Construction details

1 2 14 Spandrel panel

3.3.12 Fair-face precast concrete

spandrel panel
3.3.13 Prefabricated sheet metal spandrel
panel
3 3.3.14 Precast reconstituted stone spandrel
4
panel
19
21
Vertical sections
8 scale 1:5

12

Three examples of spandrel panels based on

different architectural and constructional
approaches, as well as different materials are
shown here.
Fig. 3.3.12. The primary structure here is rein-
forced concrete. The spandrel panel is made
from a fair-face precast concrete element and
is thermally isolated from the reinforced con-
crete floor slab using insulated starter bars or
stainless steel brackets. The spandrel panel
must be insulated on the inside and a vapour
barrier – protected against damage – attached
to the inner face. Consequently, the heat stor-
age effect of the solid spandrel panel cannot
be used for the internal climate. The surface
1 finish of the spandrel panel is of fair-face qua-
3.3.12 lity. The facade bears on or is suspended from
1 2 14 each floor. Connections are accordingly either
rigid or flexible. Fixing is by means of a facade
rail attached to an insulated aluminium hollow
1 Double glazing
2 Aluminium facade rail
section with thermal break. Its position is
3 Plastic spacer block adjusted by means of steel plates fitted under-
4 Aluminium section,
3
neath, and it is fixed to the spandrel panel
insulated, with thermal using stainless steel bolts. To avoid galvanic
4
break
corrosion, an intermediate pad (e.g. EPDM)
5 Vapour barrier 5
6 Anodised aluminium must be placed between steel and aluminium.
sheet The connections must be permanently elastic
6 13
7 Steel angle as well as impervious to air and vapour diffu-
8 Thermal insulation sion. An alternative, popular solution makes
9 Cavity for ventilation
10 Vapour barrier
use of hollow section rails. Such facades are
11 Sheet aluminium, 20
usually fixed with facade posts.
1.5 mm Fig. 3.3.13. The primary structure here is rein-
12 Floor construction: forced concrete. In this example the facade
textile floor covering
12 post continues past the spandrel panel and the
floating screed 7
isolating membrane facade is free-standing. Load is transferred at
impact sound insulation the top of the spandrel panel via an insulated
13 Cast-in slotted channel aluminium hollow section with thermal break,
14 Window board on 8
steel angle and cast-in slotted channel in the
framing
15 Permanently elastic joint
solid spandrel panel. The upper connection
16 Stainless steel fixed fixes the facade horizontally and must be able
9
anchor to accommodate thermal expansion plus move-
17 Reconstituted stone ments due to wind loads and structural move-
panel
ments; it must also remain impervious to air
18 Stainless steel movable
anchor and vapour diffusion. The facade is fixed to the
19 Steel flat main structure via an insulated steel angle inte-
20 Solid spandrel panel, grated into the facade rail. Insulation is affixed
concrete or masonry to the outside of the spandrel panel. The
21 Precast reinforced
concrete element
vapour barrier must be correctly positioned
and the insulation protected against damp-
10 11 ness. An air gap behind the spandrel panel
3.3.13

188