56 / 60
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
JUNE
2017
54
“The new Dow Corning 896 Panel Fix System
eliminates the need for mechanical fasteners which
means that unsightly connection and fixing points are
totally hidden. Designers and developers can therefore
select lighter, less expensive cladding options.
Applicators, on the other hand, appreciate the sealant’s
time-saving features such as easy extrusion, and
excellent compression resistance, as well as the dead
load support provided by its instant strength.
“Bonding can be applied either in the factory or on-
site. During on-site bonding, Dow Corning 896 Panel Fix
system, and its 3,2 mm thick glazing tape, enable direct
application of façade panels to the sub-frame without
the need for temporary retainers,” Batty explains.
The new system’s silicone technology also provides
safety and durability through improved fire resistance
compared with organics, excellent weathering,
resistance to UV radiation and ozone attack, as well as
temperature extremes.
For additional peace of mind, the Dow Corning 896
Panel Fix System is available through the Dow Corning
Quality Bond programme which combines state-of-the-
art products, top quality standards, and application
by Quality Bond members – such as Rudolph and
Van Vuuren - who benefit from specialised technical
support, including joint calculation assistance,
adhesion testing, application training and regular
quality control visits by a.b.e. Construction Chemicals
technical staff.
The main contractor for the R79-million 4 Stan Road
project was Tiber and the architects, MDS Architecture.
A total of about 5 400 m
2
premium grade office space
is provided in the new eight storey building which has
achieved both four-star Green Star SA Design and As-
Built certifications from the Green Building Council of
South Africa (GBCSA).
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
a.b.e. – part of the Chryso Southern Africa Group – is the South
African distributor of the globally-acclaimed Dow Corning range
of structural glazing sealants produced in Belgium. 4 Stan Road
is a recently completed ‘boutique office’ development in the heart
of Sandton.
Grant Batty, National Sales & Segment Manager: Silicones &
Adhesives for a.b.e., says the composite 1,2 m by 2 m Laminam
ceramic panels used to clad a 700 m
2
section of the façade of
the building were bonded with Dow Corning 896 Panel Fix. “This
revolutionary adhesive is a one-part, neutral curing alkoxy silicone
sealant designed for non-glazed façade applications to structurally
bond two substrates together – and was ideal for this project,”
Batty states.
a.b.e.-approved applicator, Rudolph & Van Vuuren, supplied the
imported 3 mm thick Laminam ceramic panels and bonded the
CERAMIC PANELS
bonded to office block façade
A new Dow Corning adhesive for non-glazed façade
cladding was provided by a.b.e. Construction
Chemicals for the extensive panel bonding required
for the façade of the upmarket 4 Stan Road office
block development in Sandton.
panels to aluminium frames which were then fixed to the façade’s
concrete substrate. The tiling contractors have more than two
decades of experience in the tiling industry and have handled
major contracts at, for example, Sandton City, Monte Casino and
Melrose Arch.
Grant Batty says the cost-effective Dow Corning 896 Panel Fix
sealant system not only simplifies panel tiling but also substantially
expands cladding design possibilities, while maintaining safety and
control. “The elastic adhesive is specifically designed for non-glazed
panel applications that require high durability and fast handling.
a.b.e. previously supplied the same system for the façade cladding
of the 30 Jellicoe Avenue office block in Rosebank for which
Rudolph & Van Vuuren factory-produced and installed aluminium-
framed ceramic panels.
Batty says some of the new Dow Corning 896 Panel Fix system’s
benefits are:
• Excellent adhesive properties to a variety of substrates such as
mineral, ceramic, and mill finished aluminum;
• Immediate high tack upon application;
• High strength when fully cured;
• Ease of application;
• One-part, moisture cure, neutral, low-odour formulation;
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor applications; and
• Low squeeze-out that prevents excess wastage.
A new Dow Corning adhesive for non-
glazed façade cladding was provided by
a.b.e. Construction Chemicals for the panel
bonding for the 4 Stan Road office block
development in Sandton.