The composite panels are 13 m by 3 m in size. In collaboration with construction company BAM more than 100 of these elements were installed on the new office of energy company Enexis in Zwolle, the Netherlands.
The panels were manufactured in a vacuum infusion process using DSM Composite Resins' Synolite™ 1967 resin, Büfa’s Firestop® 6815-N-3 resin/ S272-SV gel-coat, and a polyurethane (PUR) foam core material.
Fast installation
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For architects the design versatility of composites combined with their excellent inherent insulation performance makes them a very interesting alterative to steel and concrete. |
| Ad de Koning, R&D Director of DSM Composite Resins |
Because of their low weight and a specially developed and patented aligning anchor/ hook system, it took only 5 minutes to mount each panel.
Façade elements made from composite materials have a significantly lower weight than their counterparts in concrete – in this specific case less than 10% of the concrete equivalent, reports DSM Composite Resins.
(View a video of the panel installation here.)
Low energy consumption
The composite panels used on the Enexis office will contribute to the low energy consumption of this building. Because of their shape, the panels reflect sunlight and prevent heating up of the building in summer. And in the winter, because of their excellent insulating properties the composite panels will keep the heat inside.
The building has been certified to the BREEAM Excellent level. (BREEAM is an environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings.)
