Façade Construction
Defying the Elements – Façade Sealing
The building envelope forms the interface between the interior and the exterior of the building and is therefore subjected to constant internal and external strain. It should have a positive impact on the energy management of the building and also serves as a physical barrier, both from a climatic and visual point of view.
Barely any other building component has seen so much change over the course of the centuries as the façade. Whereas its initial function was simply to protect the building from the weather, today's façades must fulfil a catalogue of requirements. The façade provides protection from wind, rain, heat and noise from the outside. From the inside, it has a significant impact on the well-being of the building's occupants and increases the comfort of the interior space. The façade of the building is also frequently used as a means of representation and as an element of the building's design.
Leak-free, air-tight façade sealing plays a central role in every building: it prevents structural damage, saves energy and provides a pleasant indoor climate. In these times, when saving energy is a key discussion point, façade sealing is more pertinent than ever before.
Defying the Elements – Façade Sealing
The building envelope forms the interface between the interior and the exterior of the building and is therefore subjected to constant internal and external strain. It should have a positive impact on the energy management of the building and also serves as a physical barrier, both from a climatic and visual point of view.
Barely any other building component has seen so much change over the course of the centuries as the façade. Whereas its initial function was simply to protect the building from the weather, today's façades must fulfil a catalogue of requirements. The façade provides protection from wind, rain, heat and noise from the outside. From the inside, it has a significant impact on the well-being of the building's occupants and increases the comfort of the interior space. The façade of the building is also frequently used as a means of representation and as an element of the building's design.
Leak-free, air-tight façade sealing plays a central role in every building: it prevents structural damage, saves energy and provides a pleasant indoor climate. In these times, when saving energy is a key discussion point, façade sealing is more pertinent than ever before.
What is façade sealing?
Sealing the building envelope against moisture and the effects of the weather on the structure of the building is a complex area: the construction of the building is decisive in planning the structural joints.
The sealing system deployed is always dependent on the façade and the internal factors of the building. Glass- and system façades, natural stone façades, concrete façades, brick façades, mixed-material façades and more: different materials pose very different challenges when creating a gap-free seal for a façade. The solutions are just as individual as the challenges themselves. Adhesives and sealants are used just as frequently as sealing tapes and membranes. When sealing a façade, sealing the joints is a particularly vital aspect. Joint sealing tapes such as illbruck TP600 provide durable seals for connecting joints which are resistant to weathering and driving rain while still allowing vapour diffusion.
Advantages of façade sealing:
- Structural damage caused by moisture and mould is avoided
- The quality of the living environment is improved thanks to an optimal room climate
- Energy is conserved thanks to the air-tight façades of the building envelope
- Gap-free noise insulation and absorption are provided
Services and consultancy for façade sealing
Our commitment to innovation isn't restricted to the products alone. We offer our customers and business partners tailored support, with numerous programmes and services. The "joint planning team" offers detailed planning services with 3D drawings, isothermal calculations and thermographies, documentation and on-site inductions for installers.
Application Focus
Curtain Wall
Curtain walling provides an extremely popular and versatile means of producing a façade on high rise buildings and encompasses the aesthetic appeal, control of light and is inherently weather tight, air tight and thermally efficient. There are two main types of curtain walling – ‘stick’ and unitised, and both have their own advantages and disadvantages by comparison. illbruck provide key product solutions for sealing the interfaces between the curtain walling and structure and within the curtain walling itself, maintaining the performance of the construction envelope across a multitude of joints and connections, which if not considered appropriately could significantly affect the integrity and energy performance of the façade and building.
Curtain WallRain Screen Cladding
Rain screen cladding is a popular type of facade construction consisting of the structural backing wall and external finish, such as decorative panels, glazing, stone, terracotta, with a cavity between. The external finish provides the main weather barrier, however the backing wall will also need to be weather tight and may also form the air barrier line of the building envelope. Interfaces within the built up wall and cladding require careful consideration in order to maintain weather and air tightness and thermal performance and illbruck can provide various solutions to ensure protection, performance and durability.
Rain Screen Cladding
