Wall Systems

 

The TRADIS^® Closed Panel Wall and Roof System

Click on the pdf for an 'at a glance' indication of the U values and CSH code levels achievable for specific TRADIS^® wall and roof panel depths used.

The TRADIS^® Closed Panel Wall and Roof System is a tried and tested range of factory-produced structural wall panels, floor and roof cassettes that enables a complete house shell to be constructed in less than a day. The primary benefits of TRADIS^® include rapid site erection, an automatic room-in-the-roof solution, excellent thermal efficiency and sustainable performance enhancement.

One of the main advantages of the system is the fact that it is produced off-site. Indeed, all of the following takes place offsite: panels are built with the external and internal sheathing attached, and are then insulated. The completed system is then transported to site and craned into position. Using this simple and rapid build technology, a typical pair of semi-detached house shells can be fully erected so they are wind and water-tight in a single working day, enabling following trades to start immediately.

The main applications for TRADIS^® are public and private sector housing, public buildings such as schools, offices, hotels, leisure centres and  educational buildings. A full supply and erect service for TRADIS^® is available via a nationwide network of distributors.

Technically Advanced System

This Closed Panel System offers up to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6 elemental 'U' values at sensible thicknesses; a breathable system; excellent environmental credentials; a high build speed and clean installation process; enhanced flexibility in terms of build design; and lightweight but strong structures.

The TRADIS^® Closed Panel Wall and Roof System using Masonite materials consists of pre-insulated wall panels designed to provide thermal performance to the highest standard. This timber frame wall and roof system comprises Masonite engineered timber I-Joists and Beams; Panelvent^® external sheathing boards; Warmcel^® 500 insulation; Paneline^® internal sheathing board and a vapour control layer specified to provide the minimum vapour resistance difference between the warm and cold side of the panel.

Masonite I-Joists and I-Studs combine a machine stress graded timber flange with either a Masonite K40 or Class 3 OSB structural board web.

Panelvent^® is a 9.2mm sheathing board, developed specifically for the timber frame industry as an alternative to plywood or OSB. Panelvent^® combines the benefits of a category 1 racking strength with a water vapour open construction. Manufactured from wood chips and forest thinnings, Panelvent^® utilises the unique Masonite defibration system to combine low formaldehyde emissions in use and low embodied energy in manufacture.

Warmcel^® 500 Thermal Insulation  is breathable insulation: allowing moisture vapour to travel through the timber frame void. It has outstanding thermal performance compared to mineral fibre quilt and high levels of accreditation/certification from BBA, LPCB and BREEAM. Indeed, Warmcel^® 500  has a  thermal conductivity value(k) of 0.040 W/mK.

Paneline^® is a 6.4mm internal sheathing board, developed as an internal lining, and used to create a void for injecting Warmcel^® 500. Manufactured from wood chips and forest thinnings, Paneline^® also utilises the unique Masonite defibration system to combine low formaldehyde emissions in use and low embodied energy in manufacture.

Utilising materials selected for their environmental credentials, TRADIS minimises impact on the environment. The system uses up to 40% less material than traditional timber frame. Warmcel^® 500 Thermal Insulation is produced from recycled news print with positive eco assessment ratings. Masonite I-Joists are manufactured to ISO9001:2000 and in accordance with the environmental management system ISO 14001 and utilise wood fibre certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) with full chain of custody processes.

Tradis^® and Warmcel^® are the registered trade marks of Excel Industries Limited. Panelvent^® and Paneline^® are registered trade marks of Panel Agency Limited.

 

Masonite Flexible Building System

Every architect, builder and contractor knows that the drive towards more efficient building practice on site means faster builds and lower waste. Off-site manufacture has helped greatly in this quest, so Masonite has developed a unique method of building using environmentally friendly engineered timber systems which tick all the right boxes with the client. The Masonite Flexible Building system allows construction of timber frame buildings up to eight storeys high with internal clear spans of up to ten metres, allowing massive flexibility for internal space arrangement. Each component is fully designed, engineered and fabricated off-site for fast and accurate installation on site.

The Masonite Flexible Building system makes use of the I-Joist, wall stud and laminated board products manufactured by Masonite AB and Masonite Beams AB, and offers a solution no one else can provide.

 

iFrame^TM

Traditional timber frame construction is a linear process, which means that if one part of it goes wrong, the whole thing generally has to be started again. For example, if a timber frame structure is delivered to site and there is even the smallest discrepancy between the sizing of the frame and the building measurements on site, then the frame must be re-made. Timber frame panels generally fill up a vehicle quickly due to the open frame nature of the panels. This often results in multiple deliveries in order to complete the building. There has to be an easier and more cost-effective means of timber frame construction as an alternative to brick and block.

 

'iFrame^TM' takes standard Masonite manufactured engineered timber studs and uses them as storey height panels. These specialist panels, along with the integrating service panels made specifically for the system, are delivered to site as components. They are assembled with their web members in the same plane as the run of the wall elevation, thereby forming the desired wall in situ.

 

The patent pending action of the secondary vertical/horizontal service panels, which overlap the insulated spaces between each storey height panel provides an adjustable yet very robust timber wall assembly. This panellised wall elevation assembly allows for greater design flexibility because gaps for windows and doors can be re-positioned during the build process.

 

Multiple leaf wall assembly includes layers of identical depth insulation in sets of standard widths and depths. The reversal of one leaf profile in relation to its adjacent leaf is a key feature to this achievement and to the reduction in tolerances in the fitting of insulation.

 

A secondary internal panel assembly includes upper and lower horizontal service/bridging panels with vertical service/bridging panels in between. This provides adjustable wall elevations which means improved racking performance, isolation of services in relation to the vapour control layer and superior fixing grounds and service routes.

 

Unlike traditional timber frame, no expensive crane is required since the wall components are simply offloaded from a delivery vehicle using a fork-lift, making handling extremely easy. Keeping delivery costs down and reducing the carbon footprint of the builder, the whole timber wall assembly can be loaded onto one vehicle, even for large build sites. This construction process is as speedy as that of  traditional timber frame.

The Development Process

Prototypes were initially constructed and patents are pending on the following:

* adjustable panellised wall elevations

* multi functional wall assembly process including single multiple leafs of 70mm-100mm depth I-Beam wall panels and their connecting components which have been utilised in a cross-section of wall applications including external walls, internal partition walls, party walls and internal load-bearing walls.

 

Technical Specification

U Values for 'iFrame^TM' range from 0.23W/m²K down to 0.13W/m²K. The double leaf construction is capable of achieving U Values to Code for Sustainable Homes levels 5 and 6.

 

Applications

'iFrame^TM' is ideally suited for building projects such as housing, extensions, garages, garden structures, commercial buildings such as offices and other applications where traditional timber frame is used.

 

Performance of the Product in the Field

'iFrame^TM' facilitates superior U Values because it allows a tighter and more accurate fit of insulation, eliminating more un-insulated gaps.

 

Early tests indicate that, in situ, 'iFrame^TM' has 2-3 times more racking strength than traditional timber frame construction.

 

'iFrame^TM' facilitates improved site storage, with the supply of compact, uniform component packs.

 

'iFrame^TM' facilitates improved transport capacities and reduces supply journeys, thereby reducing carbon footprint.