Aquapanel Exterior renders curves for Bianco

Knauf Drywall's lightweight and bendable Aquapanel Exterior was deemed the ideal substrate for smoothly curved rendered walls at Bianco, an art-deco inspired apartment building in Bournemouth.

Knauf Aquapanel Exterior recently gained British Board of Agrement (BBA) certification, confirming its suitability for use as a ventilated exterior wall panel.

It is a glass-fibre reinforced, water- and weather-resistant cement board specially developed for fast-track building on steel or timber studs in straight or curved configurations.

The Bianco installation also demonstrates that render dries faster on Knauf Aquapanel Exterior than other cladding products - even in wintry conditions.

The BBA certification says that if Knauf Aquapanel Exterior is installed, used and maintained correctly it will accept all likely surface loadings and resist the passage of moisture from the ground or from the weather.

It has a Class A1 fire rating ('non-combustible') and a service life in excess of 30 years.

The certificate endorses Knauf Aquapanel Exterior under the Building Regulations for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland - as well as NHBC Standards 2008 and the Zurich Building Guarantee Technical Manual 2007.

Knauf Aquapanel Exterior gives architects and builders a high-quality, time-saving and economical alternative to traditional methods of construction - and it facilitates rapid closure of a building.

At 16kg/m2 it is easy to handle and it installs fast - no pre-drilling is required and it takes 15 minutes per square metre, including screws, jointing tape and filler.

When taped and jointed as recommended, the walls remain weatherproof for up to six months without further finishing.

A non-combustible building panel of aggregated Portland cement with polymer coated glass-fibre mesh embedded in front and rear surfaces, Knauf Aquapanel Exterior has the advantages of a dry panel system plus the durability of brick and block.

It is a non-organic product, mould resistant and dimensionally stable.

The 12.5mm thick boards are available from Knauf Drywall stockists in 900 x 1,200mm and 900 x 2,400mm sizes.

Full-size boards bend to a 3m radius, while 300mm strips bend to 1m radius.

Knauf Aquapanel Exterior is designed for directly applied render and other exterior finishes.

It can be used for new-build projects, and can also add design and construction benefits to extensions, facade renovations, exterior ceilings and many other outdoor projects.

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