Application of ATLAS XPS system makes it possible to:

• obtain the required thermal insulation properties of external walls,
• extend the lifetime of external walls by protecting them from direct impact of atmospheric conditions,
• create a long-lasting thermal insulation, resistant to mechanical damage, moisture and biological factors (decay),
• use a single type of thermal insulation material on entire facades (XPS panels can also be used below the ground level) or, if necessary, combine different thermal insulation materials on one facade – the system is compatible with ATLAS external thermal insulation system using expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels (in accordance with ETA-06/0081).

ATLAS XPS SYSTEM BUILD-UP

BASE COAT

THERMAL INSULATION

ADDITIONAL FIXING

REINFORCED COAT

RENDER PRIMER

RENDERING

PRIMERS

COATING

The thermal insulation installation technique involves attaching thermal insulation material - extruded polystyrene to the substrate, on which a reinforced coat is installed, followed by rendering and, optionally, coating. ATLAS XPS can be used as an exclusively adhesive-bonded system or, alternatively, include additional mechanical fixing. The system can be applied to newly-erected or existing external vertical walls of buildings (plastered or bare), made of mortar-bonded elements, such as brick and blocks (ceramic, lime-sand, stone, aerated concrete blocks) or concrete (prefabricated or poured on the site). The system can also be attached to horizontal or sloping building elements, on condition that they are not directly exposed to weather conditions. Such surfaces include ceilings over driveways, and internal walls and ceilings of garages or cellars adjoining heated rooms. The substrate to receive ATLAS XPS system should have a fire reaction class of A1 or A2-s1, d0 according to EN 13501-1.

In terms of fire reaction ATLAS XPS system has been classified in accordance with EN 13501-1 as:

B - s2, d0 for a configuration including XPS panels with a maximum thickness of 200 mm, finished with mineral render - ATLAS CERMIT or silicate render - ATLAS SILKAT, with a top coating of acrylic paint - ATLAS ARKOL E, silicate paint - ATLAS ARKOL S, silicone paint - ATLAS ARKOL N or ATLAS FASTEL.

C - s2, d0 for a configuration including XPS panels with a maximum thickness of 200 mm, finished with acrylic render - ATLAS CERMIT or silicate render - ATLAS SILKAT, with a top coating of acrylic paint - ATLAS ARKOL E, silicate paint - ATLAS ARKOL S, silicone paint - ATLAS ARKOL N or ATLAS FASTEL.

Extruded polystyrene panels have a high mechanical strength and a compact, closed-cell structure, which makes them easy to cut with great precision, obtaining smooth edges without loose particles characteristic of expanded polystyrene. This prevents the formation of void spaces between adjoining panels, causing thermal bridging. Low water absorption of the reinforced coat and the individual finishing coats (a maximum of 0.5 kg/m² after 24h in each configuration) combined with water-resistant XPS panels (thermal insulating properties of XPS panels are not affected by moisture) makes ATLAS XPS system a long-lasting solution, with excellent thermal insulating properties, unaffected by time. All the elements of the composite system ATLAS XPS are protected against the impact of microorganisms by means of special, weather-resistant bactericidal, fungicidal and algicidal additives, whereas extruded polystyrene panels are resistant to biological corrosion and decay. In terms of impact resistance, regardless of the configuration of finishing coats, the system has been classified as III category of service (one layer of glass fibre reinforcing mesh). A correctly designed configuration prevents external and internal water vapour condensation. Resistance to water vapour diffusion, expressed as the equivalent thickness of air layer Sd for the least favourable configuration of finishing coats (including the paint coat) is as low as 0.49 m.

ELEMENTS OF THE SYSTEM

ATLAS XPS can only be made up of products listed in the European Technical Approval ETA-07/0316, indicated below.

1. Base coat

Thermal insulating material can be attached using one of the following adhesives:

- ATLAS STOPTER K-10, ATLAS STOPTER K-20, ATLAS HOTER S, ATLAS HOTER U.

2. Thermal insulation layer

Thermal insulation layer consists of extruded polystyrene (XPS) panels, manufactured according to EN 13164, fire reaction class of at least E, maximum density of 40 kg/m³ and 20 to 200 mm in thickness, designated with the following codes:

• XPS-EN 13164-T2-CS(10/Y)200-DS(TH)-TR100-WL(T)1,5;
• XPS-EN 13164-T1 -CS(10/Y)250-DS(TH)-TR100-WL(T)1,5.

Additional fixing is provided by means of the fasteners:

• EJOT Ejotherm ST U according to ETA-02/0018,
• EJOT Ejotherm NT U according to ETA-05/0009,
• EJOT Ejotherm STR U according to ETA-04/0023,
• EJOT SDM-T plus U according to ETA-04/0064,
• HILTI SX-FV according to ETA-03/0005,
• HILTI SD-FV 8 according to ETA-03/0028,
• Fischer TERMOZ 8N according to ETA-03/0019,
• Fischer TERMOZ 8U according to ETA-02/0019,
• WKRĘT-MET-ŁIT and WKRĘT MET ŁIM according to ETA-05/0225,
• WKRĘT-MET-ŁFNØ8 and WKRĘT MET ŁFM Ø8 according to ETA-06/0080,
• WKRĘT-MET-ŁFNØ10 and WKRĘT MET ŁFM Ø10 according to ETA-06/0105,
• Koelner KI8M according to ETA-06/0191.

The reinforced coat consists of ATLAS STOPTER K-20 or ATLAS HOTER U adhesive in which glass fibre mesh SSA-1363 SM (100) or VERTEX 145A/AKE 145A/R117 A101 is embedded.

5. Render primer

ATLAS CERPLAST (for mineral and acrylic render), ATLAS SILKAT ASX (for silicate render), ATLAS SILKON ANX (for silicone render).

6. Rendering

• mineral rendering ATLAS CERMIT SN, SN-MAL or DR,
• acrylic rendering ATLAS CERMIT N or R,
• silicate rendering ATLAS SILKAT N or R,
• silicone rendering ATLAS SILKON N or R.

• ATLAS ARKOL SX (for silicate paint),
• ATLAS ARKOL NX (for silicone paint).

- acrylic paint ATLAS ARKOL E.

- silicate paint ATLAS ARKOL S.

- silicone paint ATLAS ARKOL N.

- silicone paint ATLAS FASTEL.

9. Accessories – finishing profiles

- drip profile with reinforcing mesh - PCV 10/2500 – white,

- corner profile with reinforcing mesh - PCV 23/2500 – white,

- window profile with reinforcing mesh - PCV 6/2400 or PCV 9/2400 – white,

- façade expansion joint profile, flat, with reinforcing mesh - PCV 10-30/p/2000 – white,

- façade expansion joint profile, angle, with reinforcing mesh - PCV 10-30/k/2000 – white,

- window sill profile with reinforcing mesh - PCV 15/2000 - white.

- PVC or aluminium plinth strips

Both in the design phase and during the actual application of ATLAS XPS system consideration should be given to the requirements of ETAG 004: 2000, European Technical Approval ETA-07/0316 as well as the technical and legal regulations currently in force in the country where the system is to be installed. This applies especially to the requirements as to the insulating properties of partitions, energy efficiency requirements, construction safety, fire safety and the conditions of starting and conducting a building project. Besides, all work should be done in accordance with the information contained in the technical design of thermal insulation, technical instructions issued by ATLAS and in the Technical Data Sheets of the individual components of the system. Technical documentation should be developed individually for a particular building, with consideration to its location and construction. ATLAS XPS consists of non-bearing building elements and does not affect the stability of the elements to which it is attached. The additional thermal resistance R that a wall gains after the system is installed should be calculated according to EN ISO 6946 as the total of the thermal resistance of thermal insulating material and the thermal resistance of render finish coats. If required, the calculations should allow for the effect of thermal bridging due to the use of mechanical fasteners. The system meets the requirements of section 5.1.4.2 ETAG 004: 2000, so no restrictions are introduced as to the wall length or distance between expansion joints, unless they arise from other factors, especially the construction of the building on which the system is to be installed. Insulation work should be carried out in favourable weather conditions. The substrate and ambient temperature during installation and during the drying of the individual materials should be between +5°C and +25°C. The façade should be covered and protected from precipitation, direct sunlight and strong wind.

Substrate

The substrate should be sound, flat and cleaned of any materials that might affect adhesion. Insufficiently bound or loose substrate fragments should be knocked off, and the resulting holes should be repaired using appropriate materials, e.g. ATLAS PLASTER MIX or ATLAS LEVELLING MORTAR. ATLAS XPS system can also be fixed to substrates finished with strongly bonded coats of facade paints or thin-layer plasters. In these cases the thermal insulating material should be attached using ATLAS STOPTER K-20 or ATLAS HOTER U adhesive. Residues of peeling coatings should be removed by pressure washing or scraped off. Weak substrates or substrates of high absorption should be primed with ATLAS UNI-GRUNT emulsion. The substrate should be appropriately prepared to meet the requirements of ETAG 004: 2000. If the substrate quality is doubtful, a bond strength test should be carried out in real conditions. The result (bond strength) should not be lower than 0.08 MPa.

Attaching extruded polystyrene (XPS) panels

The thickness of thermal insulating material should be in accordance with the technical design and selected individually for each wall of the building, based on the calculated overall heat transfer coefficient U, amongst others. The heat transfer coefficient should meet the requirements as to the thermal insulation properties of partitions, set out in the technical and regulations currently in force. The first step in the application of thermal insulation is to attach a plinth strip, which makes it easier to attach the first and next row of XPS panels along the horizontal line as well as provides a reinforcement for the lower edge of the system. The strip should be attached to the plinth of the building, not lower than 30 m above the ground level. This distance ensures system protection against rising damp and also protects the rendering from contamination – mud particles carried by raindrops bouncing off the pavement or ground. If a plinth strip is impossible to install (e.g. if the thermal insulation is thicker than the largest available strip size), it can be replaced by two layers of glass fibre reinforcing mesh with a drip profile installed on the bottom edge of the insulation. When the plinth strip has been installed, the thermal insulation XPS panels can be attached. The first row of panels is installed so that it is supported by the plinth strip. Subsequent rows of panels should be staggered (the vertical joints between panels should alternate). The panels should be staggered both on wall surfaces and on the corners of the building. The principal element that bonds the thermal insulation to the substrate is the adhesive. It is applied to the panel surface in strips and dabs. The strip of adhesive applied along the panel perimeter should be at least 3 cm wide. Apply 6 dabs of adhesive, ca. 8-12 cm in diameter, distributed evenly on the remaining surface. The adhesive applied to the panel should cover at least 40% of its surface. When the adhesive has been applied, the panel should be immediately placed on the substrate and pressed against it. For even and smooth substrates it is possible to spread the adhesive evenly on the whole panel surface using a notched trowel to produce a coat 2-5 mm in thickness. Additional fixing using mechanical fasteners can be commenced no earlier than 24 hours after attaching the panels.

The technical design of thermal insulation should contain detailed information on the number, type and distribution of fasteners. Unless otherwise specified in the technical documentation, a minimum of 4 fasteners should be installed for each panel (at least 5 for 1 m²). Mechanical fasteners are recommended on corners of the building or for panels thicker than 15 cm. Additional mechanical fixing is required in the case of thermal insulation of buildings higher than 12 metres. The depth of anchoring of additional fasteners in the structural layer of the wall should be in accordance with the manufacturers’ specifications. In order to increase the resistance of the insulation system to mechanical damage, enable free water drainage, and provide expansion joints, appropriate profiles are used. The profiles are installed in specific places on the façade, such as corners, reveals, window sills etc. The profiles can also be installed during the embedding of reinforcing mesh in the reinforced coat. The profiles are installed using ATLAS STOPTER K-20 or ATLAS HOTER U adhesive.

Reinforced coat

The reinforced coat consists of a glass fibre mesh embedded in a coat of ATLAS STOPTER K-20 or ATLAS HOTER U adhesive. The mesh has an appropriate mechanical strength, a uniform and strong weave, and a high resistance to alkali. The installation of the reinforcing coat should be commenced no earlier than 3 days after the installation of insulating panels. First, any uneven spots on the surface of the thermal insulation panels should be removed by sanding. Then the wall surface should be reinforced in the corners of windows and doorways by embedding ca. 20x30 cm sized mesh strips in the adhesive coat. The strips should be placed at 45° angle to the reveal edges. Installation of the reinforced coat involves application of a uniform coat of adhesive to the entire surface of thermal insulation material and embedding strips of reinforcing mesh in the adhesive. To make it easier, the mesh can be first pressed into the adhesive in a few spots and then the entire strip is embedded using a notched trowel. A correctly embedded mesh should be completely invisible under the coat of adhesive and it should not be in direct contact with the panel surface. The reinforced coat should be continuous, i.e. the subsequent strips of mesh should overlap by a minimum of 10 cm, and 15 cm on corners. The mesh strips should also overlap with the mesh of the finishing profiles. The overlaps should not coincide with the joints between adjacent panels. Two layers of mesh should be used where necessary, i.e. on the ground floor level of the building and on the plinths. The final step consists of smoothing the reinforced mesh with a steel trowel. This should be done with great care, for constructional and aesthetic reasons. Any uneven spots left after this step should be removed by sanding. Since the rendering is relatively thin, and should be uniform on the whole surface of the facade, any uneven spots left on the reinforced coat may prevent correct installation of the rendering.

Finishing coat

The top finishing coat of ATLAS XPS system may consist of a thin layer of rendering, or rendering coated with facade paint. If ATLAS CERMIT SN-MAL mineral render is used, it is absolutely essential to apply a top coat of facade paint for protection and aesthetic appearance. The finishing coat should be selected based on the calculations of thermal and moisture protection properties for the wall to be insulated and the service conditions for the insulation system. Installation of the finishing coat can be commenced about three days after the application of the reinforced coat. Regardless of the type of the thin-layer ATLAS render to be used, it should be preceded by a coat of an appropriate render primer, suitable for the type of rendering selected. The render primer prevents the penetration of impurities from the adhesive into the render, protects and reinforces the substrate and, above all, increases the bond strength between the render and the substrate. Besides, the render primer can act as a temporary protection of the reinforced coat (until the render is applied) for up to six months from its installation. The rendering may consist of thin-layer renders with grain size between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm (depending on the type of render). They can be coated with ATLAS facade paints, in accordance with the procedure described in their respective technical data sheets. The colour range of renders and paints is presented in the NEW ATLAS COLOUR PALETTE, containing nearly 700 items.

SYSTEM MAINTENANCE

To ensure that the properties of the External Thermal Insulation Composite Sys­tem are preserved, the finishing coat should be periodically inspected, in accordance with the current regulations, and maintained. Maintenance should include systematic repairs of accidentally damaged places and coating the rendering with paints or other cleaning or protective coatings. Repairs and maintenance should be carried out using products that are components of ATLAS XPS system covered by the approval ETA-07/0316, or other ATLAS products, which can be used in work of that type in accordance with their technical data sheets.

EC Certificate of Conformity 1488-CPD-0075
EC Declaration of Conformity no E003