A hollow terracotta rainscreen panel is an extruded, fired-clay facing designed to hang as the outer layer of a ventilated facade. Internal chambers help shape the section and provide fixing zones, while the panel remains a non-loadbearing component supported by a separate subframe.
PG723 is an archived LOPO reference with a granite-like 3D inkjet surface. Its 2016 specification is preserved below as historical product information; current dimensions, finish, performance documents, quantity and delivery terms require project confirmation.
Understand what the hollow section does
The cross-section is developed through extrusion. Chambers can reduce material compared with a solid body and provide geometry for clips or inserts, but they do not make the panel structural. Section depth, web thickness, panel size, orientation and fixing arrangement influence weight, strength and installation.
Panel body
Confirm the current extrusion drawing, nominal thickness, hollows, tolerances and permissible cuts.
Connection
Coordinate clips, rails, pads, inserts and restraint with the actual profile and design loads.
Wall behind
Design insulation, membranes, cavity, flashings and fire stopping as the complete envelope.
Do not assign thermal, acoustic or waterproofing performance to the hollow shape alone. Those outcomes depend on the tested or calculated wall assembly, joints, cavity and backup construction.
Read the PG723 archive as a starting point
| Archived field | 2016 value | Current project action |
|---|---|---|
| Item and size | PG723; customized | Confirm available tooling, panel schedule and manufacturing limits |
| Body and thickness | Natural clay; 18 mm | Request the offered section drawing and reference-specific data |
| Colour and finish | Mix; 3D inkjet | Approve physical samples, print direction and acceptable visual range |
| Archived mass | 31 kg/m² | Verify mass for the exact size, section and finish |
| Water absorption | Less than 0.5% | Request the applicable current report and test method |
| Commercial notes | MOQ 1500 m²; lead time 35 days | Obtain a current quotation, quantity review and production schedule |
Archive boundary: a value printed in an old product table does not automatically cover a new size, batch, fixing or market. Required standards and submittal formats should be listed in the enquiry so LOPO can identify relevant current information.
Approve the granite-look surface at facade scale
Digital inkjet decoration can create a mineral pattern on fired clay without making the product natural stone. The appearance depends on base body, printed layers, finish, panel orientation and repetition. Ask how the artwork or pattern varies across units and how edges, grooves and cut pieces will appear.
Build a mock-up using several panels and the intended joint width. Review it from normal viewing distance in direct and diffuse light. Compare with adjacent glass, metal or stone, then record the approved range before quantity production.
Design the complete ventilated rainscreen
A rainscreen manages weather through layers. Open or baffled panel joints limit direct rain, the cavity allows drainage and ventilation, and the backup wall provides the principal air and water control. Set cavity depth, ventilation openings, flashings and compartmentation to suit the building and local requirements.
Resolve brackets and rails around structure, insulation and membranes. Detail sills, jambs, heads, parapets, soffits, bases and transitions so water can leave the assembly. Allow for building movement, thermal movement, construction tolerance and individual panel replacement.
Match tests and engineering to the proposal
The architect and facade engineer should define wind, impact, seismic, fire, freeze–thaw, moisture and attachment requirements. Product data may inform selection, while system calculations, project details and—where required—assembly testing establish suitability. Reports for another panel or connection should not be extended without review.
- panel reference, dimensions, section, tolerances, mass and finish;
- relevant material test reports and the standards used;
- fixing concept, subframe drawings, calculations and movement provisions;
- mock-up, inspection, packing, replacement and maintenance plans.
Choose applications by assembly, not marketing category
Hollow terracotta panels can be considered for exterior walls on commercial, residential and public buildings, subject to system design and compliance. Selected panels may also be used on sheltered walls or interiors when supports, fire strategy and safety are appropriate. Ceilings, tunnels and transport environments introduce distinct restraint, impact and maintenance demands.
The old article also mentioned clean rooms and clinical or food-production areas. A decorative panel is not automatically suitable for hygiene-controlled spaces; cleanability, joints, emissions, contamination control and local approvals would need independent verification.
Plan samples, production and site quality
Send an elevation schedule with sizes, quantities, cuts and special pieces. Approve sample panels, pattern direction and acceptable variation before production. Coordinate crate labels and delivery sequence with installation zones, and include a sensible allowance for breakage, selection and future replacement.
On site, verify the subframe and datums before hanging panels. Establish a benchmark area for joint alignment, surface distribution and interfaces. Protect finished work, test cleaning on a discreet area and retain labelled spare units with the handover records.
Review a hollow terracotta panel facade
Send the project country, elevations, typical details, facade area, preferred panel size, stone-look direction, fixing concept, design criteria, quantity and schedule. LOPO can confirm whether PG723 or another current terracotta rainscreen panel suits the brief.