en.Wedoany.com Reported - EJOT UK has launched CROSSFIX, an all-stainless steel curtain wall subframe system designed to enhance building sustainability and thermal performance. Introduced by Business Development Manager Gary Robson, the system utilizes stainless steel material, combining innovative design and manufacturing processes to provide a solution for rear-ventilated curtain wall or rainscreen systems.
The application of stainless steel in metal building components is gaining increasing attention. Compared to traditional aluminium, stainless steel offers higher stiffness and strength, helping to reduce thermal transfer between the building structure and the external cladding panels. The CROSSFIX system integrates a polyamide thermal break within the Konsole bracket, further enhancing resistance to thermal transfer. This design allows for achieving higher thermal performance without increasing insulation thickness, or using thinner insulation to reach the initial U-value.
Thinner insulation not only saves material and cost but can also potentially increase floor space within the building. Due to the high strength derived from the stainless steel composition and the system's "Powerkey" design, fewer brackets are required, reducing the number of components and installation time. The system includes all necessary brackets, rails, anchors, and fasteners, supplied as a complete kit.
In terms of resource consumption, stainless steel is readily recyclable, with end-of-life recovery rates in the construction industry approaching 100%. The material can be repeatedly remelted in electric arc furnaces without loss of properties. The high recyclability of the CROSSFIX system helps reduce the demand for virgin raw materials.
Regarding fire performance, stainless steel has an initial melting point of no less than 1375°C and retains 55% of its strength at 700°C. The system is classified as A1 fire rating according to EN 13501-1, the highest classification for non-combustible materials, meaning it does not contribute to fire spread. This makes it superior to aluminium or hybrid material systems containing plastics.
In terms of design flexibility, the Konsole bracket can be used for both vertical and horizontal rails, offering greater freedom to accommodate complex geometries, curtain wall setbacks, and mixed cladding systems. The bidirectional guidance allows for selecting the most efficient load path without redesigning the bracket layout. The brackets offer better tolerance compensation for uneven substrates, facilitating on-site alignment and accelerating installation speed.
The CROSSFIX system has already been applied in multiple projects. In a residential project in Leeds, the system was used to create the curtain walling for two apartment buildings within a climate innovation district, accommodating two different types of cladding. In Germany, the system was used for the construction of a green curtain wall for a power distribution company's new office building, involving 600 square meters of curtain wall containing 56,000 plants.
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