• Is epoxy used to hold the anchor in place?

No – the anchor is a stress free undercut anchor that does not use epoxy but expands into the predrilled undercut hole.

• Can the system move laterally?

Yes – clamping brackets are used to permit movement of the horizontal members. The entire system was seismically tested to 9 on the Richter scale.

• What is the benefit of a open joint ventilated system?

The façade can “breathe” therefore condensation risks are eliminated, no structural decay occurs and less external heat transfers to the interior of the building.

• Why use an undercut anchor versus edge anchoring?

Edge anchoring systems can collect water at the anchor site, freeze and crack the face of the stone panels where undercut anchors are drilled into the back of the panel away from the edges and are horizontally positioned so that water cannot collect.

• Is this a rainscreen system?

Yes – testing has demonstrated that less than 5% of rainwater will enter the system where water will wick down the back of the panel and never reach the core of the building.

• What building heights can the system be used on?

International building standards categorize buildings into three height classifications. The system can be used on any building height however the windloads applied and the height of the building determine the vertical spacing and anchoring points.

• What is the largest panel size that can be used?

Typically, the largest panel size is 1.5m x 1.5m, however , larger panels can be accommodated using larger brackets and multiple anchors.

• How is the building thermally efficient?

The building structure is waterproofed, then up to six inches of rigid insulation can be added to the exterior, behind and between the vertical members – typically, one inch behind and up to five inches in between.

• Can slate,bluestone,sandstone and limestone be used with this system?

Yes – typically these types of stones are hung using a traditional system with very thick panel sizes. With our system, panel thickness is reduced since the undercut anchor can be used in stones as thin as 2 cm.

• What types of buildings can this system be used on?

The aluminum subframe can be anchored to most surfaces – concrete, block brick, CMU’s as well as steel stud construction.