Terracotta - the new and improved option for facades

The terracotta building material is in high demand worldwide. Manufactured from 100-percent natural raw materials, terracotta components are low-maintenance, durable, weatherproof and almost completely recyclable.

The terracotta façade system is developed and engineered by Niederrheinische Baukeramik (NBK) based on the rainscreen principle; it is a customised ventilated curtain wall. Besides offering resistance to ultraviolet rays, frost and chemicals, this system also has the ability to accommodate detailed designs in terms of shape, colour, texture and glaze for tailored solutions.

The NBK Architectural Terracotta comprises six main product lines: Terracotta-Large; Terracotta-Mid; Terracotta-Light; Terracotta-Baguette; Terracotta-Solid; and Terracotta-Shingle. The company’s expertise in complex mixing techniques and traditional firing methods allows most colour and surface texture specifications to be met for an exclusive assortment of products for distinctive façades.

Terracotta rainscreen system
NBK’s terracotta façade system has vertical joints that are backed by a support system that drains rainwater from the cavities behind. The tile design allows for air to flow through these openings, which helps to balance the air pressure in the cavities behind the terracotta panels with that of the outside air, and also inhibits the build-up of hot air. The gaskets, together with the balanced air pressure, prevent water from entering the wall cavities. Rainwater will not enter the cavities due to the overlapping joints and a lack of differential pressure. Water is moved away from building envelopes with a pressure-equalised system to keep the building dry, which saves energy and reduces maintenance costs.

In the project The Arca Hotel, Hong Kong (as shown here), the Terracotta-tiles system was used as part of the building façade. This system offers the following properties:

Length: less than 3.0 metres With a standard of up to 2.0 metres, the length of the terracotta elements can be adjusted individually to 3.0 metres.

Height: less than 1,000 millimetres (mm) The height of the elements can be adjusted to the desired horizontal grid with a standard of up to 1,000 mm and more than 1,000 mm on request.

Thickness: standards of 28, 30 and 40 mm (more than 40 mm available on request) The hollow chambers are made according to production specifications. Corners with mitre-cut elements or those that are cut and bonded are offered. Alternatively, specially designed corner plates are provided.

Colours
Standard colours are provided according to the colour table. Other colours are available upon request. Glazing is also offered based on customers’ wishes, for example, RAL specifications

Surface finishes
Natural; honed; textured; peeled; profiled; and glazed. Other surfaces are available upon request.

Fire Performance
The NBK Terracotta material is fired at over 1,100 degrees Celsius in the oven and, in accordance with building regulations and international standards (EN ISO 14411), does not contribute to a fire. Recently, it has been awarded the certification AS1530.1 from Australia and New Zealand, as well as approvals from BOMBA Malaysia and PSB Singapore.

About the company
As a leading terracotta façade specialist, NBK (a division of Hunter Douglas) has been involved in the manufacturing of this product for many years. It has cooperated with planners and architects in driving the development of new and improved qualities, modern production techniques and groundbreaking façade concepts.