Ventilated facades

The main factors that enhance the performance of a façade compared to plaster are:

• Breathability: thanks to the breathable insulating materials and the absence of paints and primers;
• Shielding: the air gap allows the irradiation directly incident on the wall to be interrupted, thereby obtaining a reduction in the heat accumulated by the walls, as well as its elimination inside the gap by means of the chimney effect that is generated. The elimination of the rain from the insulating layer and the greater exchange of air during the damp season are added factors;
• Duration: the application of stoneware slabs allows the surfaces to have unparalleled resistance and durability over time

The façade system allows formats ranging from 60 x 30 cm to large format slabs 260 x 120 cm to be installed.

Some components of the façade structure are made of 6060 aluminium, whereas others are made of AISI 316 steel, to obtain maximum resistance over time.

Yes, they fall under the energy efficiency improvement works that can result in a deduction depending from local norms.

The materials making up the façade system do not require scheduled maintenance. Simple visual checks of component integrity on a multi-year basis are sufficient.

The materials making up the façade system do not require scheduled maintenance. Simple visual checks of component integrity on a multi-year basis are sufficient.

The elements constituting the ventilated façade do not feed the flame in any way.

Certainly.
This is a system suitable for covering deteriorated plaster, renewing the aesthetics of the building, also masking any adaptations made on the external elements of the building (pipes, structural elements) that can be concealed in the gap of the façade.

Porcelain stoneware can be used on the façade, thanks to its resistance to shocks and frost characteristics. The porcelain stoneware may be full-body, coloured body or glazed

The modularity of the façade system allows different materials to be installed in the same building, offering the Customer the possibility of obtaining the best aesthetics.

The stoneware slabs are supported by using stainless steel accessories, which hold the slab against the aluminium structure in different ways.
We can distinguish two categories of restraint – one which shows the visible hooks, thus obtaining a system defined as “visible” anchorage, and the other, on the contrary, the support fixations are concealed behind the facing slabs, to obtain an “invisible” coupling system. The aesthetic result to be achieved, together with the budget available for the works, guide the choice between the two systems, both applicable to most of the materials on the market.

According to the latest regulatory provisions intended to favour the efficiency of buildings and therefore, the installation of energy saving systems, the installation of a ventilated façade system most often does not constitute an increase in building cubic capacity.

The geometric tolerances of the anchoring infrastructure allow for the acceptance of different formats of stoneware slabs for ventilated facades , starting from the standard dimensions of 60×30 cm up to the use of large-format modules of 260×120 cm.

Yes, engineered ceramic material (whether colored, glazed, or full-body) is the ideal solution for creating external ventilated facades in porcelain stoneware . Its suitability for use as an external cladding is determined by its intrinsic characteristics of extremely high mechanical flexural strength and total frost resistance, thanks to its virtually zero water absorption.

From a building engineering perspective, this solution offers:

• Protection to safeguard the wall structures: the insulating cavity and the class A1 ceramic material guarantee maximum safety of the facade system , eliminating humidity and protecting the building from the elements;
• Efficiency and comfort: the system promotes significant acoustic insulation of ventilated facades and optimizes the building’s thermodynamics, generating energy savings of up to 20%;
• Optimized management: the absolute inalterability of stoneware ensures significantly simpler and more economical maintenance in the long term compared to plaster;
• Aesthetics and design: the modular flexibility of ventilated facades makes this system ideal for enhancing architectural aesthetics, allowing installation even on pre-existing buildings without the need for demolition.

Yes. Our approach ensures the creation of turnkey ventilated facades , providing centralized management of all operational phases: from drafting the estimate to the correct engineering of the facade system to resolve complex issues, coordinating procurement logistics and directly managing the installation of the final ventilated facades.

No. When designing ventilated facades , and in compliance with current legislation on energy efficiency, it is calculated that the technical volumes generated by the external envelope do not contribute to increasing the calculation of the useful volume of the building.

The modularity of the system allows for the installation of different materials and finishes for ventilated facades on the same building , ensuring maximum executive flexibility for the Client’s project and a distinctive aesthetic result.

All ceramic elements making up the external facing of the architectural envelope are non-combustible, ensuring maximum fire safety for ventilated facades . When exposed to extreme heat, these inert materials do not in any way contribute to the development or spread of flame.

The façade structure is extruded from 6060 aluminum alloy. The components used to anchor the ventilated façade and attach the panels are instead stamped from AISI 316 stainless steel, to ensure maximum tensile strength and oxidation resistance over time.

The main advantages of ventilated facades over traditional thermal insulation systems lie in the system’s superior thermodynamic and mechanical performance. The efficiency of the envelope is enhanced by three key engineering factors:

• Greater breathability: guaranteed by the use of highly breathable insulating materials and by the creation of facades without paints and primers , elements which instead tend to seal the walls in external insulation systems;
• Thermodynamic screening: the creation of an air gap interrupts direct solar radiation, reducing accumulated heat and promoting its removal through the chimney effect generated by ventilated facades . This mechanism also removes rainwater from the insulation layer and maximizes air exchange during the humid season;
• Structural and material resistance: the durability of stoneware facades allows for exterior surfaces with unparalleled resistance and durability over time, eliminating the risk of cracking or deterioration typical of plaster.

Yes. Imola Tecnica holds the specific certifications (including the OS18-B category) required for validation in public tenders. This qualification allows us to formally operate as a specialized building envelope partner , assuming full responsibility for the project and directly managing the projects for the construction of turnkey ventilated facades .

The panels are supported by stainless steel accessories that secure the cladding to the aluminum frame. The structure uses mechanical fastening systems certified for ventilated facades, available in two versions:

• Systems with exposed anchoring , where the retaining hooks remain exposed;
• Systems with invisible anchoring , in which the supports are located on the back of the slab.

The choice between ventilated facades with exposed or concealed anchoring is defined during the structural design phase, calibrating the aesthetic needs and budget constraints of the construction site.

The system requires no specific scheduled maintenance. Maintenance of porcelain stoneware ventilated facades requires only simple visual checks every few years to ensure the mechanical integrity of the components. From a material perspective, the ventilated facades offered by Imola Tecnica benefit from the high durability of porcelain stoneware : the complete absence of cracks and resistance to UV degradation drastically reduce maintenance costs compared to traditional plasters.

Absolutely. Installing a ventilated façade for the energy retrofit of existing buildings is technically suitable for façade renovations . Being a dry-assembled system, it allows for covering damaged plaster without the need for demolition. The resulting cavity also provides the necessary space to conceal existing pipes or structural elements.

The RTV 13 regulation establishes very stringent fire safety parameters for ventilated facades , penalizing the use of plastic or composite materials. Porcelain stoneware ventilated facades naturally meet these requirements because stoneware is an inorganic and inert material, certified as a Class A1 non-combustible material. External architectural stoneware cladding does not fuel flames in any way and does not contribute to the spread of fire.