CSC No 07 42 43
Composite Wall Panels
Learn about the technology of phenolic for facade design and construction.
Next sections to Choose Products, Design and Use.
Gentas has been operating since 1972, starting in the HPL product in 1997. Gentas has annual volume of 14,000 sq m. 20% of shipments are for exterior walls or approximately €10M per annum in revenue. Gentas exports to 45 countries on 5 continents.
Key Attributes of Gentas UV+
- Solid phenolic panel, where front layer provides colour; every panel identical
- Pattern panels do not repeat in panel
- UV and Graffit coating provides enduring protection
- Sheets of 1300 x 2800 mm / 1300 x 3050 mm (4.3' x 9.2' / 4.3' x 10')
- 8mm panel for facade, 10mm for soffit
- Exposed and Hidden Fastener attachment available
- CAN ULC S-134 suitable for non-combustible construction (up to 6 storeys of sprinklered buildings in Ontario)
- Cut and drilled either in shop or onsite
- No maintenance required
High Pressure Laminate, or phenolic consists of kraft paper, decorative paper, resins and coatings. Its a technology that has been accomplished by many companies around the world. The manufacturers use similar materials and processes, and this techology has had a long life.
Its all about the raw materials. Strength and quality of the laminates is directly proportional to the quality of the ingredients contained in kraft papers, decorative papers and resins used. Gentaş uses the world's top quality materials and works in cooperation with most prestigious brands. Therefore Gentaş Laminate is at the highest levels of quality standards.
Projects include Canada, Russia, Russia, Scandinavia (Den, Swe, Nor, Fin), Baltics (Ltu, Lv, Est), Kazakhstan, Germany, France, Poland, and the Netherlands, as well as projects in southern climates.
HPL for exterior uses is standardized by EN 438 in the following sections. KIWA a firm in the Netherlands, has provided testing and certifies the factory annually. Great confidence comes from the products ability to pass this very stringent standard. See data sheet for complete results.
- 438 - 2: establishes norms for testing certification covering all criteria of manufacturing tolerances, strengths, resistances to external forces eg weather, water vapour, heat, , resistance to wear etc.
- 438 - 2.5 Manufacturing tolerances: 8mm ±0.5mm
- 438 - 2.10 Wear resistance
- 438 - 2.14 Water vapour resistivity
- 438 - 2.19 Resistance to climatic shock (-20°C to +80°C for 5 days)
- 438 - 2.21 Impact resistance
- 438 - 2.25 Scratch resistance
- 438 - 2.28 Resistance to UV
- 438 - 6: 2+mm compact laminates for external use.
- 438 - 7: compact laminate & hpl panel for internal and external wall & ceiling finishes. CEmarking is prepared according to this norm. Gentas is inspected by KIWA annally.
- 438 - 8: UV / Colour fastness testing for design laminates eg wood decors.
- ISO 1183-1 Density measurement
- ISO 178 Flextural Strength and Modulus
- ISO 527 - 2 Tensile strength
Gentas Downloads
The standard calls out for quality requirements for the following categories
- EDS, EDF: E=Exterior grade, D=severe weather, S=standard grade, F=fire rated grade
- EDF is called G-UV+: A phenolic panel with acrylic UV coating, with or without fire retardant resins.
- EDF(G-UV+FR) has the CANULC S134 rating which makes it suitable for non-combustible construction with limitations regarding sprinklers(all of Canada) and building height(in Ontario only).
G-EXT: Phenolic panel with Electron Beam Curing, provided by the same factory in Germany that the name brand from Netherlands uses. Electronic Beam curing (EBC) is a surface curing process in the manufacture of high pressure laminate (HPL) boards. The process applies color to a single sheet of Kraft paper which is adhered to a HPL board in such a way that it will keep its color durably while remaining scratch-resistant. Unlike other HPL creation methods, EBC does not use heat.
The EBC machine used in the curing process gives the finished HPL boards a surface that is both color-fade resistant and has a high resistance to damage. The process works by first mixing color pastes to the desired color and then applying it to a single sheet of kraft paper. This substrate is then put in the EBC machine together with a protective foil. In the machine this sheet is then shot with electrons at such high velocity that the color impregnated paper hardens almost instantly. After being stored in a temperature-controlled room for a short duration the sheets are ready to be adhered to unfinished HPL boards in a process called dry forming.
Gentas HPL fits EA's system in the same way as other EA products have done for many years.
