The Plus System for façade claddings is compounded by the following elements enumerated from the external face of the cladding to its interior:
- Frontek porcelain piece. (standard and omega tile).
- Ventilated air chamber with a minimum thickness of 3 cm so that the air convection movement generated inside is energy efficient.
- Thermal insulation whose thickness and type depend on the design and energy requirements of each project.
- Anchoring substructure of the piece to the support wall.
The elements that make up the Plus System are:
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| STAINLESS STEEL CLIPS - For the mechanical fixing of the pieces to the vertical profiles. |
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| T” VERTICAL ALUMINIUM PROFILE - To which the staples are attached and in turn stuck to the enclosure and slab of the building by means of corbels. |
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| ALUMINUM BRACKETS - Joins the substructure to the supporting wall of the building and transmit the loads of the substructure to the support through the fixings. |
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| SCREWS - For anchoring and fixing the elements of the substructure. For fastening the Plus System, different types of screws are used; depending on the position and elements to be connected. |
| POLYURETHANE PUTTY - Placed between the vertical T profiles and the Frontek pieces, by applying a bead of putty in the corrugated area of the profile, to avoid possible movements generated by vibrations that cause the joint to lose its verticality over time. |
The performance of the work must be according to the operations sequence in the following detail:
1. LAYOUT
First, it will be necessary to rethink the facade, checking the planimetry of the support to be coated and verifying the plane and the state of the support for a good choice of anchor.
Subsequently, the axes of the profiles will be measured verticals depending on the dimensions of the Frontek cladding pieces chosen by the client, to distribute the different modules to a distance equal to or less than 100 cm horizontally and 110 cm vertically.
2. BRACKETS INSTALLATION
First of all, support brackets will be fixed to the supporting wall or the beams, and or to the framing edges with the suitable anchor for the support.
Then they should be placed and distribute the retention brackets aligned and counterpointed on both sides of the vertical profile, distributed in the enclosure, according to the layout previously carried out. The vertical distance will depend on the type and condition of the support and, in turn, on the loads to be transmitted to it, being always less than 110 cm.
3. VERTICAL PROFILES INSTALLATION
The “T” vertical profiles to the support brackets with three screws, one on the fixed hole and the other two in the overlay, afterwards to the holding brackets with a screw placed in the overlay.
The profile overlaps the bracket between 50 mm and 60mm so the minimum distance of the screws to the edge of the profile is 35 mm. The distance between the vertical profiles must be equal to or less than 100 cm if 1 mm thick staples are used, or up to 120 cm if 1.5 mm thick staples are used.
The minimum horizontal joint between the vertical profiles will be 2mm per profile linear meter.
4. INSTALLATION OF THE THERMAL INSULATION
In ventilated façades, the use of a thermal insulation in order to guarantee the building protection is essential.
The main difference of a ventilated façade from a conventional one is that an air chamber is created between the cladding and the thermal insulation. It makes the system more energy efficient to provide a solution for the thermal insulation of the building because the ventilated façade permits the continuous insulation of the building, including the framing edges, and removing the thermal bridges and condensation problems.
5. PLACING PARTS AND STAPLES
- First, the starter clips are placed on the vertical profile, screwing them with the extra-flat head self-drilling screws.
- Next, a bead of polyurethane putty is applied on the corrugated part of the T profiles.
- Then, the Frontek piece is placed, inserting the slit in the platen of the starter staples.
- Finally, the double staples are placed in the upper slot, preventing the piece from becoming unstable.
