Ventilated facades are extremely popular among architects. They offer wide design freedom, versatility and convince with their durability.
The EJOT CROSSFIX® system - what makes it so special?
Design freedom is one thing, but ventilated facades also excel in the areas of sustainability and economic efficiency. The EJOT CROSSFIX® substructure system was created to meet the requirements of architects and builders who attach great importance to sustainability, environmental protection, flexibility and the highest safety requirements. Its innovation has been recognized with the awards DETAIL PRODUCT AWARD 2020 and GERMAN INNOVATION AWARD 2021. The main load-bearing element of the system is a console made of 100% A2/A4 grade stainless steel. As is well known, in terms of economic and environmental performance, stainless steel has long since replaced aluminum. Derived from the production of stainless steel, CO² emissions are much lower than from other comparable materials, such as iron or aluminum. The fact is also that ten times less primary energy is required for its production than for the aforementioned aluminum.
CF console made of stainless steel
© EJOT
Low heat conductivity
An important issue to pay attention to in the topic of modern low-energy building facades is the heat transfer coefficient. It is worth recalling that the thermal conductivity of stainless steel is 15 W/m²K, which is more than ten times lower than that of aluminum (160 W/m²K). Thus, the effect on the heat transfer coefficient Uc is ten times lower, and the use of stainless steel in the CROSSFIX® substructure significantly reduces the risk of transmission of thermal bridges, unlike systems based on aluminum consoles. As a result, much better U-values can be achieved with the same thickness of thermal insulation.
The CROSSFIX® system makes it possible to use thinner wall insulation with the same insulating effect. This meanssignificant savings for the investor and promotes sustainability, while the use of less insulation material required allows for an increase in the usable area of the building, and thus a faster return on investment.
Flexible and easy to install
The task of the console, which is the centerpiece of the system, is to provide designers with maximum flexibility when constructing the facade and to simplify installation for contractors. This is made possible by its unique geometry. A single universal console - whether it's a so-called structural console for fixed points or a wind console for sliding points - ensures simple and quick installation, thus eliminating the risk of confusion at the installation stage. The console itself provides smooth adjustment of the substructure to be fixed, where special notches easily indicate the correct depth of insertion of the support profile, and with the additionally corrugated surface of the profiles, the installer will easily and quickly fix the profile both vertically and horizontally.
The system ensures that the grid is constructed vertically and horizontally, eliminating the need to install two different consoles for vertical and horizontal use, as is the case with popular aluminum systems. This gives the flexible and easy-to-install CROSSFIX® more options for designers.
Green facade, Moers
© EJOT
Strong and reliable
Due to the material and special geometry of the consoles, CROSSFIX® is extremely strong and can carry higher load capacities than most commercially available systems. The geometry of the consoles reduces local buckling and provides excellent load transfer to the ground. An additional tendon - CF Powerkey - guarantees the best possible load distribution between anchor connectors. All this reduces the number of elements on the facade and contributes to savings in installation time, as well as in costs related to materials and storage. The system is suitable for all substrates and can also be used for renovations. Thanks to the use of the system's component, the so-called CF Claw, designed for attachment to existing insulation material, the life cycle of the existing facade is extendedand there is no need to generate waste.
For the highest fire protection requirements
As a construction product, the system in question is classified in class A1 reaction to fire. The use of stainless steel has made it unrivaled in terms of fire safety and consistently meets the highest fire safety requirements. This is evidenced by the melting point parameter, where for aluminum it is about 660°C, while for stainless steel this parameter is more than twice as high (~1400°C). It is worth noting that the melting point of aluminum is lower than the temperature of a developed fire reported in the literature (700-900°C).
Legero - Headquarters and Outlet, Graz Design office Dietrich | Untertrifaller Architekten ZT GmbH (© 2019 Bruno Klomfar)
© EJOT
CROSSFIX® is a certified system
The Declaration of Performance confirms the essential characteristics given in the European Technical Assessment (ETA - 21/0756). EJOT pays special attention to environmental activities and sustainable construction, and the system in question is covered by the so-called EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. It is also covered by the Passive House Institute certification.
CROSSFIX® is a universal system for vertical and horizontal installation of load-bearing profiles, providing maximum flexibility. With the system concept, EJOT provides a complete facade substructure from a single source. In proven top quality. Everything is supported by an extensively developed service, which promotes the realization of bold ventilated facade projects.
For more information, visit the company's EJOT POLSKA Sp. z o.o. Sp. k. page on the PdA portal.
