Frontek Ticks All the Boxes For Unitised Construction

Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro & Billard Leece Partnership, the new Susan Wakil Health Building brings together multiple health disciplines to work out of the same precinct, built by Laing O'Rourke. The unitised horizontal system uses Frontek's Azabache panels in a stone texture finish reminiscent of natural stone.

The Building Agency's engineers have recently developed new fixing systems that meet the Australian and New Zealand standards. Frontek cladding systems come in black anodised aluminium with stainless steel accessories. Panels can be fixed in horizontal, vertical and even soffit with each fixing system taking advantage of ventilated facades. Frontek offers cladding solutions for brick and concrete walls, stud walls, curtain walls, unitised and modular systems.

Frontek tiles are:

Extremely hard, with low water absorption
Fireproof
Colour stable
Do not require special maintenance
Have an incredibly long lifespan
Easy to clean, pollution resistant, and salt water proof
Frontek panels are also remarkably light (32kg/m²)
They are available in various sizes, from 300 x 600 to 1000 x 3000mm
Extruded ceramic panels have been designed for easy installation into mechanical fixing systems

Contact The Building Agency's Design & Engineering Services for a dedicated detailing studio that collaborates with architects and designers from the earliest stages of a Frontek façade project.

Frontek — Ceramic Porcelain Facades

The Building Agency

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Frontek facade cladding panels are extruded ceramics in vitrified porcelain that have excellent technical attributes for the cladding of facades: extremely hard, light in comparison to other large format ceramics, highly resistant and long-lasting, with low water absorption and excellent performance against weather and the most demanding environmental conditions.

For use on residential, commercial, and high-rise buildings
Located in any wind zone up to and including 'Extra High' (as classified in NZS3604) or where the building is specifically designed to AS/NZS1170 'Structural Design Actions' up to a maximum design wind pressure differential of 2.5kPa (ULS)
For exposure zones B, C, and D as described in NZS3604
Seismic - lateral racking testing confirm seismic SLS in-plane deflection is within 20 mm

B1 STRUCTURE B1.3.1, B1.3.2, B1.3.3 (a, f, h, j, q), B1.3.4 (a, b, c, d, e) ETA 15/0262 and ETA 15/0916 confirm that the Frontek Ceramic Tiles, when installed, meet the ETAG specification for ventilated wall claddings. These requirements also meet the Building Code requirements in respect of B1 (structure). Lateral racking testing confirm seismic SLS in-plane deflection is within 20 mm. [FacadeLab, 12/2020].
B2 DURABILITY B2.3.1 (b) Stainless steel and aluminium are suitable for use in all corrosion zones. ETA 15/0262 and ETA 15/0916 establishes that the ceramic tiles are not affected by freeze-thaw cycles. Ceramic tiles have a history of use in NZ and are resistant to UV radiation, chemical and biological attack.
C3 FIRE AFFECTING AREAS BEYOND THE FIRE SOURCE C3.5,C3.7 (a) Tested for combustibility in accordance with ISO 1530 by NATA accredited laboratory. Material not deemed combustible [CSIRO Infrastructure Technologies, 29/04/2020]. › Tested in accordance with ISO 5660, by NATA accredited laboratory. Material classified as Group 1 [AWTA Product Testing, 15/11/2017].
E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE Contributes to E2.3.2 ETA 15/0262 and ETA 15/0916 confirms that Frontek® Ceramic Tiles, when installed, contribute to the management of external moisture. › Tested to AS/NZS 4284 by an IANZ accredited laboratory [FacadeLab, 18/12/2020].
F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS F2.3.1 Meets EN ISO 14.021, which confirms that the tiles do not contain or emit harmful materials.

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