ALPOL EKO PLUS WM system chart

The ALPOL EKO PLUS WM system is available in four versions: - the M variety using decorative mineral plaster - the SIS variety using decorative silicate and silicone plaster - the K varianty without plaster, intended for insulation of ceilings in unheated rooms - the WINTER variant designed for application in low ambient temperatures

Mounting the skirting

Carefully level and fix the skirting matched to the insulation board thickness before bonding the mineral wool boards. Fix the skirting with either expansion bolts or nail plugs, using at least three bolts per 1 metre of skirting.

Edge and spot adhesive application on the surface of mineral wool boards with disturbed fibre arrangement

After smoothing the mineral wool board surface with adhesive, apply the ALPOL AK 533 or ALPOL AK 534 (“winter” type) in “spots” and around board edges. The adhesive strip around board edges should be between 3 and 5 cm. Apply 3 to 6 spots of 8 to 12 cm in diameter on the remaining board surface. The amount of adhesive applied should ensure at least 40 % effective bonding surface. This method is recommended for slight surface irregularities.

Comb adhesive application on mineral wool lamella surface

Apply the adhesive with a trowel and spread it with a plain float. Then, spread it with a notched trowel of notch size 10 x 10 or 12 x 12 mm, in order to obtain a combed texture. This method ensures greater effective bonding area, but can be applied only on even surfaces.

Bonding mineral wool boards

Lean each mineral wool board (conventional or lamella) with the adhesive on the edges against the adjacent, already fixed, boards or skirting, press it against the wall and slide it a little for uniform spreading of the adhesive. Fix the boards in an upward direction in horizontal lines (along the longer edge) in staggered arrangement of vertical joints, with board ends crossing in the corners.

Bonding mineral wool boards

Press the boards uniformly constantly checking the surface verticality and levelling using a long level or a darby. Board edges must be fully bonded. Side edges of the boards should tightly adjoin each other without gaps. Any possible gaps between the boards (larger than 2 mm) should be plugged with wool strips cut to size without using adhesive. Smaller gaps should be filled with polyurethane foam by a gun applicator. No adhesive is acceptable in the gaps.

Bonding mineral wool boards

After the adhesive has set, boards protruding out of the wall corners can be trimmed. Remove adhesive excess before fixing another boards. All corners of façade openings should be insulated with one-piece mineral wool boards cut to size. This will reduce cracks in the opening corners.

Expansion joints

All existing expansion joints in the wall being insulated should be followed in the insulating course. Use PVC prefabricated profiles (for walls and corners) for the expansion joints.

Spacing of mechanical fixtures

The fixing method with mechanical fixtures should be specified in detail in the thermal insulation design. The design should specify the number and type of fixtures together with the spacing method, taking into consideration building height and increased load in the edge areas. Fixing with fixtures depends on the wool type and ALPOL EKO PLUS WM system type involved. The fixtures used should have stainless metallic pins. For the conventional wool and regardless of wool type, mechanical fixtures must be used on the entire area, when insulating plastered buildings. For the wool lamellas, they are recommended to be used above 20 m height. It is recommended to use at least 6-8 fixtures per 1 m2 in the middle part of wall and 10-12 fixtures per 1 m2 in the edge area. The length of fixtures used depends on the surface type and thickness of an insulation layer. The anchoring depth should be at least 6 cm in materials of high density (concrete, silicate, solid bricks) and at least 8 cm in hollow and cavity bricks. For materials of low density such as aerated concrete and porous ceramics, the fixtures should have screwed pins. In case of insulating unplastered concrete ceilings with wool lamellas no additional fixing with mechanical fixtures is used.

Fixing mineral wool boards with mechanical fixtures

Make sure the adhesive under the boards has set and hardened sufficiently (normally after min. 1 day, in lower temperatures at least min. 3 days after bonding), before installing the mechanical fixtures. The fixtures must be installed prior to application of the reinforced layer. The fixtures are installed in pre-drilled holes by plugging them in and driving a metallic pin with a hammer or by screwing.

Application of a reinforced layer

The reinforced layer should be applied at least 3 days after bonding the boards. Before adhesive application onto the board surface, smoothen it initially with the adhesive. The first stage recommended is to embed aluminium or plastic corner profiles on wall edges and façade openings. Then, reinforce all opening corners by embedding rectangular strips of fibreglass mesh sized at least 25 x 35 cm above and below the openings, at the angle of 45 °.

Application of a reinforced layer

The mesh should be embedded in single operation starting from the wall top. Immediately after spreading the ALPOL AK 533, ALPOL AK 534 adhesive on the boards with stainless steel notched trowel (notch size 10 × 10 or 12 × 12 mm), carefully embed tensioned reinforcing mesh with straight edge of the trowel.. The reinforcing mesh should be completely invisible after embedding. The reinforcing mesh may not adhere to the boards in any point, but must be embedded in the adhesive. The mesh belts should be fixed with ca. 10 cm overlap. Overlap the mesh at least 20 cm on both sides of the corners if no edge profiles are used on the external corners. In the ground floor and upstand portion of a building (if insulated), use two layers of the reinforcing mesh.

Priming the reinforcing layer to be applied the M and SIS plaster.

At least 2 days after applying the reinforcing layer, sand the surface with sand paper and treat the entire area with the plaster primer. Use ALPOL AG 701 primer for decorative mineral plaster and ALPOL AG 706 primer for silicone-silicate plaster. Priming should be performed in temperature above +5°C, after the adhesive has dried out and set completely. Apply the primer with a brush or a paintbrush.

Application of M and SIS plaster

The plaster should be applied at least 24 hours after priming, not later however, than 3 months from application of the reinforcing layer. In lowered temperatures, the plaster can be applied after minimum 6 days and when the temperature during 5 following days is above +5°C. Use steel trowel with straight edges to apply all the decorative plaster mortars by spreading them over the wall surface holding the trowel at 20 – 30° angle. Next coats should always be spread in the direction of a freshly applied coat. The thickness of the coat applied should be the same as that of the grain. Remove excess of mortar with a float. Ensure adequate number of workersto continuously and without interruptions, apply the plaster on façade area delimited by building corners or other natural cut-off lines. Any possible joints of the plaster should be performed in the “wet to wet” technique. If this proves impracticable, provide the cut-off by sticking two strips of painting tape, one on the surface and the other one on the dry plaster.

Application of plasterwork

After spreading a coat of the thickness required, work on the desired plaster structure. To do so, trowel the plaster with a hard plastic float. Do not press the float too hard against the coat being worked on, otherwise the plaster will be scratched off. Remember that weather conditions will affect the quality of the plasterwork. Mineral plaster should be painted with an appropriate façade paint (AF 660 silicate or AF 680 silicone paint) after seasoning (minimum 7 days).