Trespa Installs Durable Products for Schools

The University of California at San Diego chose Trespa International B.V. to provide exterior cladding and interior surface materials for its renovation projects. Trespa produces High Pressure Laminates (HPL) and manufactures panels for exterior, decorative facades and interior surfaces for use in higher educational and K-12 institutions.

Recent trials of their Trespa Meteon exterior cladding panels continue to rank at high classification for UV-resistance and color stability. In practice, this means that most colors will not change significantly for at least 10 years. Both the UV-resistance and color stability of the vertically applied decorative surface comply with the highest score classification 4-5 measured with the grey scale according to ISO 105 A02. And when properly installed, the panels resist moisture, freeze-thaw cycles, mold and rot as well as termites.

Durability and longevity are extremely important, especially when it comes to building education facilities. According to Ross Parker of Bassetti Architects, responsible for the renovation and addition to the International Middle School/Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle, “Any work done now will have to last for another 50 years and long-term maintenance costs have to be low. Trespa Meteon provided us with an attractive, durable and sustainable solution.”

Of course, as with any construction, fire safety is a primary concern. The exterior cladding panels do not melt, drip or explode and retains its stability for a long time, according to the company. Its flame-retardant panels meet the performance requirements for a Class-A material with regard to Flame Spread and Smoke Development (ASTM E84).

Beyond durability and safety, as a rain screen cladding system, the panels provide the building envelope superior protection from the elements. The open joint system minimizes the amount of water penetration and the system’s ventilation allows moisture to drain out of wall construction. This was a major concern when it came to the extensive renovation of buildings at UCSD, which specified Meteon be used for several major projects including the Telemedicine and Prime HEq Facility and the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.

When it comes to the interior surfaces of medical and research facilities on campus, Trespa’s HPL TopLabPlus is an attractive, durable and bacteria-resistant choice. The panels have an integrated decorative surface using proprietary Electronic Beam Curing (EBC) technology that ensures each panel is non porous and resistant to a large number of aggressive chemicals and is easy to clean and disinfect. The surface is impermeable to bacteria, molds and micro-organisms and highly resistant to the effects of wear and tear.