How is etfe produced

However, the ETFE Foil can be treated in a number of different ways to manipulate its light transmission properties. These include printing, tinting, surface treatments, radiation and adding additional layers.

With an extremely low mass, ETFE cushions limit the amount of reverberation within a room by absorbing the acoustics. The exact sound levels within an enclosure will depend on the properties of the cushions and the project e. In the event of a fire ETFE does not promote the spread of flames because it self-extinguishes and does not generate any flaming droplets or particles. If hot gases or flames come into contact with ETFE cladding forming part of the building envelope it will melt and shrink back from the area affected allowing hot gases and smoke to be vented from the building.

These tests have concluded that no degradation or loss of strength has occurred and there is no sign that the material will become brittle or discolour over time. As a result, it is anticipated that the material has a life expectancy in excess of 50 years.

ETFE foil cushion systems are certified as class C non fragile roof assembly in accordance with ACR M test for fragility of roofing assemblies. Class C is the lowest class of non-fragile assembly and, particularly if engineered to pass the test criteria, may be close to the boundary between fragile and non-fragile. Its classification and use therefore requires the following to be taken into account:. Note: Accidental damage to such assemblies might render the classification void.

Therefore, any adverse occurrence that could affect its fitness for purpose should trigger an inspection. If an assembly has been subjected to an impact load such as a trip or stumble , it can be treated as a fragile area and identified and protected accordingly, until it has been replaced and the adjoining fitted panels inspected by a competent person and replaced if necessary. Procedures to ensure this happens must be in place.

While persons may be capable of self-recovery from a fall or stumble, where they are unable to, the additional weight of a rescuer may cause the assembly to fail.

And, because all non-fragility classifications depend on the fixings of assemblies, any adjoining assemblies may also have become fragile. In such situations the incident panel and all adjoining panels must be treated as fragile. This is a foreseeable risk of selecting Class C assemblies. Therefore, where class C assemblies are being used, rescue plans must be developed in advance of work starting. Again, in accordance with Reg. ETFE cushion systems are continually inflated by air handling units from which air pipes run to each individual cushion.

As the cushions only need to maintain pressure and not generate air flow, the energy consumption used by these units is minimal. An entire roof is generally powered by a single air handling unit which contains 2 fans powered by electric motors. For large installations there is sometimes a need for additional air handling units to be installed.

The fans run alternately to maintain pressure within the cushions, with only one fan running at any given time. In the event of a cushion failure, adverse weather conditions or a drop in cushion pressure, both fans will run simultaneously to maintain a steady pressure.

If required, the inflation units are also fitted with dehumidifiers to dry the air being fed into the cushions. A typical air inflation unit measures 1. The system requires a dedicated and secure power supply consisting of two V 13 amp electrical connections as the ETFE foil roof is a live system the cushions are permanently linked to the air inflation unit to ensure the pressure is maintained.

As standard our ETFE cushion roofs are supplied with a state-of-the-art active monitoring system. This continually supplies real-time information on the pressure within the cushions, the local weather conditions, temperature and humidity levels and any faults or changes within the operation of the system to a local LCD screen see fig.

It is possible for Architen Landrell or a designated user to gain access to the control system remotely which assists with off-site updates or diagnostics in aid of fault finding and can allow minor pressure and performance adjustments. Continual monitoring allows the system to automatically adapt to avert potential problems. In the event of a problem the control system will automatically try to compensate for the fault; for example, when a drop in pressure occurs the rate of airflow to the cushions will increase automatically.

In addition, the fault is logged and displayed on the main controller and relevant air handling unit using the traffic light system described below and an automatic alarm notification can also be sent to a predefined person. The alarm will be raised as soon as a fault is registered.

ETFE is printable which is great when working with it as a building material. Varying frit patterns allow for both solar control and privacy. Colour or logos can be printed on the plastic for a unique finish. ETFE pillows have been used on some of the worlds most inspired architectural designs. As seen on several public structures, such as stadiums and shopping malls, ETFE can be illuminated at night for dramatic aesthetic effect. Minimal maintenance is required on ETFE, making it a popular choice to work with.

Excessive pecking from birds can cause damage by way of punctures in ETFE pillows. Novum Facilities Management team can offer bird deterrent solutions to minimise this issue. Overall, ETFE has had a positive impact on sustainability within the construction industry.

It outperforms any other transparent material for insulation, eco-friendliness and cost. Novum has worked on several EFTE projects across the globe to great effect. Please click here to view some of our amazing ETFE projects. Core Services. A photo journey of ETFE architecture quickly dispels the notion that this is a simple plastic cladding material you might put over your roof or boat on a rainy day.

The Water Cube venue built for the Beijing, China Olympics brought the material to the attention of the world. The biodome Eden Project in Cornwall, England created a "green" tinge to the synthetic material. Because of its flexibility and portability, temporary structures such as the summer Serpentine Gallery Pavilions in London , England have been of late at least partially created with ETFE; the pavilion in particular looked like a colorful colon.

The roofs of modern sports stadia, including the U. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are often ETFE — they look like panes of glass, but the material is really safe, non-rip plastic. The du Pont family emigrated to America shortly after the French Revolution, bringing with them 19th century skills in making explosives. Using chemistry to develop synthetic products never stopped within the DuPont company, creators of nylon in and Tyvek in The tensile architecture of Prizker laureate Frei Otto in the s and s was an inspiration for engineers to come up with the best material to use for what builders and architects call "cladding," or the material that we might call exterior siding for our homes.

The idea for ETFE as a film cladding came in the s. They didn't invent the material, but they did invent the process for welding together sheets of ETFE — and giving a building the layered look. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile.

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