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APPLICATION OF VITRA THERM EXTERNAL THERMAL INSULATION COMPOSITE SYSTEMS

SURFACE PREPARATION

• Application surface should be smooth, dry, and clean from dust and dirt. Preferably, surfaces which are loose or have a low resistance should be flushed with pressurized water of 100 to 150 bars.
• Horizontal and vertical smoothness of the application surface should be checked using a string, and surface tolerance should not exceed 10 to 20 mm. Repairs and corrections should be performed if necessary conditions could not be met.
• Indoor and outdoor plasters as well as floor screeds of the application should be allowed for 28 days set-time.
• It is recommended to use a covering on scaffolding, and etc. to protect the surface from rain, wind, direct sunlight during application.
• All the details present at the application surface including windows, doors, balconies, splashboards, dilatation joints, roof edges, and parapet wall details should be adjusted so that no water penetrates into the external thermal insulation composite system.

SELECTION OF VITRATHERM EXTERNAL THERMAL INSULATION COMPOSITE SYSTEMS

• Vitra Therm NORM provides thermal insulation (XPS, EPS, LAMPDOPOR insulation boards), and Vitra Therm ARKİTEKT (Rock wool insulation boards) provides thermal, sound, and fire insulation.
• Either of Vitra Therm NORM and Vitra Therm ARKİTEKT systems having a proper thickness is chosen.

VITRA THERM PRODUCTS

Vitra Therm VT 500	Jotashield
Vitra Therm Mechanical Fixing Anchors	Vitra Therm Insulation Boards
Vitra Therm VT 600	Vitra Therm Profiles
Vitra Therm Reinforcement Mesh Vitra Therm Special Accessories	Vitra Therm VT  700

APPLICATION OF VITRATHERM

Dimensions of the aluminum starter profiles are determined depending upon thickness of the insulation board to be used. It is fixed by means of special mechanical fixing anchors within intervals of 40 to 50 cm paying attention to its smoothness. Plastic wedges of different thickness may be used to eliminate the gaps between aluminum starter profile and application surface.

Upon preparation of Vitra Therm VT 500 adhesive mortar, choose one of the methods from spot adhesion method, notched trowel method, or method of adhesion by means of machinery, and thermal insulation boards are placed continuously starting from the bottom, and in discomposed manner on façade surfaces and corners.

Only whole or half insulation boards should be used at edges for discomposed placement, and smaller then half boards should not be used. Insulation boards should be placed and hit with a wide surfaced gauge in order to ensure sufficient adhesion. Any gaps between insulation boards should be covered with parts which are cut from the same material. Attention should be given to non-overflowing of adhesive from the joints of insulation boards. Insulation board’s edges should be clean.

Mechanical fixing elements are required to prevent impacts of wind and turbulence, and maintain long term performance of the insulation system. Mechanical fixing anchors are to be placed at least 24 hours after completion of adhesion. Type, dimensions, and number of mechanical fixing anchors depend on height of the structure, surface properties, settlement area of the structure, and type of thermal insulation boards. Generally, 6 pieces of mechanical fixing anchors are used per square meter of application. Mechanical fixing anchors are applied to the middle of insulation boards, and all the corner joints where insulation boards come together. Please consult the technical service for more detailed information about type, number, and placement schema of anchors for special applications.

Edges and joints are the points which are exposed to the highest risk of cracking, and weak against mechanical stresses. Special aluminum or PVC corner profiles reinforced with mesh should used to protect these areas, and decrease the risk of cracking. Aluminum or PVC corner profile reinforced with mesh is placed into the first layer of base coat render. Reinforcement mesh overlaps on each side of edges by min. 10 cm.

Dilatation profiles: These are the special profiles used at expansion joints of buildings. Expansion joints should never be covered by rigid materials such as adhesives, plasters, and etc., and profiles produced for detail purposes should be used.
Aluminum Nosing Profiles: These are the special profiles used to prevent water leakages and obtain smooth finishes at door and window lentos, and edges of balconies and cantilever elements.
Window Sill Profiles: These are the profiles which are used especially for the details where existing sills are left behind of thermal insulation boards during alteration of old buildings.
Window Edge Profile Reinforced with Mesh: These are the profiles used to obtain smooth finishes, and prevent formation of cracks at locations where door and window frames and thermal insulation system come together.

Vitra Therm VT 600 base coat render is applied over thermal insulation boards with a steel trowel. Reinforcement mesh (alkaline-resistant) is embedded into the first layer of mortar by using a steel trowel. In order to avoid cracks, reinforcement mesh is applied with approximately 10 cm overlaps on each other. The reinforcement mesh should be turned with minimum 20-25 cm overlaps on each corners, door and window edges and on critical details. 20 x 40 cm sized reinforcement mesh parts should be placed diagonally at corners of doors, windows, and spaces. Second layer of plaster is applied 3 to 5 hours later. The thickness of final application should be minimum 3-4 mm for two layers. Top coat should be applied after VitrA Therm VT 600 completely dries.

For an application of decorative coatings with trowel or roll texture, application surface should be thoroughly dry, and weather conditions should be suitable. No application should be made especially under strong winds and very hot weathers since coatings get dry faster than surface. Care should be given to joints at large façades, and application should be made continuously using sufficient number of staff. As the final coating Jotashield Topcoat Tex Fine %100 pure acrylic exterior paint with a fine texture or Jotashield Topcoat Tex Ultra %100 pure acrylic exterior paint with superior flexibility that bridges cracks can be applied over Vitra Therm VT 600 base coat render. As an alternative Vitra Therm VT 700 textured final coating can be preferred over Vitra Therm VT 600 base coat render. Since Vitra Therm VT 700 cement-based coating with texture is white colored, it can be painted with Jotashield Topcoat Gloss or Jotashield Topcoat Silk %100 pure acrylic exterior paints. Before the application of Jotashield paints, Jotashield alkali resistant primer should be applied. Acrylic-based coatings are produced and applied in a colored manner. Light colors should be preferred. Since dark colors attract sunlight much more than light ones, dark colors increase thermal stresses on surface, and give rise to the risk of capillary cracks on surface.