Henkel offers holistic weather protection
Henkel Polybit says that its recently launched Building Envelope Systems offer holistic weather protection solutions for buildings in the region, right from their foundation to the roof.
01 May 2008
Anew concept for thermal and moisture protection of buildings called Building Envelope Systems (BES) has recently been launched on the Gulf market by its developer Henkel Polybit.
With this unique concept, the firm - which specialises in waterproofing products and allied construction chemicals - is able to deliver a protection system for the entire building. From the foundation to the façade and from the the wall up to the roof, this system includes waterproofing, surface protection, facade, window and roof insulation.
Henkel Polybit is a joint venture company between the Germany-headquartered Henkel Group and the UAE-based Polybit,
“We offer total solutions when it comes to thermal and moisture protection for buildings. BES includes a foundation protection system, a combo-wall system, a combo-roof system, and a window and façade system,” says Alois Linder, Henkel’s executive vice president, Adhesives Technologies.
BES incorporates Henkel Polybit’s External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) under its Ceresit brand, which has been adapted to the climate of the Gulf region.
“The Ceresit Ceretherm System is an efficient solution for saving energy and improving the climate inside the building. In fact, using this system, results in a 35 to 40 per cent savings in energy consumption. For instance, if the outside temperature is 42 deg C, the internal wall temperature can be maintained at 19 deg C using our system, while other conventional methods may only be able to keep the temperature down to 25 deg C,” points out Linder.
The system consists of an insulating core, such as polystyrene or mineral wool, and the necessary components for fixing and decoration. The method of application, for both new-build as well as retrofit projects, comprises fixing light thermal insulation boards using a special a mortar reinforced with glassfibre mesh over the entire surface and then covering it with a thin layer of plaster.
Hence, this method combines thermal and noise insulation as well as a simple way of providing facades with a new and attractive look.
Enumerating the many benefits of this method, Henkel’s international marketing director Rommy Los says: “The jointless thermal protection of the entire building eliminates thermal bridges. The thermo-insulating materials are easy to apply and can be adjusted to any existing architectural details. New architectural details can also be incorporated using the 3D CAD design. Moreover, walls can not only be built with a minimum thickness as the light materials take care of thermal comfort, but their low weight does not affect the construction of the building.”
The roof under the BES is built using the combo-roof system, which takes care of waterproofing and thermal insulation.
“This unique supply-and-apply system is a technically-advanced fast-curing PU (polyurethane)-foam system, which delivers a waterproofing membrane and thermal roof insulation fully bonded to the surface. This is done in combination with three additional waterproofing layers and a concrete slab, which results in a sloping roof structure,” explains Los.
Because of the special design of the system, he adds, loads of up to 2 tonnes per sq m can be placed on top of the waterproofing layer, thus ensuring that it is not damaged through any installation on top of the roof.
The fourth component of BES is the Ceresit window and façade system, WINTeQ.
“Joints between the window or façade and the remaining building structure usually cause a huge convection and therefore energy loss. In fact, an open and unsealed gap of only 1 sq cm between the window and the wall is said to cause the same energy loss as 10 sq cm of a non-insulated outer wall. Henkel’s highly-developed system delivers the right window and façade sealing, as well as noise and heat insulation,” Los points out.
The BES is thus able to substantially reduce air-conditioning costs, protect against moisture, rain water, and noise, while renovating facades and giving them a ‘new look.’
The system and its various components have received a good response from companies in the UAE over the past years. For instance, Henkel Polybit has recently been awarded a Dh2.6 million ($708,000) contract to supply and apply the external thermal insulation for the façade of the Atlantis Hotel on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah. For the project, the company is utilising Henkel’s External Insulation Façade System (EIFS), which is part of its ETICS system, after demonstrating the aesthetic and functional superiority of the system compared to other market solutions, according to the company.
Its other projects in the UAE and neighbouring Gulf countries include the Golden Diamond Park on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, where the combo-roof system and waterproofing was installed over a 35,000 sq m area; the entrance of the Sheikh House in Ajman, where ETICS was used; and a commercial and residential building in Sharjah, UAE where the combo-roof system was applied.
Apart from waterproofing and insulation projects, new business wins for the company encompass the installation of the world’s largest parquet flooring for the world’s tallest building, the Burj Dubai.
“This is the largest parquet job in the world and equivalent to covering 18 football pitches. We competed against a host of the world’s best adhesive producers and have been awarded the Burj Dubai contract to supply the full substrate preparation and adhesives for an impressive 92,000 sq m of flooring,” says Mohammed Salem Mohd Al Melehy, Henkel Polybit’s chairman.
Regional presence
The joint venture company, which was launched in 2006, has reported increased regional demand for its products with a 40 per cent growth by the end of last year.
“We have achieved significant success since launching our joint venture operations in 2006, exceeding all initial expectations. By leveraging Polybit’s 20 years of local knowledge and experience, we have been able to create maximum awareness and demand for Henkel’s global product portfolio throughout the region,” says Linder.
In response to the increasing regional demand, Henkel Polybit has recently opened a new construction chemicals manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which will produce waterproofing membranes and thermal insulation products.
Construction is also under way on an additional powder adhesives plant in Abu Dhabi. The company also provides training to enhance the skill base of its workforce and will open a new dedicated training and education facility in Dubai in 2009.
