Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1500470
J U N E 2 0 2 3 | 21 Roofing/Cladding Materials P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y EN G I N EER ED A SS EM B L I E S Jeff Ker, senior technical advisor at Engineered Assemblies, points out that the goals of beauty and visual appeal in the roofing sector should apply to clad- ding as well. And with Engineered Assemblies being the Canadian distributor of Frontek, the cladding market – especially in the commercial sector – has an uncommonly resilient panel that is also startlingly beautiful. That's because Frontek is made of extruded porcelain, which has many ben- efits in its own right, plus it's augmented with a 19-millimetre (mm) thickness and is ported (hollowcore). Ker says, "The combination of all those elements makes for a truly special panel. Its thickness is the solution to other panels that are typically six to eight mm or even thinner, and provide little to no impact resistance. The hollowcore adds to the structural integrity, and it also hides the attachment clips that are truly unique to Frontek." This is a fully mechanical hanging system, absolutely no adhesives are required, and this means two things: extreme ease of installation, plus unlike cladding systems requiring adhesives it can be installed in adverse weather conditions, which is a huge benefit to developers. While porcelain cladding has been making inroads in the Canadian market over the past 10 years, all of them use adhesive, so this is a game changer. "Additionally, Frontek is graffiti resistant, the colours won't fade, and it com- plies with rainscreen design. It is available in one-by-three metre sheets, which is an important consideration for the architectural community." Frontek originates from Spain-based Greco Gres Internacional, a conglomer- ate of companies with a longstanding ceramic tradition dating back to 1940. The Frontek Inside and Outside System offers a dynamic multi-layer surface on any façade, without the requirement to modify the substrate. With inner and outer pieces in two different layers, this solution adds a volumetric and sculptural effect to the façade. Also, the use of porcelain panels reduces air conditioning and heating consumption by up to 35 percent and also act as insulation against sound and solar radiation. Frontek has been used in numerous projects across Canada of late. "We're just finishing projects in the Maritimes and other climate aggressive regions, for commercial facilities where minimal maintenance is required over the long haul," Ker says. "In general, I think Canada is embracing the fact that you have Frontek extruded porcelain panel with its fully mechanical hanging system from Engineered Assemblies. 35 yes 1988 2023 1 Connie Street Toronto ON M6L 2H8 Email: info@triumphinc.ca Tel: 416.534.8877 Fax: 416.534.8863 Bay 119, 12159-44th Street SE Calgary, AB T2Z 4H3 Email: info@triumphinc.ca Tel: 403.452.4114 Fax: 403.452.4330 Triumph Roofing.indd 1 Triumph Roofing.indd 1 2023-02-13 3:24 2023-02-13 3:24