The dry system for the redevelopment of the casing
The project, signed by architect Roberto Gresleri and created by the De Vizio Costruzioni company, involved the use of the STIFERITE WallEvo® system with 80 mm GT panels and external finish in Kerlite (Cotto d’este), a solution that combines high thermal performance, durability and high aesthetic quality.
The distinctive element of the WallEvo system – which arises from STIFERITE experience in the field of rigid expanded polyurethane insulation and represents an evolution of external wall insulation systems – is the completely dry construction of the entire insulation package. The insulating panels are mechanically fixed to the wall without using glues or adhesives, while a special patented metal substructure is inserted directly onto the surface of the insulating panel using an innovative toothed profile.
Compared to external insulation systems, this solution eliminates the processes linked to the drying times of the adhesives, allows operation in practically any season and reduces construction time.
Continuity of insulation and reduction of thermal bridges
One of the most interesting aspects of the system concerns the continuity of the insulating layer. In ventilated facade and dry facade systems, the substructure frequently passes through the insulating material, generating linear thermal bridges which can compromise the overall performance of the envelope, reducing living comfort. With WallEvo, however, the metal profile is integrated on the surface of the insulating layer and is fixed directly to the support without interrupting the continuity of the insulation.
The only thermal bridges are the punctual ones generated by the fixing anchors, with negligible effects on the energy behavior of the building because they are equipped with thermostoppers.
The heart of the system is made up of STIFERITE panels in polyiso foam (PIR), characterized by a closed cell structure which guarantees high insulating capacity with limited thicknesses and excellent mechanical performance.
Design freedom and ease of installation
One of WallEvo’s biggest strengths is its versatility. The substructure can be designed and sized according to the final covering without pre-established pitch constraints, allowing the use of numerous finishes: reinforced coats, metal plates and elements, wooden coverings, large ceramic plates and technical stones.
In the case of the Banca di Bologna branch in Ozzano, the reinforced insulation solution was chosen with a plasterboard sheet, water-repellent for exteriors, fixed to the WallEvo profiles, sealing of the joints and subsequent glue fixing of the Kerlite finish, a large-format ceramic material that allows for a contemporary, elegant and particularly durable architectural image to be obtained.
The use of lightweight ceramic slabs combined with continuous insulation allows the aesthetics of the building to be enhanced without sacrificing the energy performance required by current design standards. On the contrary, the use of Kerlite type slabs with a standard coat application would have required much more complex and lengthy processes without guaranteeing the aesthetic result and correct stability over time.
The construction simplicity represents a further advantage. The installation occurs in three main phases:
- installation and fixing of the starting profile;
- installation and mechanical fixing of STIFERITE panels;
- pressure insertion and fixing of WallEvo profiles
- installation and fixing of the finishing system or the chosen covering.
The absence of glues significantly reduces the risk of application errors and makes it easier to control flatness during the creation of the work. The system can also be installed on particularly complex or degraded supports, where traditional technologies would require important preliminary demolition/scraping and surface preparation works.
Envelope design today cannot be limited to the thermal performance to be achieved alone. It is also necessary to consider the durability of the materials, the mechanical resistance, the ease of installation and maintenance and the possibility of working on the building even after many years with the lowest possible cost.
WallEvo responds to these needs thanks to the durability of the thermal, mechanical and dimensional stability performances of the STIFERITE panels and the completely dry construction of the system, which makes it possible to disassemble the main components at the end of the building’s useful life, encouraging their reuse in compliance with the principles of the circular economy.
Even from a performance point of view, the system offers, in addition to the excellent thermal insulation of the STIFERITE GT panel (thermal conductivity λD= 0.022 W/mK and thermal transmittance of the thickness 80 mm U=0.28 W/m2K) also other important performances, such as high resistance to wind loads, excellent impact resistance, fire behavior (class B-s1,d0) and a significant contribution to the acoustic insulation of the wall.
The casing as a strategic element
The redevelopment of the Bank of Bologna branch demonstrates how today the building envelope represents a strategic element in the redesign and recovery of existing buildings. The integration between continuous insulation in rigid expanded polyurethane, patented WallEvo substructure and Kerlite ceramic covering allows to obtain a system capable of combining energy and construction efficiency, speed of execution, high aesthetic quality and durability.
Project sheet
Architectural, energy and functional redevelopment of the Bank of Bologna in Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO):
- Client
- Banca di Bologna Real Estate Spa
- Design
- Gresleri Associated Architects Studio – Bologna
- Arch. Roberto Gresleri, Arch. Lorenzo Gresleri
- Contracting companies
- Isoltecnic Srl – Castel Maggiore (BO)
- De Vizio Costruzioni – Zola Predosa (BO)
- Thermal insulation
- WallEvo system with 80 mm thick Stiferite GT panel, B-s1,d0 certified
- External covering
- Cotto d’Este, Kerlite Limestone Series Oyster color thickness 5.5 mm
For further information
stiferite.com
Stiferite SpA, active since 1963, specializes in the production of insulating panels in rigid polyurethane foam and polyiso foam for roofs, walls and floors. The company’s products comply with CAM, have CE marking and EPD level III and are manufactured under ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certified management systems.
