6 - Association of Interior Specialists

Partitioning system types and installation procedures 66.8 Bi-Panel systemsBi-Panel systems are made up of two single,factory produced panels, usually in 1200mm or1500mm module widths, hooked onto an uprightstud section. Some systems offer a varying studthickness to provide an accessible service void.Panels can be manufactured from steel facedplasterboard, veneered, painted and laminatedMDF panels, as well as glazed panels. Thesystems offer great flexibility with the ability torelocate, and opportunity to change module typeas well as have different finishes on each side ofa module. Both the head and floor track willbecome recessed profiles when the panels arefitted. No skirting sections are required with thesystems (see figure 23).Fire performance: 30 minutes is achievable inmost module types and up to 60 minutes in solidmodule format.Acoustic performance: up to 50dB(R w ) in solidmodules and 45dB(R w ) in glazed modules canbe achieved.and base track with different end details tofacilitate door and 90 degree junctions and / orpre-formed 135 degree and ‘Y’ junctionsections. When abutting the junction sections tostandard head and base track, the abuttinghead and base track should be cut not the preformedjunctions.Some systems incorporate a levelling platformwith levelling feet which sits within the basetrack and is continuously levelled to provide aplatform for the steel studs, others incorporatelevelling feet into the base of the studs.Steel studs are pushed into the head trackand then rest on the levelling platform andprovide hook-lugs to receive the panels and canprovide racking slots to receive shelving for aworking wall.Some systems incorporate a levelling device inthe base of the stud which negates the need fora levelling platform, and have studs with slots,rather than hook-lugs, incorporated whichnecessitates having a panelling system that hasbacking hooks (see inset figure 23a).Figure 23Figure 23a6.8.1 Method of buildHead and base tracks are plumbed and fixedinto place at 600mm centres, being sure to usethe manufacturers’ compression seals. Thetracks will usually express a recessed ‘shadowgap’ detail and can also form part of a tolerancehead detail. The manufacturer may provide headWALL ABUTMENTThe wall abutment can be a two-part adjustablesteel channel assembly that is panel height andwill provide a tolerance which allows theabutment to accept pre-sized and special widthpanels. The abutment wall channel is fixed tothe wall, together with the appropriate foam,27