Planning a complete wall system with mineral wool sandwich panels

Also determine the openings and planned services. The panel should not be selected in isolation from the gate, window or ventilation duct. A shared drawing for all trades allows places to be identified in advance where additional structure or a special sealing detail is required.

A mineral wool panel consists of two metal facings bonded to a core. It is a different product from a standalone insulation board. Behaviour is also determined by the sheets, coatings, adhesive and joint, so it is not enough to specify the core type alone.

Compare thickness, module, weight, U-value, acoustic properties and fire classifications. All figures should come from the documentation for the same variant. For the thermal requirement, include the details, and for the fire requirement, the scope of application of the entire assembly. Do not combine the best results from different families into one apparent product.

The direction in which the panels are laid and their lengths must correspond to the supports. The spacing is determined on the basis of loads and the relevant tables or calculations. The length that can be produced is not the permissible unsupported span.

Around gates and windows, plan frames and support for short sections. It is also necessary to determine how the self-weight is transferred and how the wall responds to roof movements. Before starting the installation of the cladding, check the plane and tolerances of the structure. The panel should not be used to correct crooked rafters.

The junction with the plinth should limit the thermal bridge, protect the core edge and direct precipitation outwards. Similar attention is required for window sills, corners and the wall-to-roof junction. Each detail must be considered from both sides of the building envelope, not only from the visible façade side.

Separate the rainwater drainage path from the continuity of the air flow control layer. Penetration of humid air through a gap can cause problems even with a good panel U-value. In a new building, also account for moisture from floors and other wet trades.

Consider a new hall where different teams carry out the structure, the envelope and the joinery. Before starting, it is worth jointly establishing who supplies the opening frames, who carries out the sealing at them and at what stage the flashings appear. Without this, a missing element can halt work despite panels being ready on site.

One approved detail for a typical window and gate, together with an agreed execution tolerance, is helpful. This does not replace the other drawings but provides a common pattern for repetitive fields. Coordination reduces the risk that each contractor assumes a different position of the wall plane and only on site does it turn out that the elements do not fit together.

The plan should specify the location for storing packs, the lifting equipment and the sequence for closing fields. The length and mass of the pieces affect access to the façade. Materials needed at the plinth and under the locks must be in place before they are covered.

Cuts are made with tools permitted in the instructions, without overheating the facings. Swarf must be removed and exposed ends protected in accordance with the solution. It is worth making service penetrations after the location has been approved, rather than leaving teams free to randomly cut holes in the finished wall.

The inspection should cover not only the appearance of the panels but also the conformity of the fixing, sealing, flashings and interaction with openings. Some activities must be carried out before the detail is covered. Photographs of these stages are a valuable supplement to the documentation.

Include all elements and labour in the budget and record which scopes are carried out by the individual trades. Provide the user with the identification of the products and the assumed operating conditions. If the building changes function, such a set will allow assessment of whether the envelope still meets the new requirements.