Facade solutions from Saint-Gobain

The facade of a building has a whole series of quite different functions to fulfil: it insulates against external influences such as heat, cold, moisture and noise - and protects the building against mechanical damage. The aesthetic factor is unmistakable. The design of the facade determines whether the building is perceived as beautiful or ugly, fresh or in need of renovation. Good reasons to deal with the subject of facade in detail.

Now find out more about the aspects of facade insulation for heat and sound insulation, moisture protection, algae protection, as well as the many tasks that can be undertaken by building glass. Facade design is discussed in a further chapter.

Facade insulation according to DIN 55699

Heat insulation, sound insulation and fire protection for the house

Reducing energy consumption and saving heating costs: these are the two most important tasks that can be made use of to achieve a thermal insulation of the facade. However, a facade insulation can do much more. It also serves as a sound and fire protection and ensures a comfortable living environment in all seasons.

There are several options for thermal insulation of the facade. Widely used are multi-layered thermal insulation by means of a thermal insulation composite system or short EIFS as well as the suspended rear- ventilated facade . These systems are defined by the building authorities and may always only be offered by the manufacturers as a complete system.

As an insulating material, mineral products such as mineral or glass wool are very popular, as they have an optimum heat-insulating effect as well as excellent sound and fire protection properties. The fact that mineral wool is particularly easy to process is another plus.

Damp protection

Ensuring that walls and facades remain dry

Did you already know that, an average family adds 10 litres of water to the room atmosphere every day in the form of steam? This volume is sufficient to fill a bucket. In the long term, this burden of steam causes serious damage to the building structure and thermal insulation, if there is a lack of adequate protection against moisture. The same applies to moisture penetrating from outside, especially in the form of rainwater. Rot is created - the ideal breeding ground for mould, algae and bacteria.

In short: moisture is an enemy of the facade and thermal insulation. Only a safe, air-tight moisture protection makes a healthy, comfortable room climate possible.

The so-called steam brake - as a rule, a film made of special plastic - protects the walls of a building from moisture from the interior rooms. But be careful: an absolutely watertight steam brake can lead to considerable damage to the building fabric. The reason for this is that building materials and thermal insulation are often not completely dry when they are built or moisture is built-in in other ways, so to speak. In this case, the steam brake prevents the moisture from the building materials from being discharged into the interior rooms, with the fatal consequences already described.

Facade moisture protection from Saint-Gobain ISOVER

This is precisely where the high-quality ISOVER moisture protection with the patented ISOVER Vario climate membrane comes in: the intelligent material protects walls and facades from steam from the interior spaces. At the same time, it is permeable to moisture from insulation materials and building materials, so that the construction can dry out safely. This prevents mould and building damage.

Algae protection

Environmentally friendly alternatives to biocidal facade protection

Factors such as the unfavourable orientation of a building, shading, too small a roof overhang or the proximity to trees can lead to a facade being permanently moist, despite the water-repellent upper plaster - and thus an ideal habitat for unwanted roommates such as algae and fungi.

Although an attack on the facade by algae and fungi does not damage the building fabric, the black or green covering is unsightly and will possibly reduce the property value.

In order to prevent fouling of the facade or to clean and disinfect facades which are already infected, biocidal products are often used. These chemical agents are toxic to algae and fungi, they kill the microorganisms. But rain washes out the toxic substances. In this way the toxins get into the soil, into the ground water and surface waters. It also cannot be ruled out that direct contact may be harmful to human-beings and animals.

Building glass according to DIN 18008

The transparent material for complex tasks

Glass is indispensable in order to allow direct natural daylight into the interior of a building.

In addition, the translucent material fulfils a wide range of other tasks: as insulating glazing, glass makes a significant contribution to thermal insulation. Solar-control glass is used to ensure that incoming light does not heat up a building too much.

Soundproof glass prevents resonances and thus keeps noise out. Fire protection glass stops or slows down the spreading of fires in buildings: it has a fire-retardant effect and protects against heat radiation.

Glass can also assume the function of a privacy shield. Safety glass makes it difficult or prevents break-ins and protects against attacks by firearms.

The potential of the unique material is far from exhausted. Innovative developments such as the THERMOVIT heating glass from Saint-Gobain Glassolutions prove that there are virtually no limits to the possibilities of using glass.

Facade design

The exterior of a building can be really quite versatile

If the aesthetic aspect is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of facade design, you are certainly not alone. Most people connect that with the look of a building. In fact, quite a few architects use the exterior of a building to translate their creative ideas and demands into the visible act - or to realize the ambitious wishes of the client. In most cases, however, economic and functional criteria are crucial.

Thus concrete facades not only look good. Concrete quarter bricks are extremely resistant, durable and can be combined with a thermal insulation system or a heat insulation system. For a plaster facade speak the low costs.

Maximum freedom in the design of facades is opened up by weber.therm style. The system solution combines a composite thermal insulation system with panel-like materials such as glass, concrete, natural stone or Corten steel, which are simply glued without visible fastening. Mineral plaster can also be applied to the surface.

Completely different construction sites are large-scale objects such as sports stadiums. Here membrane surfaces made of high-tech plastics often come into play, such as Sheerfill architectural membranes, which are extremely light, translucent and sound-absorbing.

To talk about beauty once again: building owners with preference for the aesthetic effect are really enthusiastic about SGG Floatstone by Glassolutions. A natural stone layer is enclosed between two laminated glass panes, which can be backlit depending on the stone type. This creates a unique filigree look.

In a nutshell, the possibilities of facade design are virtually unlimited. Saint-Gobain's diverse system solutions make an unmistakable contribution to this.