Internal Timber Battens

Batten Profiles

Apollo Timber Battens are available in 15 different profiles as standard; profile dimensions listed are width by depth.
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‍Are other sizes available?
Yes! A range of custom profiles are possible, subject to raw flitch material availability. If you have an application in mind with a profile not listed above, please reach out o one of our MBS Architectural representatives to discuss.

NOTE: Working with timber is all about efficient yield. Consequently, some consideration to profile sizing should be made. Please discuss with MBS Architectural.

Timber Species

Timber species selection is a critical part of the design process. Each timber species offers building designers with unique visual appeal, colour, grain patterns, durability, and availability. The selection of a Timber Species makes a big different in the overall look and feel of a space.

‍The Apollo Timber Batten system is available in the following timber species:

Tasmanian Blackwood
‍A traditionally brown timber, with quite a large spectrum of natural variation. The range includes dark brown, light brown and occasional red hues.

The heartwood of the timber is a lovely golden brown, often with narrow bands of darker colour. Often the grain structure is straight with an occasional fiddle-back figure. Sourced locally in Australia.
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‍Similar timber species: Spotted Gum

Download Tasmanian Blackwood Data Sheet ⤵

‍Tasmanian Oak
Tasmanian Oak is effectively the exact colouring as Victorian Ash. They both pull from the same species of tree, just grown in a slightly different region. Pale to light brown in colouring, with an occasionally pinkish tinge.

The Sapwood is a pale yellow and is traditionally easy to distinguish from the heartwood. Grain is sometimes interlocked. Gum veins are common. Quite a stable timber. Sourced locally in Australia.
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‍Similar timber species: Victorian Ash

Download Tasmanian Oak Data Sheet ⤵

‍American White Oak
A lovely timber imported from America. Extremely popular in internal applications, including flooring. Known for its lovely grain structure. American White Oak encompasses eight different species from America.

Traditionally an aesthetically pleasing, consistent pale brown colour, with limited colour variation. Has a light-coloured sapwood and alight to brown heartwood. The grain is mostly straight with a medium to coarse texture. Machines quite well which makes it popular for joinery applications.
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‍Similar timber species: European Oak        
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‍NOTE: American White Oak should not be confused with American Red Oak (also marketed as American Oak). American Red Oak draws from a separate species of tree. Key Differences include: White Oak has longer rays and more figure than Red Oak. Red Oak colour is more variable, with occasional pinkish tinges.

Download American White Oak Data Sheet ⤵

Timber Coatings

Coating selection is an important step in design of a timber batten application. Coatings play a vital role. They act as a barrier, protecting the Timber batten from the effects of fading, weather, and water absorption.

It also seals the Timber, preventing fungi and mould from taking hold while also providing a decorating finish. Where selected appropriately, a coating can help hence the natural beauty of the timber you are designing with.

The Apollo Timber Batten System is available in two types of coatings:

Surface Film Coating
Surface Film Coatings are a more traditional method of timber protection. They are applied to the surface of the Timber Batten and form a protective film to protect the timber. They are relatively easy to apply and come in a wide variety of colours and finishes Available in clear or tinted variants.

Penetrating Oil Coating
Penetrating oils are a more modern technique for protecting timber. These coatings are applied to the timber and penetrate deep into the wood fibres. Available in clear or tinted variants.
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Key Differences – Surface Film vs Penetrating Oil  ▿

‍⤷   A Clear Matte Surface Film coating is the closest you can achieve to the natural look of timber.
⤷   Penetrating Oils in a clear/transparent will darken the timber somewhat.
⤷   Penetrating Oils are more cost effective to apply.
⤷   A Film Coating is typically applied in two-parts, with a sand in between. A Penetrating Oil will we applied in one coat with no sand. Subsequently, a Surface Film coating will produce a smoother Timber Batten finish.

Batten Spacing

Batten spacing refers to the physical gap between each feature batten and is a critical factor to consider when designing your next linear batten feature.

Batten spacing impacts the density of the battens across your design and has on a strong impact on your design intent, the linear effect and the overall cost. Our Apollo Batten system is modular, allowing it to adapt to the various demands required of your design.

When selecting Batten spacing, you have full freedom to select a gap (down to the mm) that best suits your design intent. Our minimum recommended gap is 3mm.

‍⤷ The depth of the selected feature batten profile can be used as a guide for your batten spacing. A common design rule is that two thirds of the batten depth is a great starting choice for batten gaps. Eg: When designing with a 60d batten, two thirds of 60mm is 40mm. Recommended starting Batten spacing is 40mm.

Why? In this application, when looking at your batten feature from a 45 degree angle, this will ensure that you are reading an adequate portion of the batten depth (eg. You are getting the best yield from the selected profile). If the gap was tighter (eg. 15mm), then there is a significant depth to the batten profile that will not be read and is therefore wasted material. In this instance, it would be prudent to reduce the selected Batten Profile back to 20d x 30wd. In this instance, the linear effect will be similar with one third of the material required.

⤷ Consider what services you are looking to integrate.
For example: You may be considering a 90mm Batten gap but, have 100mm wide linear light diffusers you are looking to integrate. In this instance we would recommend pushing out your batten spacing to accommodate these light diffusers (ie. 100mm). This allows you to seamlessly intergrade the light diffuser into the physical clear gap between each batten, rather than “stop and starting” the battens either side of the diffuser.

⤷ While Batten spacing can be as large as 3,550mm between battens, for wider batten spaces (200mm+) we recommend considering a transition from a track system to a direct fix application. The end result is that the fixing system becomes completely concealed and you will not read horizontal rails in the physical batten gaps.  Batten clips will come to-site pre-indexed and in position on Apollo mounting tracks at your specified Batten spacing.

The pre-indexing at your specified Batten spacing means that most of the labor-intensive set-out work has been completed prior to the material arriving on-site. This ensures batten spacing is accurate and improves easy of installation and efficiency on-site, keeping construction costs lower.

Batten clips will come to-site pre-indexed and in position on Apollo mounting tracks at your specified Batten spacing. The pre-indexing at your specified Batten spacing means that most of the labor-intensive set-out work has been completed prior to the material arriving on-site.

This ensures batten spacing is accurate and improves easy of installation and efficiency on-site, keeping construction costs lower.

Lengths

Apollo Timber battens are supplied at 2700mm as standard, subject to material availability. Timber supply is volatile. Length availability is to be confirmed at the time of ordering.

Framing System

Apollo Battens are designed to be installed in both horizontal (ceiling) and vertical (wall applications).

‍Apollo Top Cross Rail (TCR) Ceiling Track

Dims: 25mm deep x 31mm wide, with a 7mm channel to integrate acoustic backing (if required).
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Our ceiling track is designed to replace a Top Cross Rail (TCR) in a standard suspended ceiling installation. We supply clips to suspend the TCR and 05mm threaded rod (for a drop up to 1200mm) as part of the Apollo System. Note: Fixing to connect the threaded rod droppers to the substrate are not included.

‍Apollo Wall Track

Dims: 17mm deep x 40mm wide, with a 7mm channel to integrate acoustic backing (if required).
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Fixings: Recommended screw fixing centers @ 300mm centers.

‍Apollo Wall Track (for a curving wall)

Dims: 17mm deep x 40mm wide, with a 7mm channel to integrate acoustic backing (if required).

Wall track that is supplied to site with notching that allows flexibility. The track will then adapt to suit the curvature of your pre-prepared substrate.

‍Min/max radius: TBC
Fixings: Recommended screw fixing centers @ 300mm centers. May be required more frequently at righter radii.

‍Note: Screws to suit substrate are not supplied as part of the Apollo System.

System Components

‍Top Cross Rail
‍The Apollo Top Cross Rail is supplied with batten clips pre-indexed at the specified centers for the project, meaning the majority of installation set-out work has been completed prior to the material arriving on-site. Once the Timber Battens are clipped into the TCR, the batten clips become fully concealed.

‍End Junctions
‍Angle End-Stop:

‍Base Angle
Anti-slip:

Services Integration

Access Panels

The use of a drop-in hatch is the simplest solution to providing access within an Apollo Timber Batten Ceiling. Hatches are easy built on-site by the contractor with a typical size of 600mm x 600mm. The batten clip at each end of the Access Hatch Top Cross Rail (TCR) is to be removed.

The removal of this clip allows the TCR to sit on top of the perpendicular timber batten in the ceiling, without clipping in and locking in place. This ensures continuous access to the ceiling plenum above.

Access Hatch

Acoustics

Where acoustic performance is required, we supply a semi-rigid 7mm black acoustic panel. Acoustic backing is polyester and rated to meet group 1 fire compliance. When installing an Apollo Batten system with 7mm Acoustic Backing against a hard surface, an NRC of 0.25 is achieved. This can increase to an NRC of 0.50 with the addition of a 25mm air cavity behind.

Maintenance

Caring for your Apollo Timber Batten product correctly will greatly enhance its longevity. Below are our recommendations for extending the life of your Timber Batten system.

Cleaning:

A simple regular clean will minimise the degradation of your finish from exposure to elements such as dirt and grim, which can build-up over time and be determinantal to your finish. The frequency of a cleaning regiment is dependent on several factors (such as environment and exposure). Our recommendation is that the Timber Batten system be cleaned once every six (6) months and a record of this cleaning is kept.
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Coating:

Your Timber Battens protective coating is vital to protecting it from the harmful affects of UV exposure and excessive moisture absorption. Regular upkeep is required to ensure that an adequate level of coating is maintained.

Our recommendation is that the Timber Batten be checked at least one every six (6) months to confirm that the coating is still working as intended. It is a good idea to perform this check at the same time as your regular cleaning regime and maintain accurate records of this.

If you notice that the coating is starting to diminish, flake, peel or crack, then it is imperative that the coating is reapplied as a matter of priority.

Fire Compliance

The Apollo Timber Batten System achieves a Group 3 rating as per Section 9(n) of AS5637.1-2015.

Warranty

For interior applications, the Apollo Timber Batten System comes with a 10-year warranty. Please contact your MBS representative for your project specific warranty.