Fastening device for fastening a plurality of facade panels to the facade of a building and facade with such a fastening device

Description

[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to a fastening assembly for fastening a plurality of façade panels to the face of a building, and more in particular, to a fastening assembly for fastening a plurality of façade panels to the face of a building, wherein the façade panels are spaced apart from each other by a minimal spacing d, and the façade panels comprise one or more solar panels.

[0002] Façade panels or prefabricated façade panels form part of façade cladding systems. Façade claddings form the outer skin of a building. It not only adds protection of the building against environmental conditions, but maybe even more importantly, it largely determines the appearance of, and thereby adds to the character of the building. Façade panels may be considered one of the most important distinguishing aspects of a building.

[0003] In addition to various other reasons, this is what makes facade panels particularly popular with architects because they can easily give the building a high-quality aesthetic character.

[0004] Tile based façade panels are becoming increasingly popular since they can provide the high-quality aesthetic character and are easy to install and can be fabricated prior to being attached. To this end, the cladding system consist of a fastening assembly elongated profiles or other structural elements to which the panels can be attached.

[0005] Within architecture, sustainability is also becoming increasingly popular as a demand for more eco-friendly approach to modern day building encompasses most aspects of the construction process. This not only includes the choice and footprint of building materials but also the implementation of modern, eco-friendly utilities such as heating, cooling, ventilation and electricity. Partly because of this, solar panels have already taken an important position in the transition from traditional construction and architecture towards a more future-oriented sustainable construction.

[0006] Traditionally, solar panels are used on roofs because they are generally seen as elements that detract from the aesthetic character of the building. However, the increase in energy demand often exceeds the capacity that the solar panels on the roof of the building can provide. Especially in high-rise buildings and populated areas, the roof space is insufficient to support sufficient solar panels, and sometimes not very suitable for installing (large numbers of) solar panels, which even further increase the need for alternative solar panel placements.

[0007] As such, façade panels having integrated solar panels are becoming increasingly popular. When compared to conventional façade panels, solar panel comprising façade panels are more expensive and technically complex. It is therefore desirable to be able to replace single façade panels without having to detach plural panels, in order to ease maintenance and replacement.

[0008] To this end, the fastening assembly for mounting the façade panels should be configured to allow such detaching of a single panel. Despite the fact that the panels must be detachable, they must be properly attached, which means that they are sufficiently robustly attached to the building that they remain attached even under extreme weather conditions. Robust mounting often results in a non-appealing and non-aesthetic outcome that cannot bear the approval of the architect.

[0009] Accordingly, there is a need for a fastening assembly for robust fastening of a plurality of façade panels to the face of a building, which are mutually spaced apart from each other by a minimal, aesthetic appealing spacing, wherein said façade panels comprise one or more solar panels, and wherein the fastening assembly is arranged for individually detaching each of said façade panels from said face of said building for ease of maintenance and replacement thereof.

[0010] The document US 2010 / 126087 A1 discloses such fastening assembly according to the preamble of claim 1, and the document EP 3 182 580 A1 also discloses a façade panel.

[0011] The object is achieved, in a first aspect, by a fastening assembly for fastening a plurality of façade panels to the face of a building according to claim 1.

[0012] The proposed fastening assembly is arranged to support and mount several façade panels having integrated solar panels as available from the applicant of the present disclosure. The fastening assembly exhibits fastening rails, supporting elements and attaching brackets. The fastening rails are arranged to be attached in a horizontal orientation and are mounted to the face of the building to which the façade cladding is to be mounted. These fastening rails are provided or attached in parallel rows wherein the top row is formed by one or multiple first fastening rails, followed by a second row, parallel to the first, being formed by one or multiple second fastening rails, and below that row again a parallel row of first fastening rails, and so on. As such the first and second fastening rails are attached, for example by screws, bolts or nails or other type of fastening means, to the face of the building and distributed over the to-be-cladded-surface of the building.

[0013] The façade panels are attached to these rails in a pair-wise-manner, meaning that each façade panel has two, three or more supporting elements attached to the backside of said façade panel in a vertical orientation. The supporting elements are elongated members, bars, or rails which preferably extend substantially from the top to the bottom of the backside of the façade panel. The supporting elements may be attached to the panel by fastening means such as screws, bolts, nails or other type of fastening means, but are preferably attached by glue as the backside of façade panels with solar panels is typically formed by a glass panel, e.g. a three layered glass sandwich panel and wherein the glue may also in any example comprise a tape which is provided with glue on both sides to withstand prescribed wind-endurance requirements such as wind-class 2.

[0014] Each supporting element comprises a first and a second attaching bracket, wherein the first attaching bracket is attached to the top of said supporting element, and the second attaching bracket attached to the bottom of said supporting element, respectively.

[0015] With the these attaching brackets the façade panel can be detachably attached to the face of the building as they have hook-shaped profiles to mate in shape with a top section of the horizontally orientated fastening rails. The brackets can thus be hooked onto the fastening rail, for which the brackets are provided with a rim or a formed such that they exhibit a rim shaped element, which in use is directed downwardly to hook onto said fastening rail.

[0016] The rim of the brackets extends to such a degree or has a height h that is sufficient to withstand horizontal displacement of the façade panel with respect to the fastening rails or face of the building.

[0017] The inventors had the insight that a large height of the rim would increase robustness as the force required to de-hook the façade panel from the fastening rails would significantly increase, but that an increase in rim height would also require an increase the spacing between two adjacent façade panels, for the panels to be detached individually.

[0018] Decreasing the rim height would allow smaller spacings between the panels, but would undesirably increase the chance of the panels to come loose in extreme weather conditions and thus impair robustness. According to the present disclosure the rim height h thus substantially corresponds to the spacing d between the panels, to allow individual detaching but at a maximum clamping force and thus maximum robustness.

[0019] To further aid robustness, at least the first attaching brackets, but preferably both the first and second attaching brackets, on the top of the façade panel and thus preferably also on the bottom thereof, are provided with clamping elements for fixing the first attaching brackets to a respective first fastening rail. These clamping elements may be defined as segments of the first fastening rail, which are formed as one or several strips which in use are in a plane parallel to the face of the building. These clamping elements or strip(s) are provided with a slot or several slots for receiving fastening means such as a bolt, nail or preferably a screw.

[0020] The façade panels are thus supported mostly by the attaching brackets, which carry all or at least most of the weight of the relatively heavy (due to the integrated solar panels) façade panels. As the attaching brackets hook to the fastening rail, their horizontal movement of the panels is fixed. With the clamping elements the horizontal movement is even further fixed and thus the clamping force in horizontal direction if further increased, which adds to the total robustness. The clamping elements however also block or fix the vertical movement of the panels which thus block or prevent the brackets from coming loose from the rail, e.g. under extreme winds or other heavy weather conditions.

[0021] To be able to the allow individual detaching of a single façade panel the fastening means by which the brackets are fixed, should be accessible for a tool such as a screw driver, Allen wrench or the like. To this end, the first attaching brackets, e.g. by placement of the horizontal elongated fastening rails, are arranged such that, in use, the slot is vertically aligned with the spacing d between the façade panel supported by the respective first attaching bracket and a neighbouring façade panel such as the façade panel there above. This way the spacing between the façade panels can be kept to a minimum, but the individual detaching of panels is maintained, whereas the proposed fastening assembly provides good overall robustness due to high camping force of the rail and attaching brackets aided by the clamping elements.

[0022] In an example, the spacing d between two adjacent façade panels is between 7 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 9 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 10 and 12 mm, and most preferably 10 mm.

[0023] In an example, the height h of said rim is between 7 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 9 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 10 and 12 mm, and most preferably 10 mm.

[0024] In an example, said elongated supporting elements are glued to the back side of said façade panel.

[0025] In an example, said assembly is arranged for fastening façade panels having a height up to 1800 mm and a width up to 1200 mm, and a weight in the range of 18 to 30 kg / m 2< , preferably 22 to 26 kg / m 2< . The skilled person will appreciate that said assembly can also be arranged for fastening façade panel having a height up to 1200 mm and a width up to 800 mm and also dimensions that are larger than 1800 mm height and 1200 mm width.

[0026] In an example, one or more of said first and second fastening rails, elongated supporting elements and said first and second attaching brackets are made of a metal, preferably aluminium, i.e. classified as EN-AW 6060-T66.

[0027] In an example, said neighbouring façade panel is a façade panel attached above said façade panel.

[0028] In an example, said rim extends in a plane formed parallel to said face of said building.

[0029] In an example, said rim extends in at an inclined angle α to a plane formed parallel to said face of said building for directing said façade panel towards said face of said building.

[0030] In an example, said first fastening rails comprise a notch for receiving said rim and directing said façade panel towards said face of said building.

[0031] In an example, said first fastening rails and said second fastening rails have correspondingly shaped profiles.

[0032] In an example, said first attaching bracket and said second attaching bracket have correspondingly shaped profiles.

[0033] In a second aspect, there is provided a façade using said fastening assembly and comprising a plurality of façade panels for fastening to the face of a building for creating a wall of façade panels, mutually spaced apart from each other by a spacing d, wherein said façade comprises one or more solar panels and further comprising: a plurality of elongated supporting elements attached to the backside of said façade panel in a vertical orientation, each of said supporting elements, comprising a pair of: a first attaching bracket attached to the top of said supporting element, and a second attaching bracket attached to the bottom of said supporting element wherein said pair of first and second attaching brackets is arranged for detachably attaching said façade panel to said face of said building wherein said first and second attaching brackets have hook-shaped profiles comprising a rim for hooking said attaching bracket to a fastening rail attached to said face of said building, and wherein a height h of said rim, in use, substantially corresponds to, and is at most said spacing d, and wherein said first attaching brackets further comprise clamping elements for fixing said first attaching brackets to a fastening rail attached to the face of said building, and said clamping elements comprise a slot for receiving fastening means such as a screw or bolt, and wherein said first attaching brackets are arranged such that, in use, said slot is vertically aligned with said spacing d between said façade panel and a neighbouring façade panel.

[0034] In an example, said façade panel have a height up to 1800 mm and a width up to 1200 mm. The skilled person will appreciate that said façade panel can have a height up to 1200 mm and a width up to 800 mm and also dimensions that are larger than 1800 mm height and 1200 mm width.

[0035] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of the invention are illustrated in the following description with reference to the enclosed drawings which are provided by way of illustration only and which are not limitative to the present invention.Brief Description of the Drawings:

[0036] Fig. 1A: shows a side view of the top part of the fastening assembly according to the invention; Fig. 1B: shows a side view of the bottom part of the fastening assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2: shows a side view of the top part and the bottom part of two adjacent fastening assemblies according to the invention; Fig. 3: shows a top view of the top part of the fastening assembly according to the invention; Fig. 4A: shows a 3D side view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4B: shows a 3D side view of Fig. 2, but from a different angle; Fig. 5A: shows a 3D view of the back of a façade panel showing the fastening assembly according to the invention; Fig. 5B: shows a 3D view of the back of a façade panel showing the fastening assembly according to the invention; Fig. 6: shows a 3D view of the back of a plurality of façade panels showing the fastening assembly according to the invention; Fig. 7A: shows a 3D view of the front of a plurality of façade panels; Fig. 7B: shows a 3D view of the front of a plurality of façade panels comprising solar panels. Detailed Description:

[0037] A façade panel 3 is attached to the face of a building 5 by means of a fastening assembly 1 according to the invention. In Fig. 1A a side view of the top part of said fastening assembly 1 is shown. A first fastening rail 9, arranged in a horizontal orientation, is attached to said face of said building 5. A plurality of elongated supporting elements 13 is attached to the backside 15 of said façade panel 3 in a vertical orientation. To each top side of said supporting elements 13 is attached a first attaching bracket 17.

[0038] In Fig. 1B a side view of the bottom part of said fastening assembly 1 is shown. A second fastening rail 11, arranged in a horizontal orientation, is attached to said face of said building 5. To each bottom side of said supporting elements 13 is attached a second attaching bracket 19.

[0039] Said first and second attaching bracket 17, 19 are arranged for detachably attaching said façade panel 3 to said face of said building 5, and wherein said first and second attaching brackets 17, 19 have hook-shaped profiles comprising a rim 21 for hooking said first attaching brackets 17 to said first fastening rail 9 and said second attaching brackets 19 to said second fastening rail 11.

[0040] In Fig. 2 a side view of the top part and the bottom part of two adjacent fastening assemblies according to the invention in the vertical direction are shown. Two façade panels 3 are attached by means of said fastening assembly 1 to said face of said building 5, wherein the two façade panels 3 are mutually spaced apart from each other by a spacing d. Said rim 21 has a height h that substantially corresponds to, and is at most said spacing d. Furthermore, said rim 21 extends in an inclined angle α to a plane formed parallel to said face of said building 5, as indicated in Fig. 1A, for directing said façade panel 3 towards said face of said building 5.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 2, said first attaching brackets 17 further comprise clamping elements 23 for fixing said first attaching brackets 17 to said fist fastening rail 9 and said clamping elements 23 comprise a slot for receiving fastening means such as a screw or a bolt. In use, said first attaching brackets 17 are arranged such that said slot is vertically aligned with said spacing d between said two façade panels 3. Said spacing d and said aligning allow to fix said first attaching brackets 17 to said first fastening rail when said façade panels 3 have been attached to said face of said building 5.

[0042] Said second attaching brackets 19 may also comprise said clamping elements 23, but these are not used for fixing said second attaching brackets 17 to said second fastening rail 11 as these clamping elements 23 cannot be reached because said façade panel 3 is in front of these clamping elements 23.

[0043] In Fig. 3 is shown a top view wherein a single façade panel 3 is attached to said face of said building 5 by means of three supporting elements, each comprising a first attaching bracket 17. The façade panel 3 is detachably attached to said fastening rail 9 that is attached to said face of said building 5. Fig. 3 further shows that each first fastening bracket 17 comprises an adjusting means 25 for adjusting said first fastening bracket 17 such that each of said plurality of façade panels 3 can be aligned.

[0044] Fig. 4A shows a 3D side view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4B also shows a 3D side view of Fig. 2, but from a different angle, such that the front of said façade panels 3 are also shown. It can be seen that said slot of said clamping means 23 is aligned with said spacing d between said façade panels 3.

[0045] In Fig. 5A and 5B, a 3D back view of said façade panel 3 is shown. In Fig. 5A, said façade panel is attached to said face of said building 5 in a portrait orientation. In Fig. 5B, said façade panel is attached to said face of said building 5 in a landscape orientation. Fig. 6 shows a 3D back view of a plurality of façade panels 3, all attached to said face of said building 5 in a landscape orientation.

[0046] In Fig. 7A and 7B, a 3D front view of said façade panels 3 is shown. In Fig. 7A, said façade panels 3 are attached to said face of said building 5 in a portrait orientation. In Fig. 7B, said façade panels 3 are attached to said face of said building 5 in a landscape orientation, herein the top façade panel of said plurality of façade panels 3 contains two solar panels 7, the middle and bottom façade panels contains one solar panel 7. Alternatively, one or more of the façade panels may not contain a solar panel 7.

[0047] Based on the above description, a skilled person may provide modifications and additions to the method and arrangement disclosed, which modifications and additions are all comprised by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fastening assembly (1) for fastening a plurality of façade panels (3) to the face of a building (5), mutually spaced apart from each other by a spacing d, wherein said façade panels (3) comprise one or more solar panels (7), said fastening assembly (1) comprising: - a plurality of first (9) and second (11) fastening rails, arranged to be attached in a horizontal orientation, to said face of said building (5), for forming alternating parallel rows of first (9) and second (11) fastening rails, respectively; characterised in that said fastening assembly (1), for each of said façade panels (3), further comprising: - a plurality of elongated supporting elements (13), arranged to be attached to the backside (15) of said façade panel (3) in a vertical orientation, each of said supporting elements (13), comprising a pair of: - a first attaching bracket (17) attached to the top of said supporting element (13), and - a second attaching bracket (19) attached to the bottom of said supporting element (13), wherein said pair of first (17) and second (19) attaching brackets is arranged for detachably attaching said façade panel (3) to said face of said building (5); wherein said first (17) and second (19) attaching brackets have hook-shaped profiles comprising a rim (21) for hooking said attaching bracket (17, 19) to one of said first (9) and second (11) fastening rails, and wherein a height h of said rim (21), in use, substantially corresponds to, and is at most said spacing d, and wherein said first attaching brackets (17) further comprise clamping elements (23) for fixing said first attaching brackets (17) to a respective first fastening rail, and said clamping elements (23) comprise a slot for receiving fastening means such as a screw or bolt, and wherein said first attaching brackets (17) are arranged such that, in use, said slot is vertically aligned with said spacing d between a façade panel (3a) supported by said respective first attaching bracket (17) and a neighbouring façade panel (3b).

2. The fastening assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spacing d between two adjacent façade panels (3a, 3b) is between 7 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 9 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 10 and 12 mm, and most preferably 10 mm.

3. The fastening assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height h of said rim (21) is between 7 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 9 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 10 and 12 mm, and most preferably 10 mm.

4. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said elongated supporting elements (13) are glued to the back side (15) of said façade panels (3).

5. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said assembly (1) is arranged for fastening façade panels (3) having a height up to 1800 mm and a width up to 1200 mm, and a weight in the range of 18 to 30 kg / m2, preferably 22 to 26 kg / m2.

6. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein one or more of said first (9) and second (11) fastening rails, elongated supporting elements (13), and said first (17) and second (19) attaching brackets are made of a metal, preferably aluminium.

7. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said neighbouring façade panel 3b is a façade panel attached above said façade panel 3a.

8. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said rim (21) extends in a plane formed parallel to said face of said building (5).

9. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said rim (21) extends in at an inclined angle α to a plane formed parallel to said face of said building (5) for directing said façade panel (3) towards said face of said building (5).

10. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said first fastening rails (9) comprise a notch for receiving said rim (21) and directing said façade panel (3) towards said face of said building (5).

11. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said first fastening rails (9) and said second fastening rails (17) have correspondingly shaped profiles.

12. The fastening assembly (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said first attaching bracket (17) and said second attaching bracket (19) have correspondingly shaped profiles.

13. A façade using the fastening assembly according to the preceding claims 1-12 and comprising a plurality of façade panels (3) for fastening to the face of a building (5) for creating a wall of façade panels (3), mutually spaced apart from each other by a spacing d, wherein said façade panels (3) comprise one or more solar panels (7), and further comprising: - a plurality of elongated supporting elements (13), arranged to be attached to the backside (15) of said façade panels (3) in a vertical orientation, each of said supporting elements (13), comprising a pair of: - a first attaching bracket (17) attached to the top of said supporting element (13), and - a second attaching bracket (19) attached to the bottom of said supporting element (13), wherein said pair of first (17) and second (19) attaching brackets is arranged for detachably attaching said façade panels (3) to said face of said building (5); wherein said first (17) and second (19) attaching brackets have hook-shaped profiles comprising a rim (21) for hooking said attaching bracket (17, 19) to a fastening rail (9, 11) attached to said face of said building (5), and wherein a height h of said rim (21), in use, substantially corresponds to, and is at most said spacing d, and wherein said first attaching brackets (17) further comprise clamping elements (23) for fixing said first attaching brackets (17) to a fastening rail (9) attached to the face of said building (5), and said clamping elements (23) comprise a slot for receiving fastening means such as a screw or bolt, and wherein said first attaching brackets (17) are arranged such that, in use, said slot is vertically aligned with said spacing d between said façade panel (3) and a neighbouring façade panel.

14. The façade according to claim 13, wherein each of said façade panels (3) has a height up to 1800 mm and a width up to 1200 mm.