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Formable & lightweight facades

GRC facade cladding

GRC facade cladding

Exterior & interior GRC cladding panels

GRC Facades

We help you create unique facades by utilising the formability and versatility of glassfibre reinforced concrete to shape your idea. With intelligent mould design and unique production methods we create GRC cladding individually designed and produced in terms of geometry, surface, and colour.

The versatility and formability of GRC makes the cladding material ideal for both simple and complex shapes and curves. The surface on our elements is tailored to the individual project with details such as exposed aggregates, stencilled patterns, and colours.

Our facade solutions do not comprise strength nor durability and GRC has a significantly higher flexural and tensile strength compared to traditional concrete. A GRC external cladding is resistant towards all weather conditions – from extreme heat to freezing cold – you are ensured a strong building envelope. With a GRC you get a maintenance free facade that can be easily cleaned so it appears new again. GRC is predominantly used for external cladding but is also suitable for interior wall cladding.

 

 

No project is too big or too small, and our projects range from smaller cassettes to larger full story high elements. The largest facade elements that we have manufactured so far have been 20 square meters.

Our typical GRC cladding is produced with one of the following mounting systems or a combination of same.

  • Stud-frame (embedded steel frame)
  • Embedded steel brackets
  • FA1000®
  • Embedded inserts
  • Recessed holes with plugs

FA1000® is a unique mounting system with many options. FA1000® is developed by BB fiberbeton AS and is used today on many facades across Europe. FA1000® is used as a building envelope on light facade constructions and is easily adapted to the individual facade project. The FA1000®-system is easy to install from the outside, and with elements adapted to the individual facade using a concealed mounting solution, it gives the facade a calm and harmonious expression. The FA1000® system is also full of surface options. Great freedom of choice in colour, texture in the surface, paint, or pattern.

Custom-made GRC facade solution

Unleash your creativity with a unique GRC facade

Customised moulds set the stage for your unique GRC facade cladding and you are able to express your creativity with complex as well as simple geometries. We use a special spray technique to cast our GRC elements. This technique results in a low water/cement-ratio and as such we can create countless geometries.

Construction projects will typically require several variants and we create these variants by modifying and adjusting the moulds. Thus, a single mould can be used for multiple variants which keeps costs low even for the more complex projects. All elements are made to fit the specific measurements and adjustments are not needed on the actual construction site. This also minimises waste.

The facade elements for Sky Park and their organic shapes are a great example of the formability of GRC and the many possibilities.

We customise all our elements so we can help you create unique GRC cladding with your desired surface and texture. The possibilities are almost endless and there are two primary methods for creating variation in the surface. The methods can also be combined.

The first method is to create patterns and textures in the cladding elements with either a CNC milling, patterns from Reckli, or as part of the actual mould. This method ensures that even the smallest details are shown.

The second method is to expose aggregates after the first hardening. Exposing aggregates gives a raw expression that creates texture and depth in the surface.

Our GRC cladding panels are always coloured by adding iron oxides in the mixture before casting. Without the colour addition our GRC is white as we use white cement. If you want another colour than white, we add coloured iron oxides and other aggregates to achieve your desired nuance and tone. With this method we can achieve all cement-based colours. Our use of white cement has a significance for the colour of the GRC and white cement often renders clearer colours. Iron oxides are non-toxic, very coloured, and they do not fade over time.

If you want even clearer colours than the often more muted cement colours, we also offer to paint the elements with silicate paint in our painting cabins before delivery.

You can read more about our Metropolis project, which is a special colour case where we mixed marble powder in the GRC to achieve a blue colour with a shimmering effect.

Why should I choose GRC for my facade?

There are four distinct advantages with GRC which all contribute to creating a custom-made facade solution that lives up to your architectural ambitions whilst being a sustainable and financially sensible choice.

GRC is extremely formable and you can design both complex and simple forms with a surface specifically manufactured for your project. You have an array of options for curves, surfaces, textures, and colours.

GRC is a very lightweight material which lessens the load on building and reduces transportation costs.

GRC has a durability of more than 100 years and compared to other building materials, such as wood and metal, it does not rot, rust, dent, nor burn. GRC facade cladding is resistant towards all kinds of weather and du are therefore afford a solid building envelope.

GRC is a sustainable material and the production of GRC is environmentally friendly with no toxic materials and with a low consumption of energy. Thus, GRC is also a good choice if you wish to achieve an environmental certification.

Why GRC?

Product highlights

Material advantages

Durable, lightweight, formable & sustainable

  • Unlimited geometry and surfaces
  • Thin
  • High strength
  • Lightweight
  • 100+ durability 
  • Durable in all weather conditions
  • Easy installation 
  • No technical maintenance
  • Sustainable and environmentally friendly
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Mounting principles

Our typical facade cladding is produced with one of the following mounting systems or a combination of same.

  • Stud-frame (embedded steel frame)
  • Embedded steel brackets
  • FA1000®
  • Embedded inserts
  • Recessed holes with plugs

Most of our facade solutions utilise the material’s possibilities for mounting without visible screws and with fewest possible loose parts. This achieves a finished result that appears to be monolithic and which technically requires a minimum of maintenance.

Facade elements are usually mounted as building envelopes with a ventilated back side. The assembly method itself varies according to the element size and the nature of the underlying supporting structure. On smaller elements, fittings are cast on the back and the element is mounted as a “radiator” – On larger elements, a load-bearing steel frame is embedded which then delivers the forces where it is possible.

Vertical joints are often performed with traditional element solutions: expanding joint strips etc. – or overlap. Horisontal joints are typically vented so that lower elements go under the overhanging element.

All our technical solutions are tried and tested.

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A new facade cladding solution

GRC Shingles

GRC shingles is a newly developed facade solution from BB fiberbeton. The facade solution is thinner than traditional shingle solutions, weighs less, and it can be tailored to the individual project.

Our elements can be manufactured in a thickness of only 12 mm and the system can be assembled with a total thickness of only 35 mm for the shingles. In cases where you have certain weight specifications, we can adjust the GRC elements to meet your criteria.

The same design freedom that you have with our other GRC facade cladding you also have with GRC shingles. You have the freedom to be creative with different patterns, colours, and textures on the surface.

Contrary to other shingle solutions, with GRC shingles you don’t have the same restrictions. With GRC shingles you can adapt the elements to your building and we customise the facade solution to the specific project. We manufacture shingles in many different sizes and the elements can easily be adjusted and cropped. It is also possible to make corner elements, so you achieve a solid and complete look.

GRC shingles is a durable facade cladding that is resistant towards all weather conditions. GRC shingles are mounted with hidden brackets and are easy to handle.

Why GRC?

We are here to answer to your GRC questions

FAQ

No, with facade cladding in GRC you are get a facade that requires no technical maintenance.

Do you want to know about the material properties of GRC?

Yes, GRC facade cladding can easily be clean so it appears new again. Moreover, our latest development, the new generation of GRC has achieved a better finish and a denser surface, which increases the resistance against algae and dirt.

Yes, GRC is a fire resistant material. Our GRC has an A1 fire classification in accordance with EN 13501-1:2018.

Do you want to know about the material properties of GRC?

There are a range of factors which makes GRC more sustainable and environmentally friendly, especially compared to other building materials, such as conventional concrete and metal.

GRC is a very durable material with a lifespan of more than 100 years. As a building envelope GRC is resistant towards all weather conditions. Moreover, GRC elements do not require any technical maintenance as it neither rusts, rots, dents, nor burns. As such, you avoid repeated repairs and renovations.

The production of GRC is without any toxic materials and the consumption of energy is low. The CO2 emission are lesser comparatively to the production of conventional concrete.

All the factors mentioned above makes GRC an ideal choice for environmental certifications. Do you want to read more about the sustainability of GRC and environmental certifications?

GRC is the common abbreviation of glassfibre reinforced concrete, a cement based composite material reinforced with glassfibres. The glassfibres increase the flexural and tensile strength and the fire resistance. This makes GRC cladding more durable and resistant compared to conventional concrete cladding.

Comparatively, GRC can be cast in thinner elements than conventional concrete. Typically, GRC elements are as thin as 12 mm, which results in a lower component weight. This decreases the load on building structures and also makes GRC elements easier to handle, transport, and mount.

GRC is a highly formable material that can shaped into complex geometries which are not possible to achieve with conventional concrete.

You have probably come across both acronyms when researching glassfibre reinforced concrete and it can understandably be quite confusing as the two terms are used interchangeably. Both terms reference the exact same material and the confusion is mainly due to the difference in spelling.

As such, the British acronym GRC is on occasion referred to as glass reinforced concrete as it is devoid of the F that is prevalent in the UK acronym, GFRC. However, it is simply dependent on the difference in the UK spelling “glassfibre” and the US spelling “glass fiber”, which separates the two words.

Thus, it is important to note that the two terms reference the same material. Both GRC and GFRC are a cement alternative that combines cement, water, a polymer admixture, and glassfibre.

GRC cladding projects

Get inspired by our facade projects

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