Open AccessTEC – Thin Environmental Cladding
Author(s) -
Alan Tomasi,
Danijel Mocibob,
Bert van de Linde,
Frank Wellershoff,
Kristian Koldtoft
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of facade design and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.407
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 2213-3038
pISSN - 2213-302X
DOI - 10.3233/fde-130010
Subject(s) - tec , cladding (metalworking) , materials science , geology , composite material , geophysics , ionosphere
Corresponding author: Alan Tomasi, Group R&D Project Manager, Permasteelisa S.p.A., viale E. Mattei 21/23 | 31029 Vittorio Veneto, Treviso, Italy. Tel.: +39 0438 505207; E-mail: a.tomasi@permasteelisagroup.com; www.permasteelisagroup.com Permasteelisa Group developed with Fiberline Composites a new curtain wall system (Thin Environmental Cladding or TEC), making use of pultruded GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) material instead of traditional aluminum. Main advantages using GFRP instead of aluminum are the increased thermal performance and the limited environmental impact. Selling point of the selected GFRP resin is the light transmission, which results in pultruded profiles that allow the visible light to pass through them, creating great aesthetical effects. However, GFRP components present also weaknesses, such as high acoustic transmittance (due to the reduced weight and anisotropy of the material), low stiffness if compared with aluminum (resulting in higher facade deflection) and sensible fire behavior (as combustible material). This paper will describe the design of the TEC-facade, highlighting the functional role of glass within the facade concept with regards to its acoustic, structural, aesthetics and fire behavior