Easy to install, yet durable, having low acquisition costs and a neat appearance – these are the things that every builder expects from the wall and roof cladding materials they choose. Unfortunately, few of them combine all the characteristics mentioned. Unlike sandwich panels, which have become a real hit in the Polish market.
Definition
Sandwich panels are a relatively new building material, designed to form the body of a building and cover both walls and roofs. They are a composite product, formed by combining several key elements: steel, profiled sheets in the outer layer, and an insulating core in the center. One company that specialises in creating and selling them is Kingspan. The manufacturer’s sandwich panels are among the most popular choices.
How is a sandwich panel made?
A sandwich panel is created in an automated manner and the process can be divided into several key stages.
- The formation of the steel cladding
- – a profiled, strong sheet is formed first, giving the panel a specific shape and mechanical strength.
- The formation of the insulation core
- – depending on the type of specific sandwich panel, a different material is used in the core. The most popular are mineral wool, polyurethane foam, and polystyrene, as those offering a favorable thermal insulation performance, while also offering fire safety.
- The integration of two layers
- – the cladding and the insulation core. This process is based on the phenomenon of adhesion, i.e. the ability of materials to bond with each other.
- Product quality control and ‘seasoning
- ‘ – before the sandwich panels are transported, they undergo detailed quality control, during which, among other things, their shape and thickness are checked. They are also sent for what is called seasoning, where they acquire the right temperature.
Application
Due to their favourable thermal and acoustic insulation parameters, as well as their mechanical strength, lightweight, attractive price, and wide availability of sizes and aesthetics, sandwich wall and roof panels are used more and more extensively. Among other things, as a material that is used in the construction of production halls and warehouses, office and commercial buildings, public facilities, cold stores, and freezers.
