Press Information
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| Issued: 18 September 2008 |
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Aerolite Makes Design Statement With British Stone
Façade innovator, T.I. Dynamic Facades, has partnered with Realstone, one of the largest suppliers of natural stone in the UK, to offer British stone as a standard facing option with Aerolite, T.I. Dynamic Facade’s affordable and lightweight stone façade system. The launch of a lightweight façade system with Realstone is a UK first, and will enable specifiers to make bold design statements by significantly increasing the size of panels that can be used.
Working with Realstone, T.I. Dynamic Facades will provide access to a variety of popular British stones, including Derbyshire buff sandstone, Cumbrian red sandstone, as well as Portland and Lincolnshire limestones. Compared to the 40mm thick stone facing required by traditional cladding techniques, Aerolite allows British stone to be cut to between 6mm and 15mm thick, with system strength achieved by bonding the stone to an Aerolite aluminium honeycomb reinforced backing. As a lightweight construction, Aerolite allows much larger British stone panels to be used than ever before, with the only restriction on panel size being the block from which it is cut.
In addition to the design advantages of Aerolite, there are significant cost savings to be achieved because it reduces the amount of raw material required per square metre, increases the efficiency of installation and also removes the need for specialist stone masons on-site.
Iain Kennedy, managing director, Realstone, comments: “The lightweight nature of Aerolite will encourage the use of British stone on developments where previously it was considered out of budget. It’s truly an innovation and I look forward to seeing what can be achieved now there is little or no reasonable restriction over the size of British stone panel that can be used.”
Delivered to site ready for installation using the vertical T.I. Tracking carrier system, Aerolite can be installed as either a rainscreen or closed joint façade. Engineered to preserve a high quality stone finish, T.I. Tracking requires only a minimal number of mechanical fixings. William Harwood, director, T.I. Dynamic Facades, concludes: “British stone is naturally very popular in the UK market, but has historically been the preserve of only the most premium of developments. Having developed the technology of a lightweight stone façade system, it was important to expand the portfolio to include British stone as a standard rather than bespoke offering, ensuring continuity of supply and demonstrating our commitment to the UK market.”
The Aerolite system has been fully tested at Taylor Woodrow Technology Centre to CWCT (Centre for Window and Cladding Technology) guidelines and been shown to meet BS Standards.
