Technical indications on the installation of the SUPERCEL BUILDING insulation panels.
General recommendations of build up
Laying and securing panels and general application systems for membrane positioning.
General recommendations of build up: laying and securing SUPERCEL BUILDING panels.
TREATMENT OF LAYING SURFACE. Before laying SUPERCEL BUILDING panels, it is advisable to remove from the surface sand, gravel and in general any roughness present from the laying surface that can compromise the adhesion or cause puncture of the waterproof coating and as a consequence the panel.
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MANAGEMENT OF WATER VAPOUR. Evaluate the thermo-hygrometric conditions of the environment below the cover and prepare the necessary layers for the management of water vapour. On insulated non- ventilated roofs, before laying SUPERCEL BUILDING insulation panels, it is recommended to place a vapour barrier, combined with a layer of vapour diffusion membrane, in order to eliminate the risk of water absorption from the insulating material, which could lead to the deterioration of its thermal characteristics.
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MANAGEMENT OF THERMAL BRIDGES. In order to avoid thermal bridges, it is advisable to carefully align the panels, adopting all the precautions needed to avoid a potential detachment of the same during build up. In the case of pitched roof build up, the panels must be laid with staggered joints and on rows parallel to the eaves line. The use of panels with tongue and groove fastening systems is recommended, minimizing as much as possible the size of the joint, this compensates for the potential dilatation of the panels and the structure in general.
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LAYING THE PANELS. In roof applications, especially when insulating under membrane, it is important to properly fix the panel to the structure. SUPERCEL BUILDING panels can be fixed following different methods described by the regulation standards *. Based on the application conditions and the type of cover adopted, the laying of insulation panels can be done in different ways. Dry mortarless lining, method applicable on roofs with a slope of less than 5% and with a heavy protection ballast or in the case of an inverted roof structure (with the insulating panel placed above the sealing element) and the presence of a heavy ballast.Heat-bonding with molten oxidized bitumen applied by sprinkler or cold-bonding with bituminous mastic, adhesives or polyurethane foams. By torching, reviving specific bituminous membranes. By mechanical fixing: in this case, for panels of a size of 600 x 1200 mm, there are usually 4 fixing points (at the corners, at a distance of at least 50 mm from the edge). For larger panels, the fixing points will be increased to a proportional extent and, in addition to the perimeter fixings, will also include central fixings. The type of fixing (dowels, screws, self-tapping screws, nails, etc.) varies according to the type of support*.
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MECHANICAL FIXING. If heavy protection is not applied, in environments with strong wind or on roofs with a slope of more than 30%, mechanical fixing of panels is mandatory. The minimum number of mechanical fixings will be defined during design and will vary according to climatic conditions and slope of the roof. As an indication, apply 5 fixings per 1200mm x 600mm panel (one in the centre and the others in the corners, at a distance of about 50 mm from the edges). The mechanical fixing is moreover mandatory on unstable structures subjected to cyclic movements (metal structures and tensile structures) and in correspondence of the perimetric areas of the roof, which are more exposed to wind depression and therefore subject to the risk of detachment of the cover.
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* The adhesion between panel, vapour barrier and structure and, in general, an in-depth description of the laying of the insulating panels are contained and described in the UNI 11442 standard. Our Technical Office is available for any further information requested.
Membrane positioning, general application systems.
Membranes have the function of protecting against water infiltration and moisture penetration. The membranes in use are differentiated by their water vapour resistance/permeability and can be categorized as breathable or non-breathable. The breathable membranes have the function of slowing/regulating the vapour, adjusting its flow. The non-breathable membranes, which are also called “vapour barriers”, completely exclude the passage of water vapour. The insulation panels are always in contact with the membranes, thus, in order to guarantee an efficient insulation package, it is very important that the adhesion between the two and the structure is carried out according to regulation standards, with the utmost precision and professionalism. There are different membrane types present on the market, which can be divided into two macro categories, these are: bituminous andsynthetic membranes.
With the sole exception of laying by torching, the membranes can be placed on the SUPERCEL BUILDINGpanels according to normal application methods.
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DRY MORTARLESS APPLICATION. The membrane is positioned on the surface, totally independent from the structure. It is a laying system applicable on roofs with a slope not exceeding 5%, because it requires a heavy ballast, which acts as protection layer (such as: gravel, cement tiles, cement casting, etc.).
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COLD - BONDING APPLICATION. The membrane is laid on the panel and fixed using polyurethane adhesives or monocomponent foams in canisters.
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HEAT - BONDING APPLICATION. The membrane is laid on the panel and fixed by means of of a sprinkler, with which molten oxidized bitumen is spread. The application must be uniform and the temperature of the bitumen must not exceed 150°C.
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MECHANICAL - FIXING APPLICATION. The membrane is laid on the panel and fixed with dowels or other fastening elements, it is always recommended when heavy protection is not contemplated/applicable, and in all those environments where there is presence of strong wind or on roofs with a slope of more than 30%. The type of fixing chosen varies depending on the support and the application. The minimum number of mechanical fixings is defined during design and varies due to climatic conditions and the slope of the roof*.
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APPLICATION BY TORCHING. It is carried out by reviving the bituminous membrane torching it with a propane gas torch. The laying by torching solutions are chosen according to the characteristics of the support and the slope of the roof. This type of application is not compatible with SUPERCEL BUILDINGpanel coatings.
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*For a detailed description of how to lay and fix the membranes, reference must be made to the UNI 11442 standard. We also advise to rely on specialised construction technicians.
