Method Statement for installation External Insulation & Finishing System (EFIS)
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Method Statement for installation External Insulation & Finishing System (EFIS)

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Method Statement for installation External Insulation & Finishing System (EFIS). 

INDEX.
 
1. PURPOSE. 
2. SCOPE OF WORK.
3.  METHODOLOGY.
    

1.0   PURPOSE  

The purpose of this Method Statement is to give the outline of each activity we are intending  to execute on site, to identify the risk associated during the installation of the External  Insulation & Finishing system (EFIS), and to  identify the control system to ensure full compliance to the approved Shop Drawings as well  as the Contract specifications. 

2.0   SCOPE OF WORK  

The scope of this method statement is to define the procedure that will be followed for Supply and application of External Insulation & Finishing system (EFIS).

3.0   Methodology  

The area where the EIFS installation will be done shall be inspected, marked on the drawings, the structure and agreed upon in terms of area as well as extent of the system to be installed.

The surfaces agreed for the installation of EIFS shall be accepted free from mortar, snorts, loose concrete, rebars and ties, tie holes, oil, grease, friable matter, curing compounds, coatings, markings, surface cracks, structural defects including off alignments or any other matter that shall hamper the flawless installation of the system in any way.

Main Contractor must provide Civil & MEP clearance or any interfacing activity clearance as well as area hand over certificate to PFC, prior to commencement of EIFS works.

Installed scaffolding platforms are to be made available in position to access the substrate safely and easily to facilitate the installation of the EIFS in line with the site Safety Regulations. A clear gap of 400 mm between scaffolding and substrate is mandatory and to be maintained as tooling space to carry out the work. If the gap is less than this it would affect the work as well as the quality Survey.

Prior to any installations it is mandatory to survey to ensure planarity of the substrate. This is achieved by putting level buttons at various points of the substrate.

Nylon string lines are fixed from top to bottom over the level buttons to determine the planarity of the surface thereby estimating the thickness of the insulation board required on specific areas.
                           

3.1.  SURFACE PREPARATION:   

The surface should be clean, dry, and sound. The treatments recommended for the system symptoms are given below.


SYSTEM SYMPTOM
TREATMENT
Damp
Rectify causes and allow drying out.
Dusty / Dirty
Brush down, pressure clean and prime with approved material
High Porosity (AAC Blocks)
Seal the substrate by approved material
Efflorescence
Brush down and prime with approved material
Mortar Lumps
Remove mechanically.
Grease, shutter oil remains
Steam clean, using detergent additives. Wash off again with water.
Render with damaged areas
Remove loose render; fill holes and repair the surface where required with approved material
Peeling Coatings
Remove old coating, pressure clean and prime with approved material

NOTE: Mineral wool EIFS insulation cannot be rasped level! – substrate level assessment is critical mineral wool insulation EIFS systems: (unlike eps EIFS systems) undulations in mw insulation boards cannot be rasped level at board installation stage. As a result, correct installation/ inspection of the levelness of the substrate wall is critical to ensure that the finished EIFS system does not have undulations in the finish.  

For acceptable substrate tolerance levels see EIFS manufacturer document “evaluation of substrates and EIFS finishes/acceptable tolerance”. If maximum levelness tolerances are not met, agreement must be made in writing with design team/main contractor & EIFS sub-contractor on the remedy prior to EIFS start mineral wool board installation.

  3.2. PRIMING OF MINERAL WOOL INSULATION BOARDS (PRIOR TO ADHESIVE FIXING).

Check the quality of board surface and if necessary, apply the primer as per manufacture recommendation on the flat side of the boards to consolidate the surface. (Please note that when applying primer, the boards should be in the upright position). Allow the primed boards to dry overnight.

   3.3. ADHESIVE FIXING OF MINERAL WOOL INSULATION BOARDS:

Recommended dimension of the Mineral Wool Insulation board: 0.6 m x 1.2 m. Mineral Wool is to be non-combustible & manufactured in compliant with local regulations & Euro class A1 of BS EN 13501-1 or ASTM E 136.





Level Substrate (Method 1. Notched Trowel) Uneven Substrate up to 10mm. (Method 2. Ribbon and dab)

Used adhesive between masonry substrate & MW (Mineral Wool insulation boards) as per material recommendation. Allow the material to stand for about 5 minutes, remix & use. Mix only enough material for immediate use to avoid wastage.

Following Mineral wool board priming application, apply 1 coat of mortar adhesive to the Mineral wool board using a 10 mm notched trowel in a downward direction at 90 º angles over entire board and immediately fix the board against the substrate and allow to dry overnight. DO NOT MAKE BEAD AROUND BOARD EDGE.

Mineral Wool Insulation board edges should be kept adhesive free to prevent thermal bridging.

Fix insulation boards in staggered pattern (running bond) and ensure all outside and inside corners are interlocked. Offset insulation board’s joints 200 mm or more from the corners of openings around doors, windows, or other similar conditions.  Ensure that all opening corners are cut (L-shape) from one piece of board. Insulation boards must not bridge expansion joints in masonry or concrete substrates.  Install a movement/expansion bead if such joints present.  

Fix insulation board as per adhesive method. Ensuring boards are level (use plumb line / spirit level/ 2-meter straight edge).

Back wrapping with reinforcing fiberglass mesh and embedding mortar is recommended for all insulation boards at system terminations (end reveals / openings) to reinforce the edges and also prevent water ingress.  

Allow board Adhesive to dry for 24 hours.

Avoid gaps between Mineral wool boards (Do not fill gaps with base coat) In event of gaps< 5 mm -fill with strips of cut Mineral wool and trim level with MW board surface. 
Co-ordinate for the approval of Mineral Wool board installation levels prior to mechanical fixing.

3.4. MECHANICAL FASTENERS/DOWELS INSTALLATION OF MINERAL WOOL BOARDS.

EIFS system is designed as a mechanical fixed with supplementary adhesive.

EIFS Mechanical Fasteners are fixed directly through the un-coated board after a minimum of 24 hours – see Figure A for location of fasteners per board (5 numbers per board) See Figures B, C for additional fasteners around window openings and corners.

EIFS Mechanical Fasteners (PP dowel with PP - PA   nail) should penetrate a
minimum of 4 cm into concrete, solid concrete, and hollow concrete block substrates. Mechanical fasteners should penetrate a minimum of 7 cm into the AAC / ALC substrates to secure anchorage.

Ensure dowel heads are level with the insulation boards to prevent bumps in the final finish.

Four EIFS Fasteners at the corners & one fastener in the center of each board (for board of size 0.6 m x 1.2 m) and additional fasteners around windows/doors/openings and corners as indicated in figure B, C.    







3.5. CORNER PROFILES & DIAGONAL STRESS PATCH MESH. 

For corners, window lintels and column edges; EIFS Aluminum corner beads or alternatively
EIFS Plastic corner beads with fiberglass wing mesh (10 cm x 10 cm) are used at all
corners/opening to protect edges from impact and to achieve consistently straight edges. Fix windows reveal beads as required.  
Fix diagonal Stress patch mesh on all corners as indicated in Fig D below and overlap with corner bead mesh to prevent cracks at corners.




3.6.  CONTACT AREAS - BASE-COAT APPLICATION & FIBERGLASS MESH:

CONTACT AREAS - For areas up to 2 m height from ground level.

Apply 1 coat of a solution on the entire surface of the fixed mineral wool boards.

Apply 1st coat of base-coat by trowel to an approximate thickness of 2 mm and immediately embed the 160 g/m2 fiber glass mesh into surface by troweling from center out to avoid any wrinkles.  Overlap all fiber glass mesh edges by 10 cm.  Level with a 60 cm scraper without sprinkling water on the surface. 

Allow the first layer of adhesive overnight drying time before applying the second layer.
Following drying of 1st coat lightly dampen the dried first coat of base-coat with water using a crop sprayer; then apply the second layer.

Apply 2nd coat of base-coat by trowel to an approximate thickness of 2 mm and immediately embed the 160 g/m2 fiber glass mesh into the surface by troweling from the center out to avoid any wrinkles.  Overlap all fiber glass mesh edges by 10 cm. Level with a 60 cm scraper without sprinkling water on the surface.  Allow the second layer 12 – 16 hours drying time before applying the third layer.

Following drying of 2nd coat, lightly dampen the dried second coat of base-coat with water using a crop sprayer.  Apply 3rd coat of base-coat by trowel at 1 mm to 1.5 mm thickness. Ensure the full cover of the mesh and level off with a 60 cm scraper without sprinkling water on the surface.

3.7. NON-CONTACT AREAS - BASE-COAT APPLICATION & FIBERGLASS MESH

NON-CONTACT AREAS – Areas 2 m height above ground level (and above) & areas not accessible
to public or as per project building requirements.

Apply 1 coat of solution on the entire surface of the fixed mineral wool boards prior to application base-coat.

Apply 1st coat of base-coat by trowel to an approximate thickness of 2 mm and
immediately embed the 160 g/m2 fiber glass mesh into the surface by troweling from the center out to avoid any wrinkles.  Overlap all fiber glass mesh edges by 10 cm. Level with a 60 cm scraper without sprinkling water on the surface.

Allow the first layer of base-coat overnight drying time before applying the second layer.

Following drying of 1st coat lightly dampen the dried first coat of base-coat with
water using a crop sprayer; then apply the second layer.

Following drying of 2nd coat, lightly dampen the first coat of base-coat with water using a crop sprayer.  Apply 2nd & final coat of base-coat by trowel at 1 mm to 2 mm thickness.  Ensure the full cover of the mesh and level off with a 60 cm scraper without sprinkling water on the surface.  Total thickness should be 3 mm-4 mm.  

Co-ordinate for the approval of base-coat levels prior to solution
application.

Apply 1 coat of solution over the entire surface dry base-coat and allow to dry for 72 hours prior to subsequent applications.








Note. It is important to prevent water ingress behind the EIFS. Therefore, special care should be taken to treat all gaps between system & walls especially above window & door heads, beneath window & door sills, sides of windows & doors, at roof /wall intersections, abutments of lower walls with higher walls, projecting features & base of the walls etc. Fill in the gaps with low expansion PU foam, cut back and seal with appropriate exterior grade fire rated sealant. A better option would be to fix suitable aluminum flashing over these gaps to direct water to the exterior. The top of the parapet wall should be covered with suitable aluminum or GRC coping. Gaps around flashing should be sealed with FIRE RATED SEALANT.  

 3.8. DECORATIVE FINISH:

Rollers apply 1 coat of primer and allow to dry.

Apply 1 coat of TEXTURE COATING (as per approved texture & color) to
a thickness of 1.5 – 2 mm and allow to dry.   



Note: 
Application should not be done at very low or high temperatures (< 5 c or ≥40 c) and/or in very windy conditions. Plans work accordingly.  
Do not apply if rain is expected over the next 24 hours.








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