Architectural Panel Solutions

Petrarch Rainscreen Facade & Downer Framing Systems

The UK’s leading manufacturer of reconstituted stone rainscreen facade ‘Petrarch’ and Downer Framing the original Helping Hand cladding framing system.

Petrarch rainscreen facade celebrated 50 years in 2022, marking a major milestone for our reconstituted stone cladding panel.

Since 1972 our unique reconstituted rainscreen facade panel has been transforming the face of living and working spaces. Today we’re proud to say that Petrarch adorns buildings across the UK, Europe and the USA thanks to a robust and respected distribution network.

A reconstituted stone panel designed to perform

Petrarch is a reconstituted stone rainscreen facades that has been carefully manufactured to be extremely weather resistant and withstand the most severe environmental conditions, and just like natural stone, it matures over time, giving character and depth to any architectural scheme.

An aesthetically striking panel with incredible strength, boasting an A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire rating (EN 13501). Highly durable and impact resistant, Petrarch is considerably lighter than natural stone systems.

WHY IS IT CALLED PETRARCH? 

The origin of Petrarch in the first instance came from:

PETROS

THE ORIGINAL Greek version of the name ‘Peter’ meaning ‘STONE’ or ‘ROCK’.

ARCHITECTURE

The art or practice of designing and constructing buildings.

THUS CREATING ‘PETRARCH’ WHICH REFLECTS

THE QUALITIES OF BOTH ‘STONE’ AND ‘ARCHITECTURE’

Incidentally, yet quite remarkably, it is also the name of world-renowned poet Francesco Petrarca, 1304–74, Italian poet and scholar. Petrarch’s sonnets were immitated and admired across Europe and they also became a prototype for lyrical poetry. ‘Petrarch was truly an original, to whom no-one could be compared.’ Elegance. Versatility. Diversity. Originality.

These are the cornerstones which have shaped our Petrarch panel brand which today is the natural choice for specifiers and designers around the world. Changing the face of living and working spaces worldwide for half a century.

What are the features of Petrarch Rainscreen Facade?

1.1 Features

• BBA Approved
• Reaction to fire classification:
• – Petrarch A2 - A2-s1, d0 in accordance with BS EN 13501.
• – Petrarch - B-s2, d0 in accordance with BS EN 13501 (Available under request).
• Large scale fire tests on B-s2, d0 panels
• – BS: 8414-2:2005 meeting BR135:2013 Annex B performance criteria
• – NFPA 285
• Installation by mechanical secret fix, site adhesive and face fixing
• Mechanical secret fix and face fix systems CWCT Windload and Impact tested.
• Colours and textures emulate natural stone
• Colour matching service
• Over 1500 colours to choose from
• Extremely durable surface, easy to clean and maintain
• ISO 9001 & 14001 accredited
• Proven performance and life expectancy in excess of 30 years.
• Market leading 50 year warranty when combined with our Downer Framing solution
• 4 distinctive finishes with routing available too
• Made in Britain
• Thanks to a robust distribution network Petrarch rainscreen facade is available worldwide: Petrarch Rainscreen Facade USA, Petrarch Rainscreen Facade Ireland, Petrarch Rainscreen Facade Netherlands, Petrarch Rainscreen Facade Italy

Downer Rainscreen Framing - The Original Helping Hand Framing System

Downer Framing is the original helping hand aluminium rainscreen framing system. Manufactured here in our Hastings factory for over 50 years.

As the original HELPING HAND framing system, our Downer rainscreen framing systems have been helping contractors, installers and architects realise their project visions for decades.

The original rainscreen framing innovators, Downer Framing has been providing comprehensive, non combustible rainscreen framing solutions for over 50 years. Working both directly and via a respected and robust distribution network, we are able to offer a reliable and highly cost effective portfolio of facade products which can be used in conjunction with our reconstituted stone rainscreen panels, or independently with your chosen facade, as can be seen in our project portfolio.

RAINSCREEN FRAMING SOLUTIONS YOU CAN TRUST- DESIGNED FOR STRENGTH AND SUPPORT.

The ever-evolving face of architecture demands a supporting cast of rainscreen framing sub frame systems that can deliver on energy, versatility, building protection and budgetary requirements, without inhibiting design. 

Each of our strong and expertly manufactured rainscreen framing systems is highly durable and able to support all types of man-made or natural cladding panels.

Our experience in developing, manufacturing and supplying rainscreen framing systems has earned the respect of leading professionals within the UK building industry.

Whether you’re a specifier, designer or contractor, we’ll support you throughout the lifecycle of your project with dependable technical expertise and support so that you can achieve maximum results from your buildings’ framing system.

As well as the need for high quality products, we understand the need for cost efficiency; this is why all of our framing solutions combine technical performance and practicality with easy installation and low maintenance.

MADE IN BRITAIN IN OUR UK FACTORY

Downer rainscreen framing systems are manufactured here in the UK, from high quality, non combustible extruded aluminium. Following intensive BBA testing Downer framing rainscreen sub frame systems achieved BBA Assessment 20/5792 which stipulates reaction to fire as follows:

Behaviour in relation to fire — in respect of reaction to fire, the systems may be regarded as having a class 0 or ‘low risk’ surface in accordance with the national Building Regulations. Our aluminium rainscreen bracket and rails have a fire rating of A1 – non combustible and offers no contribution to fire.

WHY CHOOSE DOWNER

Here are just a few reason why to choose Downer

1. ENGINEERED TO PERFORM

MANUFACTURED FROM EXTRUDED 6000 SERIES ALUMINIUM (GRADE 6005A AND 6063), OUR DOWNER SYSTEMS DELIVER ON ALL FRONTS: ENERGY EFFICIENCY, VERSATILITY, STRENGTH, DURABILITY, PROTECTION AND MORE.

2. BBA APPROVED

BBA APPROVED FOR COMPLETE ASSURANCE, OUR SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN TESTED TO THE EXTREME.

3. MADE IN BRITAIN MEMBERS

AS MADE IN BRITAIN MEMBERS YOU CAN ALSO BE CONFIDENT OF STRONG LEAD TIMES. OUR SYSTEMS ARE MANUFACTURED HERE IN OUR UK FACTORY.

4. EASY TO INSTALL

EASY TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN, AND COST EFFECTIVE TOO.

5. VALUE ENGINEERED

VALUE ENGINEERED, PROJECT SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS – COMBINED WITH A STRONG PORTFOLIO OF RAINSCREEN PANELS.

6. CUSTOM FIXINGS

FIXINGS SPECIFIED FOR EACH SYSTEM AND STOCKED.

7. IN HOUSE CALCULATIONS

IN HOUSE STATIC AND THERMAL CALCULATIONS.

8. PERFECT FINISHING

ANODISING AND POWDER COATING.

9. CUT TO PERFECTION

CUTTING SERVICE AVAILABLE.

10. UK STOCKS

EXTENSIVE UK STOCKS OF STANDARD ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR DESPATCH 1-2 DAYS

VALUE ENGINEERED FRAMING SOLUTIONS

Our Downer Framing rainscreen framing customer service and sales teams will help you optimise and value engineer your framing solution. We can provide optimisation for your rail lengths. We can also provide off-site profile cutting to length and project specific packing to reduce on-site wastage and a more efficient installation.

DCS031 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Downer DCS031 HELPING HAND® bracket rainscreen framing system is designed to provide vertical support to most rainscreen cladding panels using the principle of a ventilated façade.

Downer Framing HELPING HAND® brackets combined with extruded aluminium L & T profiles provide the installer with an adjustable system allowing for thermal and structural movement and variation in cavity depth to suit project specific requirements.

Downer Framing DCS031 vertical rails offer direct support to the cladding panels by face or adhesive fixing them.

It can also be used as a support to other framing systems such as our Downer Framing DCS004 Mechanical Secret Fix, Downer Framing DCS021 Omega and Zeds for horizontal support or Downer Framing Timber Batten Holders to build an adjustable timber frame.

Downer Framing DCS021 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Downer DCS021 rainscreen framing system is designed to provide vertical support to most rainscreen cladding panels using the principle of a ventilated façade.

The Omega and Zed extruded rails are designed to be installed onto a continuous structural load bearing substrate to offer direct support to the cladding panels by face or adhesive fixing them.

It can also be used as a support to other framing systems such as our Downer Framing DCS004 Mechanical Secret Fix or combined with Downer Framing DCS031 & DCS041, or another layer of DCS021 Omega and Zeds to provide horizontally orientated support rails.

Downer Framing DCS032 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Downer DCS032 rainscreen framing system is designed to provide horizontal support to vertically installed cladding panels using the principle of a ventilated façade.

Downer DCS032 Horizontal Adaptor combined with DCS031 HELPING HAND® brackets and extruded aluminium L & T profiles provide the installer with an adjustable system allowing for thermal and structural movement and variation in cavity depth to suit project specific requirements.

Downer Framing DCS033 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Downer aluminium rainscreen DCS033 framing system is designed to provide support to metal hook-on cassette cladding panels using the principle of a ventilated façade.

Downer HELPING HAND® brackets combined with extruded aluminium L & T profiles offer an adjustable system allowing for thermal and structural movement and variation in cavity depth to suit your specific project requirements.

Downer Framing has taken the headache out of calculating complex framing projects with Downer Designer - a free to use online optimisation tool which provides customers with a dedicated portal where they can store and revisit multiple calculations. www.downerdesigner.com