Brick cladding system
Corium
What is Corium?
Corium is a unique brick cladding system that combines the natural beauty of genuine brick with cost effective fast track installation. It offers a facing brick finish for projects where a façade system is required, rather than traditional masonry.
The Corium system comprises brick slip tiles specially manufactured to fix/clip mechanically to a steel backing section. The mechanical feature of ‘clipping’ is something unique to the Corium system. They are manufactured in 2400mm lengths, additional lengths can be manufactured with an extra cost.The height of the rails which are used within the system are; 60mm, 67mm and 75mm. The system has been established and widely used in the UK for 15 years after gaining BRE accreditation.
The beauty of the Corium brick cladding system is its simplicity to use, as well as the outstanding results it can achieve. The system has been established and widely used in the UK for 18 years.
How Corium Works
The Corium system has been used in a variety of building sectors including; residential, education, health care and retail. It is installed by a nationwide network of recognised installers who can fix it from mobile platforms, scissor lifts, mast climbers or traditional scaffolding.
The profiled lengths of individual Corium are mounted in horizontal rows onto a vertical support system and the brick tiles are simply clipped in place. These profiled lengths are mounted in horizontal rows onto a vertical support system and the fired clay brick tiles are simply clipped in place. The vertical and horizontal joints between the tiles are then pointed to provide a brickwork finish.
The panels which the Corium tiles are fitted too are either lightweight steel frames or unitised aluminium systems which is often used for larger scale projects. Corium is also an option for offsite construction, the façade system is highly versatile. That versatility even extends to the type of construction you want to use. Offsite construction is a well-publicised concept as people continue the ongoing search for faster, more efficient construction methods and systems.
Corium is also available as part of pre-fabricated solutions, where manufacture takes place under quality controlled, factory conditions providing many advantages to both contractor and client through the accuracy and the speed of the production.
The features of Corium
- Corium has been classed with an A1 fire rating.
- Corium offers a real brick aesthetic.
- It is a flexible, functional and imaginative system.
- The unique Corium tiles are available in a wide range of colours, textures and sizes.
- A wide range of special shaped, including purpose-made returns and flat arches are available which can be used for the finishing touches and the finer details.
- Industry tested and BRE certified.
- Can save time and money.
The Benefits of using Corium
The Corium brick cladding system offers a wide range of benefits from faster construction speed to a beautiful look. Our Corium brick cladding system has been used on several high profile projects with great success. The popularity of Corium is growing at a great pace as more and more architects and clients are seeing the wide range of benefits the Corium system offers.
Strong and Durable
The Corium system is designed to last 60 years thanks to a Magnelis galvanised steel or Grade 304 stainless steel backing section (stainless steel below DPC) and specially engineered, frost-resistant brick tiles. The system has a fire resistance of class 0, and a water resistance rating of less than 1%, so frost and efflorescence will not affect the brick tiles.
Fast and Simple
Building with Corium can be up to 5 to 6 times faster for construction speed than traditional brickwork and is quick and easy to install. The system can be installed in at temperatures and with moisture conditions where it would not be possible to lay traditional bricks. The system has no restrictions, it can and has been installed vertically, horizontally and in soffit application. It is the only system that has the “clipability” which allows for no adhesive to be used, resulting in less mess.
When designing and building a project, it is the finer details that can make all the difference to the overall look achieved. A wide range of special shaped brick tiles are available for the Corium system, including external returns, stop end brick tiles, brick arch sets, soldier brick tiles and air brick tiles.
Versatile and Design-led
With brick tiles available in a wide range of colours and textures, Corium offers a wide range of design possibilities for any new build or refurbishment project.
The flexible Corium system can be installed both vertically and horizontally. Corium tiles can be mounted at an angle to achieve a more dynamic finish, as well as overhead to create soffits and ceilings. Mosaic and decorative patterns can be easily achieved, adding an extra dimension to any project.
The Corium collection has an extensive range of plain and multi brick tile designs in smooth, textured and glazed finishes, but we are also able to match any RAL colour to create a bespoke look for your project. Corium brick tiles are also available in a range of brick heights from 50mm up to 215mm.
One of the advantages of our Corium brick tiles is that they are all produced on the same red body. Durable colours are bonded into the tile surface during firing at over 1000°C. Corium brick tiles in every colour all have the same technical specification and size consistency to ensure a secure fit onto the rails.
Cost effective and Assured
Corium is suitable for use with a wide range of sub-structures, including concrete, timber frame, structural steel, lightweight steel frames, structurally insulated panels and masonry. Corium clad buildings may also benefit from simpler, lower cost foundations. Corium is provided as a supply and fix solution through a wide nationwide network of recognised installers and is BRE certified and industry tested. If a tile is damaged then it can be fully removed and replaced with a fresh tile, this is highly cost effective as it is one tile and now a whole area which will need removing.
The BRE certified and industry tested Corium system is provided as a supply and fix solution through a wide nationwide network of recognised installers. The speed and efficiency which the system can be installed offers labour cost reductions and time savings.
Installation
Overview
As mentioned above, Corium is installed by a nationwide network of recognised installers who can fix Corium from mobile platforms, scissor lifts, mast climbers or traditional scaffolding.
On a suitable structure, the Corium installer fixes the support rails, clips in the specially designed Corium brick tiles and finishes the joints with pumped mortar.
Steps of installation
1. Strength Rows of profiled steel sections are fixed to the backing structure. Sections are designed to interlock vertically.
2. Speed Corium brick tiles are simply clipped into place by hitting the brick tile with a rubber mallet. The clipping process ensures that consistent horizontal joints are achieved, whilst vertical joint spacing can be adjusted to suit design requirements.
3. Simplicity Once all the Corium brick tiles are installed and the quality approved, mortar is applied. The mortar is typically 1:1:6, cement:lime:sand mix applied using a pump system. Prebagged Parex Historic KL mortar is preferred as it has been developed specifically for the system and suits the characteristics of the tiles. The preferred joint profile is bucket-handle.
The standard tile has visible face dimensions of 215 x 65mm to match standard UK brick size. Alternative tile heights of 50mm, 57.7mm, 140mm and 215mm are available. Tile length can vary (depending on tile height) up to 327mm. The maximum possible tile size is 215mm (H) x 327mm (L). All tiles have a thickness of 32mm. The Corium system (tiles, rails and mortar) has an overall weight of approximately 68kg/m2.
The video below demonstrates how the Corium brick cladding system is installed at City Park West, Chelmsford.
The video features the Wienerberger Corium brick cladding system, this video demonstrates how it combines genuine brick, with cost-effective fast-track easy installation with the "clipability" feature.
Corium Range
Expand the Corium texture you prefer to discover the colour code.
Reference Projects
Wienerberger provides expertise and product solutions for all kinds of construction projects whether commercial, residential or technical specifications.
View our Corium reference projects below >
FAQs
Q. What is Corium?
A. The system comprises interlocking steel sections (rails) specially profiled to allow fired clay brick tiles to be clipped in, providing a mechanical fix. The vertical and horizontal joints between the tiles are then pointed to provide a brickwork finish.
Q. What tile sizes are available?
A. The standard tile has visible face dimensions of 215 x 65mm to match standard UK brick size. Alternative tile heights of 50mm, 57.7mm, 140mm and 215mm are available. Tile length can vary (depending on tile height) up to 327mm. The maximum possible tile size is 215mm (H) x 327mm (L). All tiles have a thickness of 32mm.
Q. Are corner tiles available?
A. Yes. One piece external returns (215 x 102mm) or cut and bonded corners.
Q. What fixings should be used and at what centres?
A. Austenitic stainless steel fasteners (304 grade) with integral sealing washer (EPDM or similar) should be specified to suit the support material to which Corium is being fixed. The system is fixed to vertical supports at maximum 600mm centres.
Q. What mortar specification should be used?
A. Historic KL Mortar by Parex was developed specifically for use with Corium and its use is recommended. The pointing and mortar mixing must only be carried out by approved Corium installers.
Q. Can the tiles be matched to a specific brick type?
A. Corium has a specific range with no direct equivalent in traditional brick. Colours, glazes and textures are applied and fixed into the surface of the tiles during firing. The Corium brochure shows a range of finishes but other colours and finishes can be developed.
Q. What is the weight of the system?
A. The Corium system (tiles, rails and mortar) has an overall weight of approximately 68kg/m2.
Q. Can the system be installed vertically or at an angle?
A. Yes. The performance of the system is not affected by its orientation.
