External Wall Insulation Systems (ETICS)

Our systems are accepted through the Gateway 2 submission process, and are certified to have no height or boundary condition.

With A1 (clay slips) and A2,s1,d0 certified systems to BS EN 13501-1, our systems are suitable for all types of new build projects including Purpose Built Student Accommodation, Build to Rent apartments and offices/commercial buildings.

Our systems can help to meet the requirements laid out in the Future Homes Standard and are shown to work with concurrent installation requirements including air source heat pumps. Core components including the mineral wool insulation are low carbon or net carbon negative, ensuring their suitability to the Future Homes Standard and LEED/Green guide projects. In addition to this they aid in the conformance to Approved Document L and all relevant regulations.

Our industry-leading 3D thermal modelling software Physibel can measure the Relative Humidity of a completed room / wall, and accurately model external junctions such as window reveals, slab edges and interfaces with other cladding systems. This proactive approach allows us to work with the design team and provide meaningful data which underpins the overall building thermal analysis. Using External Wall Insulation cladding systems allows buildings to achieve BREEAM excellent, which has been demonstrated on many of the large projects completed to date.

We can tailor our component offering to most appropriately meet a project’s needs whether that is to ensure compliance with any planning constraints that may be in effect. We can match most brick types in both clay and mineral slips in addition to render colour matching to meet proposed and existing visuals. We can also offer a full stainless steel bead option to meet and exceed the requirements of Approved Document B, except those exempt under Regulation 7.3.

Non-traditional housing stock refurbishment requires additional skill and considerations to reduce the risks of thermal bridging and interstitial condensation. This is unlikely to be correctly calculated without three-dimensional modelling capabilities due to the number of intersecting layers. We have a suite of standard modelled drawings in addition to the capability of our bespoke detailing and thermal modelling utilising industry-leading Physibel software.

PAS2030 compliance can be achieved by utilising the system-specific design, installation, and quality management requirements defined within the standard and supporting documentation. The standard details and full two and three-dimensional detailing ensures compliance with design requirements in PAS while our certification and on site observations ensure record keeping and inspection fulfils all audit requirements. Our technical team can work with approved retrofit designers and coordinators to ensure projects run smoothly without issues.

Our systems are developed with a focus on durability and long-term performance. In line with Annex 2C particular attention is given to key junctions as it is a requirement for systems to shed water away from vulnerable junctions while maintaining thermal efficiency. This requirement is covered within our standard details. As part of our offering we can produce these details in-house and offer a thermal modelling, ensuring consistency between drawn details and thermal performance. This joined-up approach helps reduce the risk of thermal bridging, also part of the Annex 2C requirements.

In terms of impact performance, our system finishes can achieve Impact Category I, making them suitable for the demands of an education environment where durability is important. We can also offer reinforced basecoats offering above and beyond current requirements. While render systems on new schools are only designed to be used over 2.5m architects should still be looking for the most robust system.

Fire safety is also addressed as part of the overall facade design. Our systems can be specified to meet the relevant reaction-to-fire requirements, including the use of non-combustible or limited-combustibility materials where needed. Designs can be developed in line with Approved Document B, with careful consideration given to junction detailing to help limit the risk of fire spread through the external wall.

From a lifecycle perspective, our systems are designed to achieve a service life in excess of 30 years, with the potential to extend to 60 years when maintained correctly. This meets the expectations set out in Technical Annex 2C and supports a whole-life approach to cost and performance, reducing the requirement for sustainable building practices laid out in Annex 2J.

Maintenance is also considered as part of the overall compliance strategy. Rather than relying on high-pressure cleaning, which can damage final finishes, and require access to mains power and water, the systems are designed to be maintained using soft wash methods. This involves applying cleaning solutions at low pressure and allowing time for them to break down dirt, algae and other coatings before rinsing. This approach is in line with the requirements of Technical Annex 2C where maintaining the integrity and appearance of external walls is an important consideration. Overall, the combination of in-house design capability, considered maintenance strategies and durable system performance means that we can support compliance with the relevant requirements for further education buildings, while also contributing to long-term building performance.

A specific suite of finishes, textures and colours are available, within the individual house range.

Passivhaus homes have increased in the UK market over the last decade as clients seek to make their homes as efficient as possible. We ensure that fabric-first parameters such as U-values, thermal bridging and insulation continuity are carried out as standard. Direct fix systems can also ensure the envelope performance meets the ≤0.6 ACH@50Pa airtightness requirement. Passivhaus details can be thermally modelled by us to show any thermal bridging to maintain the highest thermal performance.

Rasoflex is a pre-mixed, ‘ready to use’ paste, used as a board adhesive and basecoat, therefore replacing the standard Adefix 12 product within the AlivaClassic system.

Rasoflex is applied using a trowel directly from the tub with a standard Armatex C1 glass fibre mesh embedded within the first 3mm layer. A second layer is applied at 3mm, to create an overall 6mm thickness.

Impact resistances achieved are:

• For Expanded Polystyrene insulation 100 joules
• For mineral wool insulation 150 joules

General impact resistance levels are around 10 joules for most EWI/ETICS systems using a single layer of glass fibre mesh.

The systems will achieve Class A2, s1, d0 reaction to fire classification for mineral wool insulation, and Class B, s1, d0 for Expanded Polystyrene insulation.

These products are perfectly placed for buildings with high levels of pedestrian movement, areas where high impact resistances are required, such as the ground floor of social housing, high rise flats, and in particular schools and colleges and other public buildings where high levels of pedestrian traffic are found.