Equitone Inspira
The Facade That Starts With an Idea
Every other panel in the EQUITONE range starts with the material, grey fibre cement, natural or coloured through the depth, expressed in different surface treatments. Inspira starts somewhere different. It starts with an image.
Inspira is a high-density fibre cement panel with a digitally printed surface covered with a UV-hardened, anti-graffiti coating. The printing technology allows any image, pattern or design to be applied to the panel face, with the durability, fire performance and longevity of through-colour fibre cement underneath. Two ranges define the design territory: Expressive surfaces covering natural material aesthetics and Artistic surfaces for bespoke, project-specific designs.
Two Design Ranges
Expressive Surfaces
Natural Material Aesthetics
The Expressive range covers digitally printed simulations of natural and industrial materials, timber grain, rust patina, raw concrete, stone textures, woven patterns and more. These aren’t crude imitations: the printing resolution and UV coating quality mean the surface reads with genuine material depth and interest at close range. Ideal for projects where the desired aesthetic is a specific material, weathered timber, aged steel, or worn concrete, but the performance or maintenance requirements make the actual material impractical.
Artistic & Special Surfaces
Bespoke Design
The Artistic range opens Inspira to completely custom designs, photographic imagery, abstract patterns, architectural graphic elements, murals and project-specific artwork created in collaboration between architects and EQUITONE’s design team. Where the Expressive range references existing materials, the Artistic range creates something entirely new. This is the EQUITONE product for projects where the facade is a communication medium, not just an enclosure.
Technical Specifications
Panel type
High-density through-colour fibre cement with digitally printed surface
Surface finish
UV-hardened, anti-graffiti, scratch-resistant, smooth, hard, matt
Thickness
8mm
Weight
16.8 kg/m²
Fixing methods
Face-fixed only; TUF-S and Tergo+ concealed fixing are not available for Inspira.
Print ranges
Expressive (wood/rust/concrete/stone decors) · Artistic (custom/bespoke designs)
Print durability
UV-hardened coating protects the printed surface against UV degradation, abrasion and common graffiti
Surface protection
Anti-graffiti and scratch-resistant, cleanable with standard maintenance products
Fire classification
Non-combustible, CodeMark Certified
Design life
50+ years
Applications
Commercial and retail facades · Cultural buildings · Public art installations · Wayfinding and brand expression · Feature facade elements
The Expressive Range: Material Aesthetics Without the Constraints
The Expressive range allows architects to specify the visual character of timber, concrete, stone, rust and other natural and industrial materials on a facade system that is non-combustible, low-maintenance and NCC-compliant. Where timber cladding is precluded by fire zone requirements, where raw weathering steel is impractical on a coastal site, or where the programme doesn’t allow for the complexity of natural stone, Inspira Expressive delivers the aesthetic without the constraints.
Timber grain
Warm, realistic timber grain decors that replicate the visual character of hardwood cladding , without the combustibility, maintenance, pest risk or BAL limitations of actual timber.
Raw concrete
The texture and tonal variation of board-formed or bare concrete, without the structural requirements, weight and cracking risk that make in-situ concrete facades challenging to detail and maintain.
Rust and oxidised metal
The colour depth and patina variation of weathered Corten steel, without the rust run-off, ongoing oxidisation management and structural considerations of actual weathering steel.
Stone textures
Natural stone surface aesthetics, slate, sandstone, granite in a lightweight fibre cement panel that can be installed at any height and on any framing system that supports standard cladding.
The Artistic Range: When the Facade Is the Message
Buildings communicate. The Artistic range of Inspira makes that communication explicit. Photographic imagery, abstract patterns, typographic elements, murals commissioned from artists, and graphic systems developed by designers – all of these can be translated onto the Inspira surface with the precision of digital printing and protected by the UV-hardened coating for decades of exterior exposure.
The Artistic range is developed in direct collaboration between the architect, the project team and EQUITONE; it’s not a product you select from a catalogue, it’s a product you design. Contact CSP early in the process if Inspira Artistic is under consideration for a project; the design development and production timeline requires early engagement.
Featured Projects with Equitone
Frequently Asked Questions
What fixing methods are available for Inspira?
Inspira is available with face-fixed installation only. Concealed-fix systems, including the TUF-S blind-hole system and the Tergo+ undercut anchor, are not available for Inspira panels due to the panel thickness and printed surface characteristics. For projects requiring concealed fixings, other EQUITONE series should be considered. CSP can advise on the appropriate product and fixing method for your project requirements.
How durable is the digitally printed surface?
The printed surface of Inspira is covered with a UV-hardened coating, the same anti-graffiti, scratch-resistant technology used on Pictura. This protects the printed image against UV degradation, abrasion and common graffiti types. The UV coating maintains the visual quality of the printed surface over the panel’s 50+ year design life in exterior facade conditions. Regular cleaning with standard maintenance products is all that’s required.
Can a completely custom design be printed on Inspira?
Yes, this is exactly what the Artistic range is for. Custom designs including photographic imagery, abstract patterns, architectural graphics and commissioned artwork can all be produced in the Artistic range. The design is developed in collaboration with EQUITONE’s technical team to ensure it can be produced at the required resolution and scale. Early engagement is essential: contact CSP to begin the process and allow for the design development and production lead time in your project programme.
Is Inspira available through CSP Architectural?
Yes. CSP Architectural supplies EQUITONE Inspira in both the Expressive and Artistic ranges. For the Expressive range, contact our team for the current decor selection and to request samples. For the Artistic range, contact us early in your design process; bespoke print projects require a collaborative design and production process that needs to begin well in advance of the required delivery date.
Is Inspira non-combustible?
Yes, Inspira is a high-density fibre cement panel; the substrate is non-combustible regardless of the printed surface. The UV-hardened surface coating does not affect the fire classification. Inspira carries the same A2-s1-d0 non-combustible classification as the rest of the EQUITONE range.