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Cladding Solutions Ltd (CSL) has launched Chromatics RS, a
revolutionary opaque glass cladding that is available in any
RAL colour or digital image of any size. The material was
showcased at Ecobuild, the biggest sustainable construction
fair in the world, held at Earl’s Court, London, between the
2nd and 4th of March 2010. |
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Chromatics RS is the result of 15 years of research and
development. CSL will supply Chromatics RS specifically for
use in rainscreen cladding applications. It will grant the
exterior facades of structures outstanding aesthetics and
the immaculate reproduction of corporate imagery. |
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For coloured or digitally
printed glass cladding, aesthetic quality is of the utmost
importance. The Chromatics RS process does not cause any
roller wave distortions, pinholes, or transparency variation
in the finished product. As the organic pigments are
processed at low temperatures, they retain their tone
without discolouring or burning. This ensures high grade and
design faithful cladding can be installed every time. |
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Chromatics RS will be supplied
cut to size and edge finished. It can be cut after
processing, unlike toughened glass. This eases installation
and offers considerable time and cost savings when closing
the building envelope. |
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Owing to its unique molecular
makeup, a result of the laminate of float glass, colour
layer and metal foil that distinguishes it from toughened
glass, Chromatics RS is astonishingly durable. |
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With a considerably greater
resistance to thermal fracture than conventional products,
making it thermally safe in almost any external application,
Chromatics RS is classed as a safety glass (BSEN 12600).
Even if fractured by a significant point impact, the panel
remains intact, water proof and functional until replaced.
The material has been fully tested at Taywood Vinci. |
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The high visual standard is not
diminished over time either. The colour layer in Chromatics
RS uses pigmentation originally designed for use as a first
surface coating. These are UV stable for over a decade (CIELab
standard). UV degradation is further negated by
encapsulating the colouring under glass, guaranteeing that
Chromatics looks as good as the day it rolled off the
production line years into the future. |
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With weight a key consideration
in any cladding system, Chromatics RS’ revolutionary
production method and resulting impact resistance gives it
the advantage of being exceptionally lightweight (15 kg /
m2). This reduces material costs and the weight burden on
cladding support systems. It offers superb economies in
maintenance. |
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The performance advantages
offered by Chromatics RS do not come at the cost of the
environment. Made wholly from renewable resources and
needing far less energy to produce than toughened glass, the
pioneering cladding is also 100% recyclable. Heavy metals
such as lead and cadmium are not used in its production and
it does not need to be disposed of through incineration. |
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For support systems and fixing,
CSL has teamed up with Eurofox Engineering Ltd, and Sika UK.
The three companies have frequently worked together in the
past to deliver structural bonded secret fixes between
cladding and supports for flowing exteriors free of
unsightly mechanical elements. With Chromatics RS offering
such an unparalleled aesthetic, it is the perfect
collaboration for a secret fix method of application with
Eurofox Engineering’s cladding support system and Sika’s
innovative SikaTack Panel Adhesive. Both Eurofox and Sika
are BBA certified. |
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With Chromatics RS, the
challenge of applying pristine – yet durable and cost
effective – exterior coloured glass facades to buildings is
now met. CSL invites specifiers and designers to visit
Ecobuild to see the product first hand and stretch their
imaginations with the potential of this revolutionary
technology. |
