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NFPA 285 and AAMA 508 results apply to tested complete assembly configurations.

How It Works

Precisely Engineered Water Management

Turtle Rib frame surfaces divert condensation and wind-driven rain through machine-punched slots, gutter chases, and obround weep holes. When properly configured, weep holes and vent slots permit pressure equalization within the drained cavity.

  • Obround weep holes for superior drainage
  • Internal weep slot & pressure equalization venting
  • Machine-punched slots and gutter chases
  • Perimeter design for optimal water management
Assembly cutawayIsometric technical illustration of a Turtle Rib rainscreen wall assembly showing ACM panel, clip, vent cavity, insulation, weather barrier, and substrate

Wall Assembly

Complete Assembly Configuration

Turtle Rib is evaluated as a complete rainscreen assembly — ACM panels, stainless clips, drained cavity, insulation, WRB, and substrate. Fire and water performance documentation applies to the tested configuration, not individual components in isolation.

  • Dry-joint ACM rainscreen with open ventilation
  • Stainless steel snap-fit clip attachment
  • Continuous exterior insulation options (2"–6")
  • Integrated drainage at panel base and gutter chases

Water Management

Drainage & Weep Paths

Moisture entering the cavity through open joints is collected in gutter chases and discharged through obround weep holes. Vent slots support pressure equalization, reducing sustained differential pressure across the assembly.

  • Gutter chases collect runoff at panel bases
  • Obround weep holes discharge to the exterior
  • Vent slots balance cavity pressure
Drainage pathsTechnical illustration of Turtle Rib ACM panel showing dry joints, gutter chase, obround weep holes, vent slots, and drainage flow paths

Attachment

Fixed vs Floating Clip Positions

A balanced clip layout combines fixed restraint with floating connections so panels perform under wind load and thermal cycling.

Fixed Clip Positions

Fixed clips restrain panel edges at defined anchor points. They provide positive attachment for wind load transfer while allowing planned movement at adjacent connections.

Typical at floor lines, structural bays, and primary restraint locations.

Floating Clip Positions

Floating clips accommodate in-plane thermal movement of ACM panels. Slots or slotted connections permit expansion and contraction without buckling or fastener distress.

Used between fixed points to relieve thermal stress in long panel runs.

Thermal Movement

Thermal Movement Accommodation

ACM panels expand and contract with temperature swings. Turtle Rib clip layouts are engineered with alternating fixed and floating clip positions so in-plane movement is relieved without compromising wind resistance or panel alignment.

  • Joint widths sized for expected panel movement per project climate
  • Floating clips at intermediate supports along panel length
  • Stainless steel clips minimize thermal bridging at attachment points
  • Coordination with structural deflection and panel fabrication tolerances

Hardware Engineering

Precision-Engineered
Clip System

Every component in the Turtle Rib system is purpose-built and patent-pending, manufactured in the usa & canada to exacting tolerances that drive performance at every panel joint.

Turtle Rib™ Full Structural ClipPrimary Fastener

Turtle Rib™ Full Structural Clip

Fixed & Floating Dual-Action Frame Connector

  • Interlocking snap-fit frame connection path
  • Dual-action fastening channels optimized for independent Fixed or Floating positions
  • Integrated screw clearance geometry
PositionField / Interior
ActionFixed · Floating
OriginUSA & Canada
Edge & Perimeter Half ClipPerimeter Fastener

Edge & Perimeter Half Clip

Starter Track & Boundary Layout Component

  • Purpose-built starter track and boundary layout
  • Pre-punched slotted hole attachment tracks engineered explicitly to handle continuous thermal structural expansion
PositionEdge · Starter
MovementThermal Expansion
OriginUSA & Canada
Rainscreen Dry-Joint InfrastructureSystem Integration

Rainscreen Dry-Joint Infrastructure

Integrated Frame Mechanics — Folded Profile

  • Tailored for seamless integration with 4mm Aluminum Composite Panels (ACM)
  • Continuous internal pressure equalization venting alongside perimeter weep drainage holes
Panel4mm ACM
JointDry-Joint
DrainageWeep + Vent

Patent Pending

Canadian IP Protection

Manufactured in the USA & Canada

North American manufacturing

Code Compliant

National Code Acceptance

ACM Compatible

4mm Composite Panels

Three Panel Modes

One clip system. Three aesthetic and performance profiles — Exposed, Hybrid, and Concealed.

Exposed panel mode

Exposed

Highlights structural elements for a rugged, industrial aesthetic.

Exposed mode displays clip and joint geometry prominently — the signature Turtle Rib look for contemporary and industrial architecture.

Hybrid panel mode

Hybrid

Cost-effective solution combining strengths of exposed and concealed modes.

Hybrid mode combines selective exposure with concealed zones — ideal for fascia, soffits, and budget-conscious elevations requiring design flexibility.

Concealed panel mode

Concealed

Clean look with no visible fasteners for seamless surfaces.

Concealed mode hides attachment hardware for seamless, minimalist facades — preferred for hospitality, corporate, and high-end commercial work.

Comparison of Exposed, Hybrid, and Concealed panel modes for performance and cost
ModePerformance profileRelative cost
ExposedHigh — maximum ventilation visibility, straightforward inspection$$$ — premium fabrication and finish exposure
HybridMedium–high — flexible for mixed elevations$$ — mid-range; strong value for mixed-use and fascia
ConcealedHigh aesthetic — seamless panel appearance$$$$ — highest fabrication precision
Certified Laboratory Compliance

Engineered for Multi-Story Success. NFPA 285 Compliant.

The Turtle Rib ACM Dry Joint Rainscreen framing platform is fully verified under stringent North American fire propagation test standards. Our proprietary stainless steel structural clips and interlocking panel profiles successfully passed the rigorous multi-story evaluation, ensuring zero flame propagation beyond standard thresholds.

CAN/ULC S134AAMA 508-21Intertek B.P. Directory

Test Method

NFPA 285 Standard

Full-Scale Wall Evaluation

Evaluation ID

G105700511SAT-002

Official Certified Test Report

Performance Status

Officially Passed

Met or exceeded all criteria

Engineering Target

Commercial Certified

Non-combustible construction layouts

Specifying our system for an engineered commercial project? Request a verified engineering summary of our fire-propagation testing parameters.

Request Test Validation Summary
Full-Scale Testing Baseline

Tested System Assembly Configuration

See exactly how the Turtle Rib infrastructure integrates with high-performance building materials based on our full-scale testing baseline.

01

Exterior Face

Integrates with industry-standard 4-mm Fire-Retardant (FR) Core Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) panels.

4mm ACM PanelsFR Core StandardMultiple Finishes
02

Attachment Matrix

Mechanically secured using patent-pending stainless steel Turtle Rib Full and Half snap-fit architectural clips.

Stainless SteelSnap-Fit DesignFixed & Floating
03

Thermal Boundary

Universally compatible with continuous insulation paths, including 4-inch mineral wool insulation tracking systems.

4" Mineral WoolContinuous InsulationThermal Break
04

Air/Vapor Shielding

Natively interfaces with vapor-permeable, self-adhered weather-resistive barrier membranes over structural metal stud designs.

WRB CompatibleVapor PermeableSelf-Adhered
Proprietary Engineering Data

Maximum clip structural spans, framing tolerances, wind load matrices, and project-specific layout calculations are proprietary trade data. Connect with our engineering division to map out your layout specifications.

Contact Project Engineering Team

Markets We Serve

Built for Every Application

From commercial retail to healthcare facilities, our versatile panel system delivers exceptional performance across all building types and industries.

Commercial

7 application types

Retail Centers
Shopping Plazas
Restaurants / QSR
Automotive Dealerships
Gas Stations & Fuel Canopies
Office Buildings
Corporate Headquarters

6

Market Sectors

33+

Application Types

100%

Custom Solutions

3

Panel Modes

NFPA 285 and AAMA 508 results apply to tested complete assembly configurations.

Third-Party Tested & Evaluated

Tested System Performance

NFPA 285-23 — Fire Performance

Third-party tested complete wall assembly. Previously listed in the Intertek B.P. directory (2023/2024). Documented observations include flame height max of 6 feet (allowable limit: 10 feet), exterior face temperatures peaking at 617°F (limit: 1000°F), lateral and air cavity temperatures at 311°F (limit: 1000°F), and second-story interior room temperatures maxing out at 128°F.

AAMA 508-21 — Water Management

0% water on membrane for both static and dynamic testing in the evaluated assembly. Tested at maximum voluntary pressure of 15 psf with membrane moisture levels below 1% in static and dynamic conditions.

Pressure Equalization

Properly configured weep holes and vent slots permit pressure equalization within the drained and vented cavity. Machine-punched slots and gutter chases manage wind-driven rain without relying on face-sealed joints.

Drainage Paths

Condensation and wind-driven rain collect in gutter chases and drain through obround weep holes at the base of the assembly. Internal weep slots direct moisture away from the WRB and substrate.

Ventilation Strategy

Open-joint dry-joint design maintains a ventilated air cavity behind ACM panels. Continuous ventilation supports drying of the cavity and reduces sustained moisture at the weather-resistive barrier.

Dry-Joint Performance

No gaskets or field-applied sealants at panel joints. Stainless steel snap-fit clips secure panels while preserving a ventilated, drained cavity for long-term envelope performance.

Thermal Performance

Available with 2", 3", 4", 5", and 6" thermal clip depth options. Exterior insulated assembly contributes high R-value / low U-value with multiple layer configurations.

Fire Rating — Clip Performance

Minimal heat transfer through stainless steel clips during fire testing. Documented increase of 47.6°F above starting temperature in the evaluated assembly configuration.

Engineered to support code-compliant assemblies across North America.

Testing and compliance apply to complete wall assembly configurations; approval depends on full assembly design and jurisdictional authority.

Specification-ready. Performance-tested. Ready to review.

Download assembly summaries from Specifier Resources or contact our technical team.