Architectural porcelain rainscreen
Extruded porcelain panels for precise ventilated facades.
Large-format ceramic cladding shaped by extrusion, fired to a dense Group AIa porcelain body and coordinated with a mechanically fixed ventilated facade.
Formats, finishes and project documentation are confirmed against the proposed elevation and governing local requirements.
What it is
Extruded body.
Vitrified character.
Extruded porcelain panels are ceramic facade elements formed by forcing a prepared body through a die. This process can create hollow cells, integral edge grooves and three-dimensional face profiles before high-temperature firing develops a dense, low-absorption porcelain body.
Under ISO 13006, Group AIa describes extruded ceramic tiles with water absorption of 0.5% or less. This classification is a useful material starting point, but it does not by itself establish wind resistance, fire classification, weather tightness or suitability of a complete wall.
Panel format, orientation, clip geometry, rail spacing, cavity, insulation, membranes, fire barriers, flashings and substrate connections must be resolved as one coordinated facade assembly.
From body to module
Formed for depth.
Fired for density.
The manufacturing route supports hollow profiles and controlled relief that would be difficult to achieve by conventional dry pressing at architectural scale.
Body preparation
Mineral raw materials are proportioned, milled and conditioned for stable extrusion.
Vacuum extrusion
A continuous column is formed through a profile die, creating the face, cells and fixing-edge geometry.
Controlled drying
Moisture is reduced progressively to manage movement before firing.
High-temperature firing
Firing above 1200°C is referenced for the current product direction; obtain production confirmation for the selected series.
Finishing and inspection
Edges and fixing interfaces are checked, with rectification applied where the selected profile requires it.
Why specify it
Evidence-led advantages.
The panel is one component of a complete wall. These advantages describe product attributes and design opportunities; final performance comes from the tested and engineered assembly.
Dense porcelain body
Group AIa establishes a clear low-absorption classification for early-stage exterior material selection.
Architectural scale
Long modules and controlled relief create a porcelain option beyond conventional pressed tiles, subject to profile review.
Precise dry fixing
Integral edge grooves coordinate with mechanical clips and rails instead of relying on face fastening or site adhesive alone.
Maintainable outer skin
A mechanically coordinated layout can support planned inspection and local replacement where the selected system permits.
Technical performance
Read the value.
Read the scope.
The results below refer to a reported light-grey 600 × 300 × 19 mm sample. Request the complete signed report and confirm applicability to the proposed product.
| Property | Reported result | Method | Specification note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classification | Group AIa | ISO 13006 | Extruded ceramic, ≤0.5% absorption |
| Water absorption | 0.3% | ISO 10545-3 | Sample result within Group AIa limit |
| Breaking strength | 7,872 N | ISO 10545-4 | Panel sample result; not a system wind rating |
| Freeze–thaw | Pass · 100 cycles | ISO 10545-12 | No visible effects reported |
| Stain resistance | Class 5 | ISO 10545-14 | Cleanability result; not a self-cleaning claim |
| Chemical resistance | UA / GLA | ISO 10545-13 | Confirm reagents and exposure in the full report |
| Linear thermal expansion | 5.1 × 10⁻⁶/K | ISO 10545-8 | Relevant to joint and movement design |
Not established by this table: complete wall wind resistance, anchor capacity, reaction to fire of the whole build-up, cavity-barrier performance, water penetration, seismic response, impact category or local approval.
Format strategy
Start with the elevation grid.
Nominal size is only one input. Window modules, joints, tolerances, corners, transport, handling and the support system should be resolved before the facade pattern is frozen.
- Standard directions
- 800 × 400, 1200 × 600 and 1500 × 600 mm
- Standard thickness
- Nominal 20 mm
- Project envelope
- Up to 3000 mm long × 990 mm wide
- Thickness range
- 18–25 mm, profile-dependent
- Orientation
- Horizontal or vertical
- Joint strategy
- Open-jointed rainscreen, system-dependent
Maximum dimensions are manufacturing directions, not automatic project limits. Profile, finish, span, wind action, yield, packing and handling may reduce the feasible size.
Surface design
Colour is one layer.
Geometry is another.
Natural mineral, stone-inspired, wood-inspired, metallic-inspired and glazed visual directions can be paired with physical face profiles. Material-look names describe appearance, not the imitated material.
Natural
A quiet, body-led mineral reading
Honed
Softly refined with low sheen
Sandblasted
Fine grain for diffuse light
Ribbed
Linear relief and deeper shadow
Brick relief
A smaller-scale coursed rhythm
Wave
A continuous, directional profile
Ventilated facade principle
The panel is the visible layer—not the whole wall.
A typical dry-fixed concept connects grooved panel edges to compatible clips, secondary rails and engineered brackets. The cavity manages drainage and ventilation while the backing wall and weather layers perform their own functions.
Design responsibility
Engineer the complete assembly.
Panel properties do not substitute for facade calculations, system testing or local approvals.
Wind actions
Positive and negative pressures, zones, panel span and fixing capacity.
Substrate
Structure, brackets, anchors, adjustment range and pull-out verification.
Fire
Material evidence plus complete-wall build-up, cavity barriers and code.
Moisture
Joints, flashings, membranes, openings, cavity drainage and ventilation.
Movement
Thermal expansion, structural drift, joints and installation tolerances.
Handling
Crate size, lifting method, access, installation sequence and replacement.
Material selection
Extruded porcelain or architectural terracotta?
| Design question | Extruded porcelain panels | Architectural terracotta panels |
|---|---|---|
| Material character | Dense, low-absorption porcelain body with broad surface directions. | Natural fired-clay expression with series-dependent absorption and tone variation. |
| Visual emphasis | Mineral, stone-, wood- or metal-inspired graphics plus face geometry. | Clay body colour, glaze, engobe and extrusion-led texture. |
| Classification | Group AIa when verified to ISO 13006. | Declare series-specific physical properties and applicable standards. |
| Best starting point | When a porcelain performance class and controlled graphic palette lead the brief. | When authentic terracotta character and natural fired variation lead the brief. |
Applications
One material language.
Multiple building types.
New construction and retrofit applications remain subject to project engineering and local code.
Commercial
Corporate, office and mixed-use envelopes.
Residential
Apartment and high-density housing facades.
Education
Schools, universities and research facilities.
Cultural
Museums, libraries and civic buildings.
Hospitality & retail
Hotels, resorts, shopping and flagship stores.
Transport
Stations and infrastructure-facing architecture.
Technical library
Ask for the evidence your project needs.
Available documents are confirmed for the exact product selection and market. LOPO does not publish placeholder reports, invented ratings or zero-price offers.
Frequently asked
Technical answers, without the shortcuts.
Use these answers for early-stage orientation. Signed reports, drawings and project engineering govern the final selection.
What makes an extruded panel “porcelain”?
Under ISO 13006, Group AIa combines extrusion as the forming method with water absorption of 0.5% or less. The classification describes the ceramic body; project suitability also depends on the complete facade system.
How is extruded porcelain different from architectural terracotta?
Both are fired ceramics and both can be extruded. Porcelain Group AIa has a defined very-low-absorption body, while architectural terracotta is usually selected for natural clay character and declares absorption and performance by series. Neither is universally better.
What panel sizes are available?
Current standard directions are 800 × 400, 1200 × 600 and 1500 × 600 mm at a nominal 20 mm thickness. A project-dependent manufacturing envelope up to 3000 mm long and 990 mm wide, with 18–25 mm thickness options, requires feasibility confirmation.
Can the panels run horizontally or vertically?
The proposed edge-groove and rail concept can be developed for either orientation. Clip geometry, rail direction, panel span, wind actions, drainage and joint details must be confirmed for the selected layout.
Can extruded porcelain be used on high-rise facades?
It can be considered where the complete mechanically fixed assembly is engineered for positive and negative wind pressure, impact, substrate capacity, movement, fire performance and local code. A panel breaking-strength result alone does not approve a high-rise wall.
Are the panels frost resistant?
The referenced 600 × 300 × 19 mm light-grey sample is reported to have passed 100 freeze–thaw cycles to ISO 10545-12 without visible effects. Request the report covering the proposed body, format and finish before specification.
Is the facade waterproof or fireproof?
Those words overstate what a facing panel can prove. Low absorption does not make the wall watertight, and reaction-to-fire evidence for a ceramic facing is not a classification for the whole wall. Weather layers, flashings, insulation, membranes, cavities and cavity barriers remain part of project design.
What should be sent for a technical review or quotation?
Share the project country, elevations, preferred module and finish, approximate area, corners and openings, performance requirements, delivery location and programme. Include the proposed support system if one has already been selected.
Project inquiry