Optimised interface
A connection with a system: maxit develops prefabricated window frame for ETICS in collaboration with partners
A wide range of trades come together between the façade, the window and the sun protection system. To make planning and installation significantly easier in future, maxit has now developed a smart solution in collaboration with its partners Folgner (Bad Aibling) and Somfy (Cluses, France): the ‘prefabricated frame for ETICS’, available now, is a factory-prefabricated façade element that combines several work steps. It consists of a pre-insulated frame and an integrated sunshade fitted with smart technology. maxit manufactures each sunshade frame to exact specifications, so that installers simply need to fit it onto the corresponding system window on site. This not only saves valuable time but also minimises the risk of thermal bridges and installation errors – in both new builds and refurbishments.
When it comes to the building envelope, the junction between the façade and the windows is often regarded as a potential weak point: the significant planning effort involved and the risk of thermal bridges forming frequently lead to problems or even structural damage. Yet the flawless execution of an energy-optimised building envelope is of paramount importance, particularly in light of the climate targets that have been set. To ease the burden on both architects and tradespeople, the maxit Group, in collaboration with the privacy and sun protection experts at Folgner (Bad Aibling) and the global market leader in automation solutions, Somfy (Cluses, France), has developed an innovative product: the prefabricated frame for ETICS. The aim of the collaboration was to resolve the common interface issues between the relevant trades during window installation and to ensure consistently high quality both on site and during the building’s operational phase.
Façade connection made easy
“Development work on the prefabricated frame for ETICS began in 2024. The product is now ready for the market and has already impressed trade visitors at this year’s Fensterbau Frontale in Nuremberg,” explains Jan Henrichs, project manager at maxit. It is a ready-to-install system consisting of an ETICS window surround manufactured by maxit, which acts as a technical link between the window, the façade and the sun protection. It features integrated connections that ensure a watertight seal to the window frame on the inside and a simple connection – for example, to the plastered ETICS system – on the outside. The component is factory-prepared to easily accommodate various sun protection solutions from project partner Folgner: for example, zip screens, external venetian blinds or roller shutters can simply be inserted into a suitably sized shaft and secured. The cable feed-through and the optional power supply via a small PV module are also provided, as are the thermal bridge-free rear insulation of the sun protection packages and the insertion of a precisely fitting window sill at the base of the sun protection frame. The system already includes the corresponding Somfy control unit and – thanks to the option of connecting solar-powered motors – even further electrical work inside the building can be dispensed with.
Thanks to factory production, the prefabricated frame can simply be fitted onto the modular window. Thermal insulation and the technical components for the external sunshade are already integrated. This saves time and money on site.
From a structural point of view, the prefabricated frame for ETICS is a ‘ready-made section of façade’ surrounding the window. The component is therefore supplied complete with all plaster edges, mesh tabs and a soffit ready for painting. Accordingly, whilst the windows, ETICS frame and sun protection are precisely coordinated within the system and for the specific building site, they are structurally clearly separated. This resolves a long-standing dilemma for façade builders: “Many window and sun protection systems are unsuitable for installation in ETICS. Yet they have been installed unchanged for decades. Painters and plasterers then face the problem that, through their work, they are effectively approving this preparatory work under building regulations,” says Henrichs. “A never-ending conflict that people on the building site had almost got used to. The prefabricated frame for ETICS finally solves this problem.”
Step by step
As a manufacturer of insulation materials, maxit can incorporate the topic of external sun protection into the planning process at an early stage and advise architects on this matter as early as the building’s design phase. Once the design and specification have been finalised – the frame is available with various insulation materials (EPS, mineral wool, wood fibre), window sill elements and sun protection provisions – all that is needed are the exact window dimensions, and factory production can begin. The dimensions for window sills and the sun protection modules to be installed are derived from these. Accordingly, the new prefabricated frame for ETICS offers a fully coordinated system solution for the entire window opening – including clarified connection details and requiring just a single set of measurements.
As the system components are manufactured in-house, installation errors can be minimised and installation time reduced – saving time and, consequently, money on site. The first step on site is to install the system window. The prefabricated frame can then simply be fitted, and the remaining façade work completed. The frame’s supporting structure is itself thermally insulating, meaning the connection to the window is free of thermal bridges. The third step is finally the installation of the relevant sun protection module – thanks to the technology already integrated into the frame at the factory, this is simply a matter of ‘plug and play’. In this way, the developers have already taken into account the continuing shortage of skilled labour on the construction site.
Building envelopes made easy: windows, prefabricated frames, sun protection modules and window sills all require just a single measurement and are perfectly coordinated. This helps prevent thermal bridges and structural damage.
Thinking ahead
The increasingly important issue of resource conservation was also given due consideration during the development of the prefabricated frame for ETICS: the frame’s production process, which is optimised to minimise waste, not only generates less waste but also significantly reduces the amount of aluminium used. Furthermore, all sun protection components can be easily dismantled and reused if required. But this is not the only area where the future has been taken into account: “In view of climate change and the threat of overheating in residential buildings, the prefabricated frame for ETICS is a particularly forward-looking product: the integrated sun protection provides automatic shading during hot summers on request, thereby reducing the need for cooling. This is good for the environment and enhances indoor comfort for residents,” says Henrichs. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
For further information on the new prefabricated frame for ETICS, a dedicated microsite is now available at www.sonnenschutzzarge.de.