Important Things About Ritek Solutions
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Ritek® is the next generation of wall system which has a chromate coated aluminium and plastic internal componentry which provides for concrete flow, easy finishing and high system strength.
Ritek® provide a product warranty of up to 25 years.
Ritek® provide a variety of resources including project coordinators to assist in the smooth delivery of the Ritek® and coordination between installer and builder to support seamless installation.
Ritek® XL Wall® and Ritek XL Thermal Wall® is applicable for external use. Ritek® Wall Systems are considered waterproof once they have a 2-3mm acrylic render applied as per the manufacturer’s details.
Ritek® has specification mixes for concrete with an MPa of 25-50 and utilises a high concrete slump of between 180-220mm. The concrete should be low shrink with 7-10mm aggregate. The self-compacting, high slump concrete is higher than other systems can accept and means a good flow of concrete, avoiding any voids or honeycombing.
We normally recommend the use of a rebate in the slab for the ground floor. Ritek’s patented floor to wall detailing means that we don’t require a rebate in the slab on subsequent levels.
The engineer will nominate the locations for control joints, and these are then factored into the shop drawings for the installers to configure on site. Ritek® recommends control joints be placed at every 6 metres for crack control.
Ritek XL Thermal Wall® is the only structural walling system on the market with a built in insulation component which can meet R values up to 4.8.
All specialised subcontract installation teams provide certified braces for propping of the Ritek® Wall Systems. These small push-pull props are fixed at every panel-to-panel join and hold the panels in line whilst the slab above is poured and are removed shortly after the pour.
The panels are lightweight and typically (1200mm wide by 2800mm high) one panel will weigh about 70kg. A pack of panels weighs approximately 700kg and once craned onto the slab, each panel can be placed into position.
Yes, Ritek® XL Wall® can be used as a retaining wall but would require tanking prior to backfilling. Tanking provides a waterproof barrier to prevent penetration of water and moisture.
There is no need to batten out the walls internally, the Ritek® XL Wall® delivers a sanded surface ready for direct setting by your finishing trades to a level four finish that is highly durable. Externally, a 2-3mm acrylic render is applied. Walls can be clad both internally and externally if desired.
All services can be run within Ritek® Wall Systems and are BCA compliant. Electrical GPO boxes on opposite sides of the wall must be off-set so that there is adequate concrete cover between them. It is recommended that where possible, plumbing services be installed on the outside of the Ritek wall panel for ease of maintenance.
Ritek® Wall Systems are designed to accept the reinforcement requirements designed by the structural engineer for each project. XL115-165 walls will accept a single grid of reinforcement, whilst XL200-265 walls will accept a double grid of reinforcement.
Ritek® XL Wall® and Ritek XL Thermal Wall® will meet all BCA requirements for fire, acoustic and thermal performance as well as being a structural load bearing wall. Please refer to our Design & Detail for BCA requirements and Ritek® performance information in the tables detailed in Section C – Design.
To meet discontinuous construction requirements for inter-tenancy walls, you will always need an air gap and a secondary wall regardless of the primary wall type. Walls can be clad both internally and externally to achieve an air gap.
All apertures need to be sealed as per the method used on any single skin masonry wall, and normally we would see an aluminium sub-sill fitted to the window to provide drainage rather than a sloping sill.
A network of experienced installers along with Ritek® project coordinators can help to enable a highly efficient install, with minimal downtime, delivering a straight and true durable wall.
The panels are loaded at the Ritek® factory with a forklift so it is recommended that they be unloaded with a forklift, Manitou or tele loader. The wall panels can be soft slung if lifting with a crane.