1. Solid and true all-wood construction
All panels are characterized by high strength and stability under compressive and tension stress and extreme static load-carrying capacity – they create a solid, secure and true all-wood construction.
2. Visual quality wood in the interior
NOVATOP bearing structure can also be the internal surface! Visual wood offers completely new possibilities in shaping the architecture of modern design. It brings unique beauty and aroma of natural wood into the interiors.
3. Speed of construction
The structure is put together as a building kit. All the panels are manufactured in exact formats with selected processing of joints, openings for windows and doors and other individual adjustments such as a the preparation for distribution routes or the addition of insulation. The finished components are shipped directly to the site where they are put together to make a complete building in a few hours using a crane – accurately, simply and quickly.
4. Airtightness
(Essential for passive houses!)
All NOVATOP panels are really airtight due to the longitudinally glued joints between the slats and due to the fixed knots (with the panels NOVATOP SOLID, the airtightness is already secured in the thickness of 62 mm). Thanks to these features, an airtight envelope without foil moisture stops is created, as evidenced by the results of measurements (Blower Door Tests) at particular implementations. In order to achieve airtightness, the design phase and rigorous implementation of all the details on the site (interconnections and openings, such as windows, ventilation, etc.) are crucial. Thanks to the precise machining of NOVATOP panels, there are far less of such details than with other building systems.
5. Diffusional openness
(Essential for the quality of the indoor environment free from mould!)
A NOVATOP structure remains diffusionally open with suitably chosen insulation. NOVATOP panels consist of solid wood in the whole cross-section and effectively reduce the penetration of moisture. Part of the moisture progresses into the structure and on into the exterior, part is absorbed and retained by the wood and after the moisture in the interior is reduced, it is re-released back. Due to these features, the construction does not need a foil moisture stop, so one of the most problematic areas in the assembly of wooden buildings is eliminated. With the diffusionally open construction, the cladding consists of insulation on the outside of the NOVATOP panels, or of an installation brick veneer on the inside. The composition is designed with regard to the diffusion resistance of individual layers, so that the dew point was located as close as possible to the exterior with different types of insulation.
6. Phase shift
(Essential against summer overheating!)
An important and still neglected factor influencing the thermal comfort inside the building is the phase shift of temperature oscillation. This is a feature of the construction that slows down the influence of extreme temperatures caused by the solar radiation. During the exposure to the sun, the surface of the building envelope is heated and the temperature increase of the material spreads towards the interior. Phase shift is the time at which the change in temperature on the outer surface of the construction effects on the interior. The phase shift of solid NOVATOP panels ranges from 3 to 7 hours, according to the thickness. In combination with fibreboard insulation, it can be of up to 15 hours.
7. Physical and architectural acoustics
The purpose of the building structure is to prevent the noise from spreading, whether it is the noise from the outside, caused mainly by the traffic, or from the inside of the building. Even perfect building materials themselves cannot ensure meeting of all requirements if the structure consisting of them does not respect structural protection against the spread of noise. As in the case of thermal bridges, it is necessary to essentially eliminate the acoustic ones as well. Both of these mentioned methods of noise spread can be effectively reduced, however, there is a prerequisite of professional approach at the design stage and then, of course, the precise execution of implementation. NOVATOP system provides, in combination with selected insulating materials, real comfort.
Impact sound can be effectively reduced by limestone grit, which ceiling elements may be filled with. Loose materials increase not only the volume weight of the structure, but also, due to the friction of the individual grains, convert the energy of floor vibration to heat, thus helping to reduce the noise conducted by the structure. The requirements for architectural acoustics can be met by cladding the interior with acoustic panels NOVATOP ACOUSTIC.
Bonus: Fire resistance
NOVATOP panels can also be used for construction of residential and industrial buildings, including buildings with increased demands for fire safety, such as schools or hospitals; the individual segments of the building can be optimized to the required dimensions. All the solid components have a huge advantage because they burn away only horizontally, so the construction weakens slowly. The reports on fire resistance classification can be found in the downloads section.