ETFE-Foil structures
Modern architecture is hard to imagine without use of transparent structures for fa-cades and roofs. Besides glass structures, innovative structures made of ETFE foil are increasingly gaining significance.
They are being used primarily in the fields of:
- Swimming baths and water parks
- Shopping malls and atriums
- Zoo facilities and rain forest houses
- Trade show and event halls
ETFE is the fluoropolymer-material ethylene tetrafluoroethylene which is used in structural membrane constructions in thicknesses from 0.05 to 0.25 mm.
The designs made of ETFE foil usually are pneumatically pre-tensioned, i.e., the form of two- or multilayer air cushions (so-called pneus) are maintained by permanent air support. The span of the individual cushions can be 4.5 metres without any further support structure being required. With an additional cable net reinforcement, also much wider spans are possible. The support air supply and the control system largely can be automated. Thanks to individual concepts it is possible to develop the ideal design for each single project. This is particularly true for building physics requirements such as the outward heat transfer coefficient or the total light transmission value.
Due to the low surface weight of the cushions, support structure designs can be very fragile and light. The cushions are stretched over wide roof and facade surfaces onto the support structures made of wood, steel or aluminium by means of aluminium frames.
A special advantage of ETFE foils is their high light transmitting capacity of approximately 90 % of the visible wavelength range (of 400 - 700 nm/UV). It is possible to control the light transmitting capacity through printing.