Sandwich panel
A prefabricated building element made of two metal faces with an insulating core bonded between them, working together under load. Used for roofs, facades and cold rooms in industrial halls, warehouses and commercial buildings.
Technical glossary
Construction terms, explained simply.
Definitions of the products and technical terms in the MODULIX catalogues: sandwich panels, solar mounting structures, PVC windows and doors, basalt mineral wool and modular containers.
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Sandwich panels
18 terms
Roof panel
A sandwich panel with a ribbed outer face (3 or 5 ribs), designed to carry snow and wind loads and drain water. It is fixed to steel purlins with exposed or concealed screw joints.
Facade panel
A sandwich panel for external walls, with a flat, micro-profiled, fluted or siding surface. Concealed-fix versions give a uniform look with no visible screws.
Cold room panel
A sandwich panel with a thick PUR/PIR core (80–200 mm) and a special sealed joint, for cold stores and freezer rooms. The tight joint limits cold loss and condensation.
Insulating core
The inner layer of a sandwich panel, made of PUR foam, PIR or basalt mineral wool. It bonds the two faces, provides thermal insulation and adds to the panel's strength.
Concealed fixing
A joint system where the fixing screws are covered by the tongue of the next panel. The result is a continuous facade with no visible screws and better sealing.
Exposed fixing
A joint system where the panel is screwed through its outer face. Installation is faster and more economical; it is common on roofs, containers and chilled spaces.
Micro-profiling
Fine profiling of the metal face (shallow ribs) that increases surface stiffness and reduces the visible "oil-canning" effect on flat facades.
Siding profile
A facade geometry that imitates horizontal cladding boards, with regular shadow lines between the bands. It gives rhythm and texture to industrial and commercial buildings.
Acoustic panel (perforated face)
A sandwich panel with a basalt wool core and a perforated inner face (minimum 0.60 mm) that absorbs sound and reduces reverberation in production halls and plant rooms.
PVC / TPO membrane
A waterproofing membrane used as the outer face of a roof panel. Recommended for low-pitch roofs between 2% and 7%, where ribbed sheet would not drain water reliably.
CTP / GRP
Glass-fibre reinforced polyester used as the inner face of panels for aggressive environments: livestock farms, poultry houses, food processing or spaces with chemicals. It does not rust and resists acids and abrasion.
Profiled sheet (trapezoidal)
Galvanised steel or aluminium sheet profiled into trapezoids (e.g. 18/76, 27/200, 38/151) for roofs, walls, halls and canopies. The first number is the rib height and the second the pitch, in mm.
C and U profiles
Cold-formed steel profiles with a C- or U-shaped section, used as purlins and rails for the roof and facade structures that carry the panels.
Ridge
A sheet metal accessory that covers the line where the two roof slopes meet, sealing the top of the roof.
Gutter
An accessory that collects water from the roof and directs it to the downpipes. It can be a side (eaves) gutter or a valley gutter between two slopes.
Drip profile
A sheet metal profile fitted at the base of a facade or the edge of a roof that sheds water away from the wall and protects the joints.
Load table
A table showing the uniformly distributed load (kg/m²) a panel can carry for a given thickness and span between supports. It helps choose the panel and the purlin spacing.
Solar mounting structures
14 terms
Solar mounting structure
The assembly of posts, beams, purlins, clamps and fasteners that holds solar panels at the required angle, on the ground, on a roof or above car parks.
Driven piles
A foundation method where steel posts are driven directly into the ground by machine, without concrete. It is fast and economical for medium and large solar parks.
Screw piles
Steel posts with a helix at the base, screwed into the ground. They suit uneven ground and can be installed in any season, without pouring concrete.
Concrete foundation
A fixing option where the structure's posts are anchored to concrete blocks or embedded in concrete. It provides stability on loose or sloping ground.
Solar carport
A structure that covers parking spaces and carries solar panels on its roof. It protects vehicles and produces energy; the version for bicycles is called a bike shelter.
Solar tracker
A moving structure that rotates the panels on one axis to follow the sun during the day, increasing energy output compared with a fixed structure.
Tilt angle
The angle between the solar panel and the horizontal. MODULIX structures typically cover 0–60°, with some models at fixed angles (20°, 25°, 30°) or adjustable.
Ballasted mounting
Fixing the structure on a flat roof with weights (ballast), without drilling through the waterproofing. Suitable for industrial and commercial buildings with flat roofs.
Portrait / landscape mounting
The orientation of the panels on the structure: portrait (long side vertical) or landscape (long side horizontal). It affects the number of rows and the size of the structure.
Panel clamp
An aluminium part that fixes the solar panel to the purlin. The end clamp holds the edge of a row and the middle clamp holds two adjacent panels.
Purlin
A horizontal structural member fixed on beams, to which the panels are clamped directly. In sandwich panel roofs, the purlin is the support the roof is fixed to.
Bracing
A diagonal bar connecting the posts that stabilises the structure against wind and lateral forces.
Hot-dip galvanising
Corrosion protection by dipping steel parts in molten zinc, to EN ISO 1461. The zinc layer protects outdoor structures for decades.
Magnelis
A metallic coating based on zinc, aluminium and magnesium with high corrosion resistance, used for the steel components of solar structures.
PVC windows and doors
14 terms
PVC profile
An extruded rigid PVC bar with internal chambers, used to make the frame, sash and leaf of windows and doors. It is reinforced with steel for rigidity.
Profile depth
The width of the profile measured perpendicular to the window (e.g. 60, 70 or 80 mm). A deeper profile allows more chambers and thicker glass, so better insulation.
Chambers (multi-chamber profile)
The hollow spaces inside a PVC profile, separated by walls. The more chambers, the lower the heat transfer through the profile.
Uf value
The thermal transmittance of the window frame (frame and sash), in W/m²K. Lower values mean lower heat loss; MODULIX profiles start from 0.85 W/m²K.
Profile class (EN 12608-1)
The classification of PVC profiles by the thickness of their outer walls: class A has the thickest walls, followed by B and C. It affects the window's rigidity and durability.
Sealing gasket
An elastic profile fitted between sash and frame that stops air, water and noise. Systems with 3 gaskets seal better than those with 2; TPE gaskets stay elastic over time.
Glazing unit (insulated glass)
The glass unit fitted in the window, with the space between panes filled with air or gas. The total thickness (e.g. 24, 32 or 44 mm) affects thermal and sound insulation.
Tilt-and-turn window
A window that opens in two ways: tilted (from the top, for ventilation) and turned (fully, on side hinges), depending on the handle position.
Sliding system
A door or window whose sash slides on a track instead of swinging on hinges. It saves space and allows large glazed areas, as in the Easy Slide and Isotherm Slide systems.
Frame, sash and leaf
The frame is the fixed surround attached to the wall; the sash is the moving frame that holds the glass; the leaf is the whole opening part. A mullion divides the opening into several fields.
Multi-point locking
A locking mechanism that secures the door in the frame at several points at once, improving burglar resistance and sealing.
3D hinges
Hinges adjustable in three directions (height, side and compression) that allow the door to be adjusted after installation.
Decor (laminated foil)
A foil applied to the PVC profile to imitate wood or a colour (e.g. Golden Oak, Anthracite Grey). It gives coloured windows without painting.
Decorative door panel
An infill panel for PVC entrance doors, with a choice of design, finish and glass inserts, from the Thermoline, Thermo Inox, Flatline and Flat Inoxline series.
Basalt mineral wool
12 terms
Basalt wool
A mineral wool made by melting rocks (basalt, diabase, dolomite) at 1400–1500 °C and spinning them into fibres. It insulates against heat and sound, and its mineral nature contributes to fire protection.
ETICS (external wall insulation)
A composite system for insulating external walls: insulation boards bonded and anchored to the wall, covered with mesh-reinforced render and a finish coat. Premium F basalt wool is designed for these systems.
Ventilated facade
A facade with exterior cladding (aluminium, fibre cement, stone, glass) fixed on a subframe, with an air gap between cladding and insulation. The air circulates and removes moisture.
Water repellency
A treatment of the mineral fibres that repels water, so the insulation does not absorb moisture and keeps its thermal performance.
Facing
A layer applied to the face of a wool board: aluminium foil (vapour barrier and reflection) or black, white or yellow glass fleece (protection and appearance).
Density (kg/m³)
The mass of insulation per unit volume. Higher density gives better mechanical strength (for walkable roofs or ETICS); lower density gives lighter boards for ventilated facades.
Compressive strength
The pressure (kPa) a board can withstand at a given deformation. It matters for flat roofs and floors, where the insulation carries loads.
Tensile strength perpendicular
The board's resistance to being pulled apart perpendicular to its faces (kPa). It matters in ETICS, where the render and wind pull on the board.
Thickness tolerance class (T1–T5)
The permitted deviation from the board's nominal thickness. T5 is the tightest tolerance and T1 the widest.
NPD
"No Performance Determined": the property has not been declared for the product.
Industrial mat
Flexible basalt wool supplied in rolls for insulating boilers, pipes and equipment that operate at high temperatures.
Loose wool (blowing)
Basalt wool in flakes, blown by machine into hard-to-reach cavities: lofts, cavity walls and service spaces.
Modular containers
8 terms
Modular container
A prefabricated module with a steel structure and sandwich panel walls, delivered ready for installation. The MODULIX base module measures 6000 x 2400 x 2600 mm and can be combined with other modules for offices, housing or changing rooms.
Rollforming (cold forming)
A process in which steel sheet passes through a series of rollers and takes the profile shape without heating. Container posts and frames are made this way, with consistent dimensions.
Base frame (chassis)
The steel frame at the bottom (base frame) and top (roof frame) of the container, carrying the floor, walls and roof. The MODULIX base frame has a declared load-bearing capacity of 250 kg/m².
Weld-free assembly
Assembling the structure with screws and bolts only, without welding. It allows faster assembly and dismantling and keeps the profiles' corrosion protection intact.
Modular complex
A building made of several containers placed side by side or stacked, connected by corridors and external stairs. The number of storeys and the circulation are defined in the design.
Fibre cement board
A rigid board of fibre-reinforced cement used as a 16 mm floor base in containers. It resists moisture and is covered with PVC flooring or, in WC-shower areas, an epoxy finish.
Panic bar
A horizontal bar fitted on exit doors that opens the door with a simple push, even in a hurry. It is fitted on the corridor exit door.
Snow and wind loads
The climatic loads the structure is designed for. The container documentation states a snow load of 80 kg/m² and a wind speed of 102 km/h; values are checked for each site.
Materials and performance
11 terms
Thermal conductivity (λ)
A material's ability to conduct heat, in W/(m·K). The lower λ is, the better the material insulates: e.g. PUR ≈ 0.022, basalt wool ≈ 0.035–0.040 W/(m·K).
Thermal transmittance (U)
The amount of heat passing through 1 m² of an element (wall, roof, window) for a 1 °C temperature difference, in W/m²K. Low U values mean low heat loss.
Thermal resistance (R)
The inverse of transmittance: R = thickness / λ, in m²K/W. The higher R is, the better the layer insulates.
PUR (polyurethane foam)
A rigid foam made from isocyanate and polyol, with about 95% closed cells. It offers some of the best insulation for a small thickness and bonds directly to the panel faces.
PIR (polyisocyanurate)
A variant of polyurethane foam with a more stable chemical structure that forms a charred layer when exposed to flame. It insulates similarly to PUR, with better fire behaviour.
Reaction to fire class
The classification of materials under EN 13501-1: A1 and A2 are non-combustible or of very limited combustibility, followed by B, C, D, E and F. The suffix "s" refers to smoke and "d" to flaming droplets (e.g. A2-s1,d0).
Pre-painted galvanised steel
Steel sheet (e.g. DX51D+Z) coated with zinc for corrosion protection, then primed and painted in the factory. It is the most common face for sandwich panels and profiled sheet.
Coil Coating
Continuous factory painting of coiled sheet: cleaning, primer and a paint layer of controlled thickness. The resulting finish is uniform and durable.
Polyester, PVDF, plastisol
Paint types for sheet metal: polyester (PE) is economical and versatile; PVDF keeps its colour and resists chemicals; plastisol (PVC) is a thick coating, highly resistant to corrosion and moisture.
RAL code
A standard system of colour codes (e.g. RAL 9010 white, RAL 7016 anthracite grey) used to choose the shade of the sheet and the panels.
Sound absorption and insulation
Absorption reduces echo inside a room; insulation (the Rw index, in dB) shows how much noise a wall blocks between two spaces. Basalt wool helps with both.
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