The National technical approval (abP) is proof of suitability for use of unregulated building products and types of construction in accordance with the state building codes and is marked on a construction product with the “Ü” mark of compliance.
In Germany, the DIN standard 18040-2 defines which criteria need to be met for a bathroom to officially be considered accessible. Realizing an accessible wet floor system means that this needs to be installed at the same level as the adjacent bathroom floor and must not be lowered more than 2 cm. The floor coverings must be anti-slip according to GUV-I 8527 rating group B. Another main criterion is a room divider which provides enough room to maneuver and offers space for a walking aid, wheelchair, and a carer. For example, a person with a walking frame needs space to maneuver of 1.20 m x 1.20 m, a person in a wheelchair 1.50 m x 1.50 m. When correctly installed and if the correct board is selected, the Kermi wet floor system meets all of these criteria.
Both in the private as well as public sphere, a floor level, tiled wet floor system has been the first choice for a long time now. Realizing an accessible wet floor system according to DIN 18040 means that this needs to be installed at the same level as the adjacent bathroom floor and must not be lowered more than 2 cm. The floor coverings must be anti-slip according to GUV-I 8527 rating group B. Wheelchair users need room to maneuver in the shower area which is 150 cm x 150 cm and needs to be kept free of all objects. For accessible living, a minimum area of 120 cm x 120 cm is sufficient. The Kermi wet floor system meets all these requirements if installed correctly and if the appropriate board is selected.
Anodizing is the name given to a method of treating aluminum, where an electrochemical process is used to create a layer of oxide on the product. The oxide layer forms a protective barrier on the aluminum. What is special about this is that anodizing does not mean an additional layer is applied to the aluminum. Anodizing creates a layer which is built up of the aluminum already there. The main reason for anodizing is to protect the aluminum. Thanks to this process, the corrosion resistance is increased and the material remains looking good/attractive for longer. Anodizing creates a hard, wear-resistant layer which effectively protects the aluminum underneath.
When selecting the most suitable Kermi shower enclosure, it is important to carefully analyze the building situation on location. The available space and the structural circumstances dictate what designs can be realized. Special features, such as a sloping ceiling, protruding walls, trims, or edges limit the range of products. Kermi has a unique range of models and versions, providing the right solution for every building situation.
Kermi shower enclosures stand for tested quality. With the CE marking, Kermi affirms that the shower enclosures comply with the legal provisions of the EU and ensures comprehensive, reliable product quality according to EN 14428. The CE marking is always applied by the company itself and is based on a declaration of performance. The CE marking needs to be be applied to all products and all packaging labels in accordance with European guidelines. With the CE marking, Kermi gives its customers the security that the Kermi shower enclosures are outright high quality and durable products.
The horizontal sealing strip of the Kermi shower enclosures makes sure that the water can rebound better when showering. It is easy to remove the sealing strip and clean it in your dishwasher. It is also easy to clean with a small brush, maybe even a toothbrush. If you should need a new one at any time despite this, you can of course buy a replacement from our spare parts shop at any time.
Up to a certain length, the Kermi shower boards can be cut to size with all standard tools, such as a hand-held circular saw. This means that the boards can be individually adjusted to suit the shower situation. Cutting the board to size reduces the board thickness at the cutting edge which means the difference this results in must be compensated for on site when tiling by using the tile adhesive. The minimum dimensions that boards can be cut to without losing the warranty can be found in the “Prices and Technology” document.
The amount of waste water in the shower enclosure can vary depending on the faucet used, such as a hand-held showerhead, a fixed showerhead, rainfall or waterfall showerhead. It is important that the drain is able to drain away the quantity of water coming out of the faucet.
Depending on their installation height, geometry, and diameter, Kermi drains have different drainage rates.
LINE E70 24 l/min
LINE DN50 vertical 66 l/min
LINE DN50 horizontal 48 l/min
LINE DN40 horizontal 30 l/min
POINT E65 30 l/min
POINT E90 48 l/min
POINT DN50 vertical 60 l/min
POINT DN50 horizontal 48 l/min
POINT DN40 horizontal 32.4 l/min
Immediately after installing the Kermi shower enclosure, it needs to be sealed with silicon. Kermi recommends a drying time of 24 hours after sealing before the shower enclosure can be used. It is important that the silicon hardens and dries out completely. The surface drying time is only approx. 15–20 minutes. The mass has then already started to dry and is very difficult to work with.
Silicon is very sensitive to water while it is drying out. During this time, moisture reduces the adhesive quality of the silicon and makes the seam leak. All work on the shower enclosure, as well as cleaning and prettying up attempts are to be avoided during the drying time. Apart from working as a seal, the silicon also takes on a static function and adds stability to the shower enclosure.
ESG-H is the abbreviation for single panel safety glass (ESG) which has been subjected to a heat-soak-test. ESG-H is available on request.
In barefoot areas and particularly in wet areas, such as the shower enclosure, it is important to select anti-slip tiles. Anti-slip tiles with rating 10 upwards are recommended. An installation height of between 5 and 25 mm is possible for the tile covering with the LINE shower board LINE, with the POINT shower board, up to 40 mm. When realizing the tiling, a tiling aid needs to be used to ensure to minimize the dimension (gap between tile edge and channel cover). When installing the POINT shower board, make sure that no silicon gets between the drainage frame and the tiles to ensure that the secondary drainage works properly.
The Kermi shower base system with a channel or a single point drain is available in various installation heights and dimensions. Depending on the installation situation and specific requirements, Kermi offers the option of installing standard shower board systems or the extra flat complete shower board (installation height min. 65 mm). The installation height does not depend on the board, but on the drain. Low installation heights mean that all Kermi System drains are suitable for new-builds and also for renovations. Various versions for vertical (installation height min. 40 mm) and horizontal designs (installation height min. 97 mm) are available to choose from.
Expansion joint of elastic joint filler.
Generously proportioned Walk-In shower enclosures in bathrooms are trending at the moment. When selecting them however, you need to check whether they can actually be transported into the bathroom. A narrow stairwell on the way to the bathroom limits the size. You need to make sure that it is possible to transport the shower enclosure in its packaging up or down the stairs.
Small gaps in the reflective layer may result due to the manufacturing process and are not a cause for any complaint.
With the Kermi WALK-IN shower enclosures, there is the option of retrospectively fitting a door to close them. Depending on the building situation, a two part hinged door with either a strip seal or a magnetic seal can be used. If a ceiling support is already available, then the WALK-IN dividing wall can be closed with a two part hinged door with a special, separate sealing profile.
A seat in the shower makes showering easier. You can sit and take a shower or simply have a brief rest while showering. You can choose between a mobile seat, a fixed seat, or a built-in bench. All options can easily be combined with Kermi shower enclosures. Individual made-to-measure solutions, such as a cutout in a fixed panel can be realized at any time by the KermiEXTRA special service.
Kermi uses high quality single panel safety glass in accordance with EN 12150 for all shower enclosures. This is extremely resistant to impact, shock and bending stresses and also withstands thermal loads. If, despite this, the extreme case should occur and the glass should be damaged, then the glass will not splinter, but will crumble into small, blunt pieces in a similar manner to a car windscreen. Despite all of this, during installation and when using the shower enclosure, great care should be taken to ensure that the edges of the glass are not damaged.
There always needs to be slope in the floor to make sure the water drains away properly. Floods and puddles on the tiled floor could be the result if the slope is insufficient or if there is no slope.
In the relevant specialist literature, a minimum slope of 0.5–1.5 % is recommended. However, to reach the water level of 20 mm above the channel grating required in DIN EN 1253 and the resulting maximum drainage rate resulting from this, without the water overflowing into the adjacent bathroom and living space floor, the recommendation is to install the shower channel along the wall with a floor sloping 2 % towards the wall.
When showering, noise is caused by the water hitting the floor which is then transmitted as sound into neighboring rooms. This can have an effect on the quality of living. The building regulations according to DIN 4109 / VDI 4100 on the subject of sound insulation are met when installing the Kermi wet floor system by using sound insulation mats. The mats are available 5 and 17 mm thick and are always installed across the full surface in the shower area onto the supporting surface. The mats can also be appropriately cut to size or laid end to end. A table from Kermi can be used to determine which mat is required for which shower position so that compliance with the respective sound insulation specification is ensured.
How much space is required to shower and what entrance to the shower is considered to be comfortable is an individual choice and depends on your personal physiognomy, physical requirements, or personal preferences. And not least, the layout of the bathroom plays an important role because it defines which design can be installed in the first place. For this reason, a detailed consultation should be held in advance with the wholesaler to determine which is the ideal shower enclosure. With a huge range of various designs and sizes, Kermi offers the right shower solution for everyone.
Everyone can decide for themselves how well sealed their Kermi shower enclosure should be. It can be said, the higher the barrier, the less water spray escapes into the room. If a floor sill is installed, it increases the splash water protection; a soil profile works like a dam. If you decide you want an accessible wet floor system, your shower will provide easy accessibility, will be easy to clean, and will look very elegant. The lack of a barrier or threshold however, also means that water can easily escape from the shower. A special horizontal sealing strip with water repellant effect will ensure satisfactory splash water protection in a shower enclosure raised off the floor.
Kermi offers a range of stabilization options which make sure the shower enclosure is held firmly in place. Whether T-shaped stabilization, a 90° stabilization, or a 45° stabilization is used depends on the respective model range and design. Ideally, the stabilization should already be taken into consideration when planning the height of the tiles. Because if the stabilization needs to be attached above the tiles, this can cause problems during installation.
Kermi shower enclosures can be installed both on the Kermi wet floor system and on all standard shower trays. Kermi has various standard heights in its product range. A height of 2000 mm is recommended for installation on the Kermi wet floor system. Special heights up to a maximum height of 2200 mm are possible.
There are several things to note when tiling the shower area. The wall tiles should be higher than the shower enclosure itself so that the stabilization can be attached without any problem. The wall tiles should cover the wall wider than the shower enclosure so that the tiles cover the wall beyond the shower enclosure. This will allow the glass fittings of the shower enclosure to be fitted without any problems.
When installing Kermi shower enclosures, it is important that the tiles and
the silicon work is completed and that the silicon has already dried (waiting period of 24 hours). Coarse dirt, such as tile adhesive, should be removed prior to installation.
Kermi shower enclosures have been TÜV-tested for stability, splash water tightness, and being easy care. This is a voluntary test carried out by an independent institution. A Kermi shower enclosure has to undergo stringent testing. The glass must withstand pendulum tests with heavy sand bags without breaking and falling out of the frame. During the endurance tests, doors are opened and closed repeatedly to ensure they are resilient. A splash water test ensures that the Kermi shower enclosure is well enough sealed.
If an odor trap is filled with a water seal, it prevents any gases escaping from the drains. DIN 1986-100 specifies a standard-compliant water seal height of 50 mm for all odor traps (DIN 1986-100). If the water seal height is less than this, then it needs to be technically tested and approved (abP). Due to its design, the Kermi shower base system promises that there will always be an adequate water seal present.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam is a closed cell, rigid insulation material made of polystyrene. The polystyrene granules are foamed to make boards using a propellant (carbon dioxide). The extrusion forms a large number of small, closed cells which provide high mechanical load-bearing capacity and providing excellent resistance to moisture. The weight-bearing capacity is 0.25 newtons / mm², i.e. 25 t / m².