Today we want to take a look behind the facade and see what is important for a ventilated facade (VCW) and how its insulation is fixed with the help of düna products.
What is a VCW anyway?
A ventilated curtain façade (VCW for short) is a special type of building facade that consists of several layers. These separate the outer cladding from the building envelope behind it. It is often used in modern architecture because it provides reliable insulation, serves as weather protection, and at the same time allows for highly individual design. The facing of a VCW can be made of ceramic, metal, fiber cement, composite panels, natural stone or other materials.
What is a VCW made of?
A ventilated curtain wall consists of several components. First, there is the stable substructure that supports the facade elements and is connected to the building structure. Then there is a layer of thermal insulation material, which is placed behind the outer cladding. It reduces the heat exchange between the facade and the interior. Now it needs the rear ventilation layer. It provides natural air circulation in the form of a gap. In this way, moisture (for example, from water vapor or driving rain) is transported away naturally and the risk of moisture damage or mold growth is reduced. Finally, the outer cladding, i.e. the facing shell, draws the facade of the building.
The advantages of a ventilated curtain facade
A VCW succeeds in separating the outer cladding from the building envelope. In this way, the risk of moisture damage is naturally reduced. In addition, due to its thermal insulation, the VHF can lead to improved energy efficiency in the building and reduce ancillary costs for the occupants. Visually, it subsequently scores with architectural diversity. Due to its low maintenance, it is also used in new buildings as well as in the renovation of old buildings. The individual components of the VHF are deconstructible - this makes it a very sustainable system.
The structure of the facade system VCW
The typical structure is composed of wall brackets, fasteners, anchoring means, a vertical profile as well as the thermal insulation or rear ventilation, the facade cladding panels as well as the anchoring. In order to reliably fasten the thermal insulation of the VCW, the high-quality fastening solutions from düna are the perfect solution.
Fastening solutions from düna
We offer various solutions for fastening the system's thermal insulation, including insulation board anchors, combination holders and plate anchors. Insulation board anchors are the first choice when there are no special requirements for fire protection. Our simple installation aid covers insulation thicknesses from 60 - 320 mm. The dowels are cost-effective, efficient and allow easy and quick installation. A special impact protection of our solution prevents the so-called quilt effect. In addition, we have a fire protection certificate of fire class B2 and a DGNB certificate.
If the VCW is to be fastened to difficult substrates, our combination brackets are suitable for this purpose. They provide an even better hold due to their expansion zone. They can also be used if the insulation thickness of the insulation anchor is not sufficient. The Combi Holder covers insulation thicknesses from 30 - 380 mm (fire protection certificate fire class B2 available). Our combi-holder is available in several variants, for example made of plastic or metal (galvanized or stainless steel).
If high fire protection requirements are made, we recommend our plate anchor, which has a fire protection certificate of fire class A1 and covers insulation thicknesses of 30 - 260 mm. Our düna plate anchor metal is versatile and, by the way, due to its non-combustible properties, it is also the ideal fastener for basement ceiling and underground garage insulation.
The insulation and installation of VCW
Only mineral wool insulation materials that are non-combustible according to DIN 18516 may be used for the insulation of VHF. They must also have a strictly limited water absorption capacity. In this country, insulation thicknesses between 120 - 240 millimeters are usually used. Thicker ones are also used for special thermal insulation requirements.
The insulating materials are laid on the load-bearing wall. The substructure transfers the loads of the outer cladding and weather influences (e.g. wind loads) to the outer wall. It must therefore be capable of absorbing temperature and stress changes so that no cavities are created. The construction is fastened to the outer wall of the building with dowels.
