Sandwich panels: characteristics and application

Constructions consisting of three or more layers of rigid material are called "sandwich panels". Their characteristics indicate reliability. As a rule, the outer layers are protective and bearing, and the internal layers are variations of insulation materials, depending on the purpose of the building. Sandwich panels are increasingly replacing other types of structures. Their popularity is due to their low weight and ease of installation. No modern shopping center can do without them. Now the market has a large selection of insulation materials, which allows you to provide the necessary thermal conductivity, noise insulation, moisture resistance.

Why use profitable?

Why do more people choose sandwich panels? The characteristics of concrete and brick indicate the great reliability of traditional materials, but almost all other parameters of the sandwich panel in front. Their light weight and durability allow to reduce the cost of transportation of materials, do without the use of lifting mechanisms during installation. There is no need for a solid, powerful foundation.

When building shopping centers and shops, the speed of construction is an important factor, because the sooner construction is completed, the faster the costs will start paying off. Sandwich panels, whose characteristics make it possible to simplify the installation as much as possible, are attached to the metal, concrete and wooden frames. For small buildings (like car repair shops) they produce ready-made sets of carcass and panels, they can only be assembled in the right order. Such structures are quickly and easily disassembled and repaired.

Kinds

The classification of the material is carried out according to several parameters. Isolate wall and roofing sandwich panels. The technical characteristics of the first are such that they can be used as vertical and inclined enclosing structures, and also as overlaps between floors. Roofing is used for pitched roofs. Both those and other designs are used in the construction of industrial, warehouse, public, commercial buildings and low-rise residential buildings.

Sandwich panels differ in the form of thermal insulation material. There are with insulation of mineral wool, polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene, fiberglass and their combination. Each species is applied depending on the purpose of the building.

Protective layers

The outer layers can be made of different materials. Mainly made of metal (thin-gauge stainless steel). Also there are options with plasterboard, fiberboard, DSP, PVC and paper.

Panels with paper are used mainly as a heater, paper is an additional protective material for insulation.

Simple sandwich panels, whose technical characteristics are interesting only in terms of thermal insulation, are manufactured directly on the construction site, this greatly simplifies the installation process. Pre-assembly allows more rational use of time. While the frame is being erected, a wall fence is already being prepared on the ground.

The outer layers are covered with various polymers, which increase the anticorrosive properties. The cost of the sandwich panel depends on the type of coating. Technical characteristics indicate resistance to mechanical stress, sunlight and temperature changes.

Mounting Features

Installation of sandwich panels is extremely simple and comes down to just a few basic methods. The first and most common is the groove-groove connection. In this case, one of the panels is thinner on the whole side at the fixing point, while the other one is provided with a groove.

When connected to the frame, the grooves are left and fixed to wooden, metal or concrete posts.

The most reliable lock is Z-lock ("double shutter"). Two inclined spikes of one panel mate with the groove of the other.

Secret fastening is used for the facing sandwich panel. The characteristics allow you to not think about the tightness of the seams and how to hide the fastening elements that spoil the appearance of the facade. First, the panel is fixed with screws to the wall, and then the hats are closed with the next panel.

Roof-lock is a lock for roofing structures, it is built on the principle of overlap.

There are also eccentric locks, with which the panels are pulled together. This fastening is used mainly for refrigerators.

Wall panels

As walling designs, wall sandwich panels are increasingly being used . Their characteristics are represented by thermal insulation and protective function. The most common type is a panel with a heater between two metal sheets. Such designs can be used anywhere in Russia, depending on the climate, the thickness and type of insulation change.

The factory assemblies are accompanied by the installation instructions. With the correct assembly of the design will last from 20-25 years and more. They meet the requirements for fire safety and do not cause harm to human health.

Roofing sandwich panels

The technical characteristics of such structures are unique: they are convenient, quickly mounted and long-serving. The maximum length of the panels is 21 m, of course, for the transportation of such structures, a range finder is required, but the speed of construction is significantly increased. Slightly weighs the roofing sandwich panel. The characteristics of weight and dimensions allow the use of lightweight load-bearing structures. The roof slope should be at least 5% in the absence of cross connections and hatches for light. Otherwise, the slope should be at least 7%.

When installing a roofing sandwich panel, the following rules must be observed to avoid injuries and damage to the structures themselves:

1. At a wind speed of more than 9 m / s, installation can not be carried out. The larger the panel, the higher its sail, it can easily carry a person with it.
2. Also, it is not possible to install during precipitation (snow, rain, fog).
3. The installation process should be accompanied by normal lighting.
4. Sealing of longitudinal joints should be performed at a temperature of at least +4 ^o C.

Slopes

The materials in question are already used as enclosing structures and roofing. Now there were sandwich panels for slopes. Their characteristics are not very different from their predecessors: they are very convenient and practical, they do not require additional insulation, finish, installation is not difficult, and the service life is not less than other slope variants. Sandwich panels with plastic as a protective layer are not afraid of water, unlike drywall, do not fade for a long time in the sun, they do not puncture, they do not attract dirt, like plaster.

Thanks to the established production at prices, sandwich panels have become available. They will not supersede other building materials, but they took their niche firmly.