A sandwich panel has become a very common choice for the construction of floorings, surfaces of walls, roofs of houses, and more. These panels are also referred to as shielded panels and they have layers that help in insulation. They are extensively used in coolrooms for controlling the temperature of items that can perish. Coolrooms are lightweight and are excellent conductors of electricity. The panels can keep the internal temperature of the cool room constant. The panels are installed using building materials to make sure that they are effective for a long time. Foam insulation prevents the leakage of cold air.
Sandwich Panels In-Depth
Sandwich panels are energy efficient and over the years, they have been made to cater to external as well as internal problems. Cool rooms use airtight sandwich panels. Cool room cores are constructed using materials such as polystyrene, extruded polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, and mineral woollen. Despite there being several materials, the materials PIR and PUR boast of high resistance to water and fire than EPS and XPS. Apart from that, those materials offer additional durability than mineral wool or other materials.
Sandwich panels are usually insulated with polyurethane foam and are sheathed with metal on both sides. Polyisocyanurate foam has gained a lot of popularity. It shares characteristics similar to those of polyurethane foam. At the same time, however, the higher has a higher quotient of fire resistance, EI30. PIR panels can be used in the construction of fireproof partitions. Some manufacturers make panels that have expanded polystyrene insulation (EPS). This material is also used for thermally insulating cold rooms. However, the thermal conductivity of foam is 1.5 to 2 times higher, so the thickness has to be 20-30% than sandwich panels made using polyurethane foam. Coldroom panels offer stability to cold rooms.
Cool room experts have to keep in mind if bought in small volumes, they will be offered panels that are of standard length and you will have to buy panels considering the waste that will be accumulated after cutting the panels. In case panels of some hundred square metres are being bought, custom-made panels will usually be available but they can take a longer time to get delivered than pre-made panels.
Types Of Sandwich Panels
Sandwich panels are usually lightweight so they are used a lot for the renovation of enclosures. Apart from warehouses, cold room panels are also used for regulating the temperature of sports centres as well. These are the types of panels:
- Sandwich Panels For Facades: The panels that are used for facades have been improved a lot over the years and they find a lot of use in the construction of enclosures homes, industrial structures, hospitals, and more. Sandwich panels also have applications for partitions in the interiors that require insulation. The perks of these panels are impacted largely by the methods that have been used in the installation of the same. The panels are fastened by implementing the tongue-and-groove. This keeps the heat and humidity from escaping.
- Pools For Roofing: There are differences between the characteristics of sandwich panels for roofs and those for facades. The panels used for the roofs have to stand firm against rain, snow, and other climatic conditions. They are installed using screws for the prevention of leakage in the rain and humid climates. The panels are combined with sealing joints and this can speed up the process of installation without harming the insulation layer.
- Refrigeration Panels: Sandwich panels are also used in freezers where insulation is required. In such cases, the panels are designed in such a way it is thicker than normal for standing firm against harmful weather conditions. Special attention has to be paid to the joints of the panels for maintaining extreme temperatures for preserving fresh food products.
What To Keep In Mind While Buying Sandwich Panels?
Panels of varying thicknesses are offered by manufacturers for meeting the preferences of the customers. This also brings down the production cost. If price is of the essence, then you can go for a metal sheathing of a thickness of 0.5mm. A good thickness for working with the panel is 0.55mm to 0.7m. This would also be a good choice if the goal is to keep them operational for a long time. Thicknesses of 0.8mm can be significantly expensive.
PPU material impacts its cost. Galvanized sheathing is used in the construction of all panels. Additions to the same are made such as paints, varnishes, and other coatings. These additions impact the resistance to corrosion and the longevity of the panels.
Conclusion
A sandwich panel can be installed fast and without a lot of complications. You can overlook the minute details while constructing smaller chambers but in the case of the ones, you have to keep an eye on every detail as miscalculations can be detrimental.
