Lightweight Concrete Facade Cladding Panels by GRC NZ

Lightweight Concrete Facade Cladding Panels

GRC NZ

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Description

GRC New Zealand produce custom, large format Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) panels for exterior facades and cladding. The GRC panels are supported on an engineered steel frame that is fixed to the building structure. GRC New Zealand can provide a total design and engineering service to ensure a cladding that suits the exact parameters of the design.

Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) is a versatile lightweight composite material that can be cast in moulds, allowing it to be made to virtually any pattern or texture. Typically manufactured to a skin thickness of 12mm, GRC can be up to 75% lighter than traditional precast concrete. This provides cost savings in transport, handling, and installation, and provides flexibility over panel design and size. GRC can be painted or coloured to almost any colour using a pigment oxide added to the mix at the time of casting.

GRC is notable for its durability, seismic capabilities, chemical resistance, non-combustibility and good sound/heat insulation properties. The GRC composition can be enhanced to provide additional resistance to impact, weather, and graffiti.

Key Features

Up to 75% lighter than traditional precast concrete
Large format rainscreen facade panels
Custom moulds allow for versatility in panel design
Can be painted, or coloured at casting
Engineered steel frame fixing or custom fixing solutions

Scope of Use

Exterior rainscreen facade cladding
Suitable for new builds, re-cladding, and restoration or repair work
Large formats available
Panels custom made to any texture or pattern, including lettering and signage
GRC skin is cast and supported on a designed steel frame that is fixed to the building structure
GCR New Zealand can provide a complete design solution including fixing systems
Extra protection against impact, weather, or graffiti available

Statement of Building Code Compliance

If applied and installed in accordance with GRCNZ recommendations, this system will meet or contribute to meeting the following provisions of the NZBC:

Clause B1 STRUCTURE: Performance B1.3.1, B1.3.2 and B1.3.4. Lightweight Concrete Facade Cladding Panels meet the requirements for loads arising from self-weight, earthquake, wind, human impact and creep
Clause B2 DURABILITY: Performance B2.3.1 (b), 15 years.
Clause E2 EXTERNAL MOISTURE: Performance E2.3.2.
Clause F2 HAZARDOUS BUILDING MATERIALS: Performance F2.3.1. Lightweight Concrete Facade Cladding Panels meets this requirement and will not present a health hazard to people.

GCR New Zealand Ltd can provide Producer Statements for each project.

In-Service History

GRC was developed as a corrosion free alternative to traditional steel reinforced concrete in the 1960s.

GCR New Zealand has produced GRC solutions for New Zealand since the early 2000s.

Other Performance Attributes

GRC is notable for its durability, seismic capabilities, chemical resistance, non-combustibility and good sound/heat insulation properties.

Lightweight and Strong:

GRC is a high impact resistance material with a strength-to-weight ratio superior to most other materials
GRC has high compressive and tensile strengths
The glass fibre has a tensile strength 3 to 4 times greater than the equivalent steel fibre

Durability and Maintenance:

The weathering characteristics of GRC are equal to any precast material
Unlike traditional reinforced cement, GRC uses alkali resistant (AR) glass fibres throughout the matrix to provide reinforcement so is not at risk of corrosion, and does not require further maintenance
Specialist products are available offering additional resistance to impact, weather, and graffiti

Environmental Information:

GRC is generally cast in thin skin sections which consume fewer raw materials and energy during manufacture
The reduced weight and thickness of GRC panels can provide significantly lower environmental impacts during transportation to site and during installation