Subframe for porcelain stoneware

Subframe for porcelain stoneware

Porcelain stoneware is dense, hard, frost-resistant and very durable. On a ventilated facade it is normally fixed with stainless or aluminium clips onto an aluminium rail grid. Typical formats are 600 x 600 mm and 1200 x 600 mm, though other sizes are used, and open joints of a few millimetres separate the tiles.

How the system works

Vertical rails carry clips that grip the tile edges. Visible clips show small metal tabs at the joints, and the concealed alternative uses slots cut into the tile edge. Horizontal rails are sometimes added for larger formats. The rail grid is set to the tile dimensions, so joint lines come directly from the drawing, and a miscalculation of a few millimetres accumulates over a full elevation.

Design points

• Tiles are heavy compared with metal, around 17 to 20 kg/m2 for 10 mm sheets, so brackets and anchors are calculated for the load.
• Clip type and rail profile are matched to tile thickness and edge.
• Each tile needs at least four supports, and corners need special details.
• Cut tiles at edges and openings are expensive, so the module is planned to minimise them.
• Frost resistance matters in the mountain regions of Georgia, where freeze-thaw cycles are frequent.
• The subframe tolerances should be small enough that joints stay straight.

Fire and safety

Porcelain stoneware and aluminium rails are non-combustible, but the full wall assembly for buildings above 12 m is reviewed in Georgia under Chapter 14 of the Building Safety Rules. For safety against falling tiles, the system should be installed by trained installers and checked in a pull test.

Pricing is on request. Send us your elevations and we will prepare a tile layout and calculation.

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