What are Sandwich Panels? Their Properties, Advantages, and Application Areas;
With the increasing awareness of sustainable environment day by day, energy efficiency of buildings has become one of the most critical and important elements in the building sector. Reducing the environmental impact of buildings, using energy resources more efficiently, and minimizing the carbon footprint are among the top priorities in construction projects today.
At this point, sandwich panels emerge as an effective solution for thermal insulation and security. Sandwich panels provide high-degree thermal insulation to the structure with their inner core. In this way, they help stabilize the temperature inside the building independently from external conditions and offer a comfortable living space in indoor areas. They reduce energy consumption for protection from cold in winter and heat in summer, thus lowering heating and cooling costs.
Sandwich panels make significant contributions to the construction sector in important areas such as energy efficiency and sustainability. These panels, which have superior properties in terms of thermal insulation and security, play an indispensable role in the construction of environmentally friendly and cost-effective structures.
What are Sandwich Panels?
Sandwich panels are structurally rigid but relatively lightweight modular building materials. Each panel consists of an inner core and two outer structures carefully attached to both sides of the core. The outer structures not only maintain the robustness of the panels but also provide resistance to extreme weather conditions, protecting the core that provides both structural integrity and thermal insulation. Sandwich panels are considered curtain materials, not structural materials. That is, structural forces are transferred to the steel skeleton or other load-bearing frame to which the sandwich panels are attached.
Sandwich panels have an important place in the construction sector and are used in many areas. Thanks to their high structural durability and lightweight structure, they offer a quick and efficient solution in construction projects. At the same time, depending on the core material inside, they exhibit good thermal insulation performance and increase energy efficiency. Therefore, sandwich panels have become an important choice in modern construction projects.
What are the Types of Sandwich Panels?
Sandwich panels can be classified into different types depending on the core used as thermal insulation material. Common options include EPS (expanded polystyrene), mineral wool, and polyurethane (particularly PIR or polyisocyanurate) core sandwich panels. Each material has its unique properties and differs in areas such as thermal insulation performance, sound insulation, fire response time, and weight.
While EPS core sandwich panels are used in various applications thanks to their affordable price and lightweight structure, mineral wool core panels are known for their high thermal and sound insulation performance and are frequently preferred in acoustic regulations. Polyurethane core sandwich panels stand out especially with their fire resistance and increase the fire safety of structures. Additionally, polyurethane core sandwich panels increase energy efficiency thanks to their high thermal insulation properties and reduce heating-cooling costs. This core material minimizes energy losses caused by temperature fluctuations and provides a comfortable climate inside the structure.
Thanks to these different core materials, sandwich panels offer various solutions suitable for different needs and applications. Used as a flexible and efficient option in the construction sector, sandwich panels play an indispensable role in terms of insulation and security in modern construction projects.
Where are Sandwich Panels Used?
Sandwich panels are an innovative building material that offers versatile usage areas in the construction sector. These panels are known for their use in many areas of structures requiring thermal insulation, acoustic regulation, and durability. Sandwich panels, frequently preferred in wall and roof coverings, are applied in a wide range from commercial buildings to industrial facilities, from cold storage warehouses to agricultural structures.
Sandwich panels used in industrial structures increase the energy efficiency of industrial facilities while keeping interior spaces at ideal temperature levels. In cold storage warehouses, they increase storage efficiency by ensuring the preservation of products in low-temperature conditions.
Sandwich panels used in acoustic regulations in structures such as gymnasiums, concert venues, and theaters provide a better sound experience by reducing echo. They are frequently preferred in sports areas and entertainment centers due to their durability and low maintenance costs.
In conclusion, sandwich panels are a versatile building material that offers many advantages in the construction sector. Thanks to their flexible application areas and superior properties, they can be safely used in any type of structure requiring thermal insulation, acoustic regulation, and durability in modern construction projects.
Advantages of Using Sandwich Panels
The main reason for using sandwich panels on the exterior surfaces of buildings is the structural efficiency they provide. The tight bonding of thin, rigid, and robust covers onto a thick, lightweight core creates a geometry that provides exceptional durability while minimizing weight and thickness. Thanks to these properties, sandwich panels have gained significant popularity in the construction sector in recent years.
The use of sandwich panels in construction projects not only provides superior structural efficiency but also provides tangible benefits such as cost and time savings. These advantages make sandwich panels an attractive option for the construction industry. The efficient production processes and lightweight structure of sandwich panels contribute to cost savings in material supply and transportation. Additionally, the prefabricated feature of sandwich panels will lead to easy installation, resulting in reduced labor costs. Thus, while construction costs decrease, the project budget can be managed efficiently.
While traditional brick or stone-based projects generally require long construction periods, time savings are achieved in projects done with sandwich panels. For example, while the completion of a building of the same volume constructed with traditional brick methods usually takes 6 to 7 months, this period can be completed in just 1 month using load-bearing walls with sandwich panels. This accelerated construction time provides significant time and cost savings in the project. At the same time, while the completion time of construction projects is shortened, building owners and users also find the opportunity to move into the structure more quickly.
Sandwich panels increase the energy efficiency of structures with their high thermal insulation properties. By providing good thermal insulation, they minimize heat transfer and create a comfortable climate inside the structure. This contributes to lower heating and cooling costs and energy savings. At the same time, being among environmentally friendly building materials allows for supporting sustainable construction practices.
The fact that polyurethane core sandwich panels stand out with their fire resistance increases the safety of structures and minimizes fire risk. This feature leads to their preference especially in industrial facilities and commercial buildings where fire protection is of great importance.
In conclusion, sandwich panels are a versatile building material that provides many advantages in construction projects. Considering important factors such as structural efficiency, cost and time savings, energy efficiency, and fire safety, it can be said that sandwich panels play an indispensable role in the construction sector and have become one of the cornerstones of modern construction projects.
