Ruukki

Ruukki has knowledge of energyefficient steel solutions as well as the largest product and service range of the market. The customer receives needed steel products and services directly from one supplier. Ruukki's facade systems offer a wide range of complete wall systems for industrial and commercial construction. In addition to existing sandwich panel and energy panel systems, Ruukki is now launching a new architectural facade system that combines high standard of architecture with excellent energy efficiency. Facade systems will be delivered as packages containing all necessary parts and equipment.

Ruukki® façade systems are always all-inclusive deliveries with all needed components for a complete installation.

Nearly zero-energy hall in Hämeenlinna

The first near zero-energy hall in Finland for commercial and office premises has been completed at Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK) in Hämeenlinna. Built for R&D and teaching use, the new hall will be occupied by HAMK and Ruukki Construction. The hall was built to show that it is economically viable to build a near zero-energy building even in northern climes.

The main departure point in building the hall was to create a building that both saves energy and utilises renewable energy. The successful outcome of the building is that it was designed as a whole rather than being split up into various parts. Optimisation gave the best end result over the entire lifetime of the building. In this context, optimisation means investment outlay, additional costs during the use of the building and the potential savings were taken into account when choosing the solutions used. In other words, energy savings and generation were examined over the entire lifetime of the building. For example, it is not worth using thicker insulation in the roof and walls where a higher return can be gained by using renewable energy.

Ruukki Classic solar roof collects solar heat, which is conducted through energy piles into the ground. The heat stored in this way is used to heat the building during the winter. The building façade features the Ruukki® on-wall solar system, which converts the sun’s rays into energy for the building. The glass windows on the south-facing side of the building have been replaced by polycarbonate daylight windows, through which incoming light does not glare. These windows also insulate heat well and so prevent the sun’s thermal rays from heating the premises in summer.

The airtight outside walls have been created using energy panels, which save heating costs. This in turn reduces lifecycle costs and carbon dioxide emissions. Ruukki’s heating and cooling profiles based on solar radiation have been affixed to the underside of the ceiling. These cut the energy consumption used in air-conditioning and reduce temperature variations on each floor.

Ruukki Expression and Ruukki Forma products add to the impressive looks of the building. Expression enables any photographic image to be taped on to a façade, in this case a cloudy sky. Forma enables façade cladding products to be affixed to panels to give buildings a more multi-dimensional look. In this case, Cor-Ten rainscreen panels have been used.

Instruments and censors have been installed in the building structures to measure the functioning of the building’s structures and mechanical and electrical solutions, and to verify energy efficiency. The data generated will be used by adjusting the building to work as planned.