Australian manufactured MetecnoKasset is the first façade system to pass all criteria of the new Australian Standard AS5113:2016 Fire Propagation for Exterior Walls which came into effect March 2018.
AS5113 is a unique code aimed at improving the safety of Australian building systems with specific pass/fail criteria and is more stringent than any international standard.
Manufactured by Metecno PIR, part of the Australian Bondor Metecno Group, MetecnoKasset passed AS5113 as a conforming curtain wall system for commercial and multi rise construction after almost a year of rigorous testing.
Metecno PIR’s general manager, Colin Richman, said the system meets the highest fire safety benchmark of the Australian built environment.
“MetecnoKasset meets AS5113’s more stringent criteria including for falling debris and radiant heat that are not found in European or American standards,” he said.
“The other great advantage of the system is that it can be installed from inside the building which reduces the need for perimeter scaffolding making the fitting process safer, cheaper and faster.
“In fact, it can reduce installation time by up to 50 per cent and has saved one client over $1 million in scaffolding equipment on one project alone.”
Developers of the Yorkshire Brewery Apartments in Collingwood achieved the savings when it installed MetecnoKasset as part of its conversion of the heritage-listed building into a modern 15 and 17 storey tower development.
“The new lightweight system together with a traditional installation method significantly reduced the labour costing and program times without relying on the site crane other than floor loading,” Richman said.
The installation cycle on average was two floors per week, without the need for any external access.
Richman said the system is a breakthrough in installation methods and safety, and expects a high volume of demand from architects, builders and developers.
MetecnoKasset provides a lightweight, easy to install and a more affordable alternative to tilt panels, and its narrow wall profile gives more floor space than traditional concrete tilt ups.
The system also offers a major reduction in dead loads on the floor and ceiling, reducing the impact and weight on lower floors and the building as a whole.
MetecnoKasset’s other accreditations and testing include: AS/NZS 4284:2008 Building Façade Testing (Structural SLS, Air Infiltration, Water Penetration, Structural ULS), acoustic assessments Rw 25 to 55 and codemark certifications.