The ventilation layer represents an air chamber situated between the heat insulation and the external revetment. Its thickness should vary within 3-5 cm to insure the air good circulation.
The air layer main goal is to insure a possibility of hot air to come up. According to the mentioned conditions the air layer leads to indisputable privileges of the ventilation facade – evaporating the constructive humidity from the bearing wall, preventing the vapor passing from inside to outside in the winter, cooling the building “casing” during the warm months, avoiding heat losses, reducing the hot air stream towards the building.
The frame elements of the pending system are usually made of steel or aluminum profiles and they are, most often, fixed at the front of the concrete slabs or at the reinforced concrete beams if there are any. Steel elements are arranged by such a way to form a vertical and horizontal framework transferring the loads to the bearing construction that support the stone facade tiles and insuring the needed thickness of the air layer to permit the air good circulation. The facing stone tiles are the outer, finishing element of the system that insures protection and gives an esthetic outlook of the building. Thanks to the high range of functionality peculiar to the natural stone material is used for giving a modern as well an archaic outlook to the buildings. Each stone tile has a small weight, up to 65 kg/m2 and does not load additionally the building bearing construction. It represents an indisputable privilege at facing the existing buildings.
Stone tile is famous for its resistance to frost – more than 100 cycles of frosting and defrosting. It is a perfect resolution of the problem in the cold regions where most of the alternative types of facades require considerable expenses for maintenance. It does not alter its physical and esthetical quality during the time, and having in mind the fact, it justifies the investment. It is resistant to strong wind activities, ultraviolet rays, great part of the aggressive mediums and it is subject to a complete recycling. Actually the connecting appliances form the visible joints on the facade. They cover each tile perimeter and allow its easy move most often caused by temperature changes. The joints use insures complete facade water impermeability and creates the effect of “rain waters screening”. The joint itself permits easier movement of each single facade tile one to another without any interaction among them. Stone facade insures a good fire protection of the building. As a whole the construction is classified as class A by inflammability. That fact allows stone facade to be mounting on buildings with the most sever anti-fire exigencies. The system all elements are resisting to breaking and shock and develop limited range of deformations.
The ventilating stone pending facade is a modern solution to the problems of defending the walls from wind, rain, temperature variation, and humidity increase. It satisfies all kind of requirements: functionality, reliability, long lasting, ecology, economy, and impressive outlook. The only defect of the facade comparing to the coated one is the higher initial investment. Subsequently, it turns out to be preferred having in mind its enumerated priorities.