Solid Calcium Sulfate Panel NORTEC |
Steel Encapsulated Panel |
Steel Infill Panel |
| System designation |
Steel Infill / Encapsulated Panels |
Solid NORTEC Panel |
| Safety in Case of Fire |
Non-combustible, BUT:
- Since steel is an intense heat conductor, the surface gets extremely hot within minutes and there is no protection for people inside the buildings |
- Non-combustible
- Panel resist heat for up to 60 minutes, thus this raised floor could be used for escape routes adding an additional important protection for people inside the building |
| Dimensional Accuracy |
Panels have to be screwed
onto pedestals to avoid:
- Moving of panels
- Groaning and squeaking |
- Panels can be laid on pedestal, without screwing, thus high accessibility
- No moving of panels
- No groaning and squeaking |
| Accessibility |
- Panels are very often screwed to pedestal
- Low interchangeability of panels
- High operation costs |
- Panels are held in position by a gasket
- No screwing of panel necessary
- High interchangeability of panels
- Low operation costs |
| Welding Points |
- Welding spots at the steel sheets become unfastened rather easily under working load, often creating a noisy panel under foot traffic as well as decreasing load-bearing capability |
- No welding points at all |
| Bottom Side of Panel |
- Often has dent on bottom side which breaks air stream |
- Smooth bottom ideal for flow of under floor air |
| Air Leakage |
- Low tightness of joints
- Uncontrolled air flow
- High leakage of air
- High operation costs |
- Good tightness of joints
- No loss of air when floor plenum is used as air channel
- Best air-leakage rates ever tested at B.I.T.S.
(Building Investigation and Testing Laboratories), thus tolerance 0.2 mm (1/128”) |
| Coverings |
- Low variety
- Coverings are not protected |
- High variety (e.g. stone, parquet)
- Protected by edge trim |
| Sound-Proofing |
- Noise is transferred from room to room due to the metal link between steel sheet on top and steel sheet on bottom |
- No transfer of noise due to the missing direct link between panel top and panel bottom |
| Airborne Acoustic Value |
- Up to a max. of 38 dB |
- Up to a max. of 58 dB |
| Walking Comfort |
- Low comfort due to the metallic sound accompanying walking |
- Very good walking comfort guaranteed by the calcium sulfate material |
| Panel Cutting |
- Special tools required |
- Standard tools |
| Cut Panels |
- Parts of the light concrete may fall out
- Results in a decrease of load bearing means |
- Strong cut edges, no loss of material
- Decrease of load bearing means only at smaller strips |
