The weathering design of these suites follows recognised international curtain wall design principles - rainscreen pressure equalisation and system drainage - which requires primary and secondary weathering. The rainscreen acts as a primary water-stop, the second airseal and cavity acts as a backup to collect and drain away any water that manages to penetrate the primary rainscreen barrier.
All internal cavities of the system are designed to be pressure equalised (i.e. no pressure differential between the outside face and any internal cavity). This feature allows the water which penetrates the rainscreen to drain freely back to the exterior. The rear air seal is critical to the system's weathering performance as air infiltration acts as the medium which transports water through to the building's interior, i.e. it is the prime cause of any leakage.
Design limitations of the Unitised Low Rise suite are;
- Lower floor to floor heights than PW800
- Best used where the site has low wind loads
- Most appropriate to smaller module sizes
- Where building movement is low
It is recommended to discuss your project with us early to determine the best suited suite for your needs.
Integrated Elements
Almost an unlimited type of materials can be integrated into a unitised panel, including different glass types, metals, brackets to receive externally mounted fins, louvres, venetians or building signage for example. The PW100 can accommodate opening sashes suitable for high rise installations.
Section Sizes
- 75/100mm Mullions
- 75/100mm Transoms
Performance / Testing
Thermosash owns and operates the largest façade testing facility in New Zealand where we test our systems and custom designed suites to ensure compliance with the below codes or project specific requirements:
- AS/NZS1170 (Structural Design Actions)
- NZS4223 (Glazing in Buildings)
- NZS/AS4284:2008 (Water / Air Pressure/ Air Leakage - Meets and exceeds minimum requirements)
All the Thermosash suites are independently laboratory tested to IANZ (International Accreditation New Zealand). Test certificates are available on request.
Maximum spanning ability
Thermosash specifically engineers the best suite option for your project taking into consideration span, structural system, and environmental loads (e.g. wind). The spanning ability will vary depending on the above.
Thermosash Suites are recognized as having the largest spanning systems on the market due to our specific engineering capability and the customised nature of the work we complete.
Sizing of modules is generally only limited on the project design requirements, economic considerations, transport and site crane installation limitations. We would be happy to discuss what these might be on your project.
Warranty
The standard warranty is 10 years from the date of practical completion for these products. This covers workmanship and weather tightness, providing the subcontract includes fabrication, installation and glazing of all components.
Maintenance
Maintaining glass, metals and stone are all particular to the environment that they are placed in: e.g. marine, environmental pollution, exposure to natural washing, etc.
It is recommended by almost all material suppliers that building washing should occur every 3-6 months to prevent staining to glass and prevent environmental pollutants from corroding metals and to maintain the material warranties.
A full maintenance manual is provided on completion of a project for all the elements integrated within a project.
