Installation of woodwork: SOUDAL systems.
From the series "Windows, doors, hardware, guards - trends 2022".
Optimization of a building's energy consumption requires the use of technologies that effectively prevent the emission of heat from its interior. Only an airtight building with preserved thermal continuity will meet the applicable requirements set forth in the Technical Conditions, regarding the thermal transmittance parameters of walls, roofs, foundations, windows and doors.
Improving the energy performance of buildings is one of the priorities of European climate and energy policy. The use of environmentally friendly and efficient heat sources is essential, but it may not be enough - properly carried out thermal insulation of the building plays an equally important role.
The route of uncontrolled heat escape is often leaky installed woodwork. Even the highest quality windows will not guarantee an optimal level of airtightness if they are not properly installed. On the quality and accuracy of the work sealing the joinery joint with the masonry depends, among other things, the energy efficiency of the completed partition.
Properly designed and executed woodwork installation:
- will ensure high thermal comfort of the rooms,
- will reduce heating costs,
- will reduceCO2 emissions into the atmosphere,
- will affect health comfort.
Tight installation of windows
With energy-efficient construction in mind, Soudal has developed innovative system solutions. This includes the Soudal Window System (SWS) - a system of layered installation of windows and doors, which is also called warm or tight installation. SWS meets the requirements of key documents on proper window installation and is recommended by the Institute of Building Technology. It guarantees effective and durable sealing of the junction between the joinery and the exterior wall by protecting the insulation layer around the window from air infiltration and exfiltration, and consequently from moisture. Simply put, the sealing of the window joint in the SWS system consists of three layers that work closely together.
Sealing with vapor barrier tapes
© Soudal
The function of thermal insulator is performed by polyurethane foam (middle layer), which accurately fills the gap between the window and the wall. Since only dry foam has excellent insulating properties, it is necessary to make additional seals during the installation of the window - internal and external. For this purpose, special SWS window tapes or Soudatight liquid membranes are used.
Sealing with Soudatight liquid membranes
© Soudal
Moisture penetration from the room into the thermal-acoustic insulation layer (inner layer) is prevented by vapor-proof tape or liquid membrane.
In turn, the tape or liquid vapor-permeable membrane protects the foam from moisture penetration from the environment, wind and rain (outer layer), while allowing water vapor to migrate in the opposite direction.
Another offering from Soudal is SoudaFrame SWI (Soudal Window Installation), certified by the Passive House Institute. The SWI system in combination with the SWS system significantly improves the energy efficiency of the building.
Installation of windows in the thermal insulation layer
SoudaFrame SWI is a modern system for the installation of complete joinery in front of the face of the structural wall. The main component of this system is a lightweight mounting frame with very low thermal transmittance and complete lack of thermal expansion, made of GFPR, a fiberglass-reinforced plastic material. Mounting the window directly into the SoudaFrame SWI system's mounting frame does not require metal mounting anchors, brackets, consoles, angles, etc., and thus eliminates the formation of point thermal bridges around the window or exterior door. The SWI system can be applied to all window and door profiles, regardless of their size or the material from which they are made. The system guarantees precise sizing of the mounting frame to the window opening and is suitable for both new and decarbonized buildings. Importantly, SoudaFrame SWI has been certified by the Passive House Institute, which confirms that the system can be used in passive construction and in revitalized buildings seeking energy efficiency certification.
Reduction of thermal bridges using SWI
© SOUDAL
Basic components of the SWI system
The window is set on a special mounting frame, which is an extension of the wall. SoudaFrame SWI is made up of lightweight "L" shaped components, guaranteeing a maximally tight connection between the frame and the thermal insulation layer. The frame elements are made of GFPR material. This is a composite material composed of fiberglass and reaction resin. The first component acts as a mechanical reinforcement that absorbs tensile forces, while the second is used to embed the fibers and absorb tensile forces. As a result, the innovative GFPR plastic combines such advantages as extremely low weight, high strength and durability, dimensional stability (no thermal expansion) and resistance to corrosion and weathering.
The frame components can be connected together very easily and quickly, allowing the necessary work to be carried out efficiently and effectively. To assemble the frame, metal corners are used, which are placed in the grooves and then secured with a metal screw.
Another important component of the SoudaFrame SWI system is the adhesive - Soudaseal SWI hybrid sealant, with which the complete mounting frame is attached to the face of the structural wall. Soudaseal SWI is characterized by immediate initial adhesion, flexibility and can be applied to almost all building materials. In addition, it allows for a joint that resists air infiltration and exfiltration, ensuring an airtight joint.
SWI assembly stage
© SOUDAL
Compatibility with the SWS system
SoudaFrame SWI is fully integrated with the Soudal Window System. After the window or door frame is mechanically installed, the joinery joint should be sealed according to the principles of three-layer installation. The expansion gap between the joinery and the installation frame is filled circumferentially with polyurethane foam from the SWS system. Subsequently, the thermal and acoustic insulation layer is sealed against air and moisture penetration with SWS vapor barrier tapes or Soudatight liquid membranes.
Advantages of the SWI system
The use of SoudaFrame SWI reduces to a minimum the risk of perimeter linear thermal bridges at the junction between frame and jamb. The use of SWS and SWI systems guarantees the highest insulation of the window joint and effectively prevents heat escape from the building through this route. This system also allows you to significantly reduce the time of performing work related to the installation of joinery, and in addition, the correction of the dimensions of the frame and its installation can be successfully carried out by one person. In addition, 75% less energy is used in the production of GFPR material, which is used to make the installation frame from the SWI system, than in the production of steel or aluminum. The composite is also environmentally friendly because it is recyclable.
Choosing the optimal solution in Soudal BIM
All components of SoudaFrame SWI can be found in BIM software. BIM is a special tool for modeling building information, which definitely facilitates the work of architects, engineers and other representatives of the construction industry. Just by defining the initial parameters in Soudal BIM, you can access information about the company's materials for the installation and sealing of joinery. An important functionality of the software is the Mounting Frame System Selector. Among other things, this selector allows you to choose the right mounting frame for your project, find the best seal for a given frame, or embed a window with default properties.
For more information, visit the company's Soudal Sp. z o.o. page on the A&B portal.
