ACM panels are widely used as the external cladding materials of buildings as well as the internal surfaces designing and coating. To ensure proper fitting and application of ACPs on the structure, there are many applicable installation methods that can be approved. Before getting to some of these methods, there are some prior actions that should be noted.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction
ACPs fasteners can be led into unacceptable bowing and overstressing by change of temperature. Thus ambient air or heating of the construction work must be taken into account to avoid these damages.
Aluminum Composite Materials panels coating can be damaged if working temperature reaches over 100 centigrade degrees. Thus thermal resistance of the ACPs itself must be fabricated before installation.
Protective Film
Aluminum Composite Panels used for exterior cladding are covered with none-transparent protective film before leaving manufacturing product line.
Removal of the protective film is recommended as soon as after installation since hot and humid weather can cause residual glue of the protective film stick on to lacquered coated surface of panels.
Once the protective film is removed, marker pen, vinyl film or tape are not recommended to be used on lacquered coated surface of ACPs, since particles like acrylic, robber, epoxy, and solvents employed in the material will harm and damage coating integrity.
Installation Direction
Aluminum Composite Materials Panels Installation direction needs to be respected and paying close attention to it is essential. The majority of ACP material is directional which is during manufacturing the paint is applied to the composite material in one consistent direction. In order to maintain color and finish consistency across the panels, each panel material, must course in the same direction.
ACMs mostly have arrows on the protection film which shows the direction of the applied finishing. It is noted that all the ACPs must be installed in the same direction throughout a project unless intentionally noted otherwise.
After prior preparations it is time to introduce Aluminum Composite Panel Installation and Fabrication methods.
External Wall Cladding- Hanging Method:
The hanging method is one the most common installing methods. It simplifies the installation work and shorten the construction period. It is easy to loosen the movement due to thermal expansion or contraction with this method since the panels are not fastened tightly to sub-frame but are simply suspended. Construction process needs to be followed:
- The laying work is carried out according to the actual center line and elevation point of the civil works. The design of the facing is based on axis of the building. The ACM plate skeleton is composed of horizontal and vertical parts. The position of the vertical rod is first fixed followed by determining the anchor point of the vertical member.
- Install the fixed connecting piece of basis of the pay-off line, fix the connection piece with electric welding and prevent the rust paint from being welded twice. The connecting partition is welded and fixed to the embedded part on the main structure. If the iron piece is not embedded, the expansion bolt can be fixed one the main structure with the connecting iron.
- The welding frame is used to install skeleton on it. The installation is to check the elevation and centerline position at any time, and at the same time, the cross section weld is treated as anti-rust paint. The fixed connection piece is used for concealed inspection records as the length, thickness and position of the joint weld. The height, quantity and the depth of insertion needs to be set.
- Install the ACP on the inner frame of the profile followed by tapping the screw hole position, fixing the ACP finish to the steel frame block with rivet. The gap between the panels is 10-15mm and silicone based material should be injected in this area.
In second part of Aluminum Composite Panels Installing and Fabrication, we will focus on the other ACP installation methods.
