Sandwich panel

[edit] Introduction

Sandwich panels, also referred to as metal composite material (MCM), metal composite panels (MCP), aluminium composite materials (ACM), insulated metal panels, structural insulating panels (SIP) and a few other terms, essentially consist of two layers of a rigid material bonded (often metallic but also engineered timber) to either side of a lightweight core (often a blown insulant but also mineral wool and other materials). The three components act together as a composite; that is, the combination of the characteristics of the components results in better performance than would be possible if they were acting alone.

The lightweight core keeps the two faces in the correct position, resists shear forces, and provides insulation, while the two faces provide durability, weather and impact resistance, and resist in-plane forces of tension and compression. In general the term sandwich panel is associated with thicker products used in the installation of single layer wall systems (sometimes referred to as insulated metal panels), but the term can also refer to thinner products manufactured for use in rainscreen systems (such as metal composite material panel systems).

Sandwich panel systems include the panels themselves (made up of formed outer and inner layers and the core material of differing thicknesses), the joints between them, fixings (often concealed) and a support system, differing depending on the whether a single layer system or a double layer rainscreen and detail designs.

Composite cladding systems have been in use for a considerable time, in particular for the manufacture of vehicles such as trains and planes, but the development of advanced sandwich panels for cladding buildings first began in the 1930’s, when they were researched by organisations such as the Forest Products Laboratory, and used by architects including Frank Lloyd Wright. They went on to become increasingly popular following the second world war.

Modern sandwich panels can be flat, bent, curved and joined together in an almost unlimited range of configurations and are available in a wide variety of colours, finishes, thicknesses, edge details and profiles depending on performance requirements.

They are generally fabricated off-site and are particularly useful where a high-performance cladding is required, with good structural strength, a high level of insulation and low weight.

Sandwich panels are widely used as an external cladding for single and multi-storey buildings, where they are required to provide weather resistance, and resistance to wind-loading, access loads, self-weight and so on. However, they are also used to create insulated internal envelopes, ceiling panels, partitions (for example in cold stores) and for fire-resisting compartment walls.