FAQs – Questions and answers about the Fundermax portfolio

Fundermax offers up to six sizes. Depending on the type of panel, decor or surface, there may be restrictions. You can find the available panel sizes in our current product portfolio under Downloads.

The panels have a density of approximately 1,350 kilograms per cubic meter. This results in a thickness of one millimeter each, at 1.35 kilograms per square meter.

The HPL panels (high pressure laminates) are made of natural fibers that account for approximately 65 % of their total weight. They consist mainly of wood, which has been refined into so-called “kraft paper”. The wood is a byproduct in the production of lumber or in sawmills. The kraft papers are impregnated with synthetic resins in impregnation plants, dried and pressed under high pressure and heat to form durable, moisture-resistant panels.

More detailed material descriptions can be found in the respective technical information & datasheet under Downloads.

The HPL panels contain no organic halogen compounds, such as those found in propellants or in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), including chlorine, fluorine and bromine compounds. In addition, the panels do not contain any wood preservatives (fungicides, pesticides, etc.) and are free of sulfur, mercury and cadmium.
Further details can be found in the respective technical information & datasheet under Downloads.

Max HPL panels and Max Compact Interior and Exterior panels should be stored in the original packaging in a location suitable for the material. The panels should be stacked horizontally on flat, stable supports or underlay panels and should always lie flat. After removal from the packaging, the remaining boards should be repackaged like they were originally. Cover panels should always be stored at the top of the stack and weighed down. The same applies for stacks of cut panels. Improper storage can lead to permanent deformation of the panels.

Max Compact Interior and Exterior panels should be stored in closed rooms under normal climate conditions. The permissible temperature range is between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius with a relative humidity of around 40 to 60%. Climate differences between both sides of the panel should be avoided! In addition, ensure that the climate is evenly influenced from all sides with pre-assembled fastening elements! You can use either wood or plastic as intermediate layers.

More detailed information on how to store Max HPL panels and Max Compact panels can be found in the respective technical information & datasheet under Downloads.

Max Compact panels do not require any special maintenance. Even after cutting, no post-processing of the edge is required. If necessary, the edge can be refreshed with a silicone-free oil. 

Max Compact panels have a hygienically sealed surface, which makes them extremely easy to clean. Detailed cleaning recommendations can be found in the Exterior and Interior brochures under Downloads.

Carbide-tipped saw blades and milling cutters have proven to work exceptionally well for processing these panels. In order to achieve a longer tool life, we recommend the use of diamond-tipped saw blades and milling cutters.

More information on how to process Max HPL panels and Max Compact panels can be found in the respective technical information & datasheet under Downloads.

Max Compact Interior panels are duromer high-pressure laminate panels (HPL) in accordance with DIN standard EN 438. They are produced in laminate presses under high pressure at high temperature. The panels are suitable for highly demanding and decorative interior applications such as furniture, office furniture, wall cladding and sanitary facilities. More information on the Max Compact Interior panel can be found in the technical information & datasheet under Downloads.

Max Compact Exterior panels are also duromer high-pressure laminates (HPL). They meet the requirements of DIN standard EN 438-6, type EDF and are extremely weather resistant. The protection is provided by the double-hardened acrylic polyurethane resin coating. Max Compact Exterior panels are high-quality building products that are used, among other things, for permanent balcony and facade cladding. Further information on Max Compact Exterior panels can be found in the technical information & datasheet under Downloads.

H3: What are the fire behavior properties of Max HPL panels and Max Compact panels?

In Europe, HPL panels and Compact panels intended for construction applications are tested in accordance with the following standards:

·        DIN standard EN 13823 (SBI test, thermal stress from a single burning object)

·        DIN standard EN ISO 11925-2 (test with small burner)

The determined fire behavior is specified in accordance with the DIN standard EN 13501-1 by so-called fire protection classes.

The following Fundermax products are assigned to the European fire protection classes:

·        Max Compact Interior with black core: D-s2,d0, normal flammability

·        Max Compact Interior F-Quality with black core: B-s2,d0, flame retardant

·        Max Compact Exterior F-Quality: B-s2,d0, flame retardant

·        Max HPL panel glued to a 12 mm thick wooden support with a minimum density of 600 kg/m³: D-s2,d0, normal flammability

Note: Valid test reports can be found under Downloads.

The composite of Max HPL panels with a carrier material consists of Max laminate panels in accordance with DIN standard EN 438-3. These are glued to both sides of a carrier material. There are various possible combinations for the composite. The carrier material in particular can vary, but mostly they are panels made of wood-based materials, such as chipboard or MDF panels. However, honeycomb elements or thermal insulation materials can also be used as the core layer.

A symmetrical structure is required to ensure a distortion-free laminated element. This means that the laminated panels must have the same thickness (0.8 to 4 millimeters) on both sides. However, different designs can be used for the decors.

Star Favorit Superfront panels are coated chipboard panels manufactured using a direct coating process. The double-sided coating with a thickness of approximately 0.5 or 1.0 millimeters has the same structure as a laminated panel.

The difference to an HPL laminate is in the manufacturing process. With the Star Favorit Superfront panel, the coating is applied in a single operation. Depending on the surface finish of the coating, the technical values and the functional properties correspond to the requirements of the DIN standard EN 438-3 for laminated panels.

Possible sizes for the Star Favorit Superfront panels as well as Max HPL panels can be found on the respective product page or in our current product portfolio.

Reaction adhesives such as epoxy or solvent-free polyurethane adhesives (PU adhesives) are usually suitable for gluing Max Compact panels. More information about gluing can be found in the technical information for interior products under Downloads.

Max HPL panels with a thickness of 0.8 to 1.0 millimeters are approved by the certification body DNV according to the IMO FTP Code for use as wall cladding on ships. 
Note: The Max HPL panel with the Aptico (AP) finish is exempt from this approval.

Wall cladding made from Max Compact Interior panels must be mounted on a substructure. The panels can be fastened mechanically using screws or rivets or with hanging systems. It is important to form appropriate butt joints. When using Max Compact Interior panels, it is essential to ensure that the wall cladding is rear ventilated.
For more instructions on how to create a rear-ventilated wall cladding, refer to the Interior technical information & datasheet under Downloads.
 

If certain requirements are met, Max Compact Interior panels can be attached directly to drywall, concrete or brickwork. They can be fastened mechanically with visible or concealed fastening means. Fundermax, together with our partner, has developed a special wall cladding system that is available in different versions. Details can be found in the technical information for Interior products.

The differences between the Max Compact panel without decor and the Max Compact panel Authentic Natura (decor AUTN) can be found in the product flyer “Difference between Max Compact panels Authentic and Max Compact panels MDEK”.

Max Compact Exterior panels must only be fastened using building authority-approved screws, rivets, undercut anchors or adhesive systems. For information on the fasteners, please refer to the relevant general building authority approvals or the technical information & datasheet for our Exterior products. You will also find the contact details of the fastener manufacturers there.
 

The Max Compact Exterior panels can be mounted on a metal substructure using rivets, balcony screws, edging strips and glass clamps. Detailed information on the installation of Max Compact Exterior panels as balcony cladding can be found in the technical information & datasheet for our Exterior products.
A list of all the balcony cladding variants that have been tested by Fundermax in accordance with the ETB guideline “Components that protect against falling” can also be found there. For this reason, the requirements for fall protection are demonstrably met.
Important note: In the event of deviations from the tested installation variants, adequate fall protection cannot be guaranteed.
 

The use of Max Compact Exterior panels outdoors without rear ventilation is not appropriate for the material and is therefore not possible. Requirements for rear ventilation can be found in DIN standard 18516 or in the technical information & data sheet for our Exterior products.

The Max Compact Exterior panels can be attached to an aluminum substructure using rivets, undercut anchors and adhesive systems. Alternatively, it is also possible to mount the panels with screws on a wooden substructure. Detailed information on the design of a non-bearing, rear-ventilated facade (VHF) can be found in the technical information & datasheet for our Exterior products under Downloads.

In addition to our standard range of decors, Fundermax also offers the option of using your graphics, photos, images or other motifs as a custom decor, even for orders of just a single panel. All we require is an electronic image file in a suitable resolution.

The colors of the decors are assigned using the Natural Color System (NCS). The NCS code is provided for each decor on the product page. To find a decor, you can also simply search for the desired Fundermax decor number. For a color classification according to RAL gGmbH, please contact our Support.

Under certain conditions, Max Compact Interior and Max Compact Exterior panels are available with different decors on the front and back sides. Our Support team can answer any questions concerning possible decor combinations.
Our range of Exterior decors come standard with a rear side in 0890 balcony white. This does not apply to neon decors, as these are only produced with the rear side in 0077 graphite gray. The same applies to the Authentic Natura decor as well.
In the case of custom decors, the back can only be provided in decor 0891 individual white.