the FACE project. This is a response to the new trends in the industry that call for façades made up of large dimension, low-thickness ceramic components, something that is difficult to achieve with traditional fixing systems.
The aim of the FACE project is to develop, test and certify an innovative structural system, designed for anchoring ceramic panels onto specially engineered aluminium profiles.
FACE will eliminate the traditional mechanical fixings and will replace silicone matrix structural sealant systems by offering a solution that is:
• certified by means of rigorous mechanical, durability, resistance to pollutants and wind testing, specifically for the use of ceramic panels in ventilated façades;
• safe, the result of closely monitored and certified automated processes;
• simple and economical, thanks to a simple and fast installation process.
FACE components will be subjected to the most stringent tests to verify their mechanical performance, resistance to chemicals and to corrosion in highly aggressive environments and resistance to extreme aging cycles (freezing-thawing, swings in temperature, immersion in acidic and base solutions, exposure to UV, etc.), in accordance with the most demanding regulations in force:
• ETAG 002, for structural sealant glazing systems
• ETAG 004, for external thermal insulation systems
• ETAG 034, for ventilated façade systems
• EN 10545, for evaluating the performance of ceramic tiles
• EN 13501, for the fire classification of construction materials
FACE aims to allay the doubts of the market that, to date, has concerns about the appropriateness and the durability of using traditional sealant solutions that are as yet uncertified and not guaranteed.
With this project, Aliva won the Emilia-Romagna Region’s competition called ROP ERDF "Projects for Innovation and diversification of products or services for SMEs".
