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january VO L U M E 7 4 N U M B E R 1
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Up Front by Mark Fowler
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Looking Up
on the cover January 2011
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Chicago Metalic’s CurvGrid ceiling panels in Cherry MetalWood finish float in ssuspended clouds in the Benefis Healthcare Heart Institute, Great Falls, Mont. Photo by JJK Lawrence
The Voice of the Industry Since 1938™
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
features
columns 12 Bet on Bendable Tracks Floating curves and clouds highlight the design of Cherokee Casino.
16 Metal Ceiling and Ceiling Panel Systems Thrive in 2011 Areas of growth include commercial office space, retrofit and new construction in education, transportation, and healthcare industries.
20 Strike a Winning Balance Can you overprotect your building?
22 Texas, Hold ‘Em Should extreme weather hit in tornado/hurricane prone areas, over-fastening can lead to failed systems. One Gulf-area contractor in Texas discusses the impacts of Hurricane Ike.
26 Annual Spec Sheets
ON THE WEB www.wconline.com Breaking News W&C Blogs Web-only Features Special Sections W&C Architect
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SY S T E M S Between us, ideas become reality™
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FRONT BY MARK FOWLER
SWOT that New Year’s Resolution
Is your New Year’s resolution to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more and drink less? If you’re like me, you start with great intentions and then quit after a few months. Not to encourage abandoning these lofty and worthwhile goals but maybe a shift in resolutions is in order—one you can do, is timely and probably overlooked. Maybe a little reflection and looking at yourself or your company a little closer could be the resolution to make this year. Look honestly at your company or the segment of your industry to find out where you stand and formulate a plan for when the economy turns back. And it will turn around. In marketing, it is called performing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). A SWOT analysis is nothing new or very complicated but it can help you plan your company for the future, particularly if the future includes an upcoming boom time. The SWOT must be based on honest input and a real assessment of your position or company’s position in the market. A SWOT can be big and encompass a large group of companies within a specific region or small for an individual, such as a salesperson. The reason a SWOT could be timely is you probably have some time now; you may not in the future when things heat up. Strengths: What are your strengths? You did not survive this long without some good abilities; we all have strong points that we know gives us an edge on the competition. What are they? They could range from traits like our ability to adapt to change or adversity; being singularly focused on one issue to be the best; maybe your firm is best at supervision, or has the best sales
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staff. Whatever it is, you should know it, evaluate it and take advantage of it. Nordstrom is built on excellent customer service; the company’s SWOT revealed it and the company decided to make it the cornerstone of its marketing strategy. Other stores can only hope to be as customer-service oriented as Nordstrom is. Weakness: You have to know what your weakness is, because your competition will find out and then use it to put you out of business (as would you in their shoes). For example, if your weakness is losing key employees, the competition will find out and aggressively steal your people. Knowing a weakness allows you to shore up that particular area or at least be prepared to take some action. Nothing is worse than being blindsided. National Lumber was a large chain store that had a weakness of picking poor locations and over-paying for its buildings. Home Depot knew that was an Achilles’ heel and took the competition down by strategically placing stores in better locations in areas near National Lumber. National Lumber bit the dust soon after Home Depot arrived, which could have been avoided. Opportunities: Believe it or not, they exist, even in these times. I recently met with a person who has a great idea for today’s industry and is making it work. He noted the green movement years ago and now the future looks pretty bright as he positions himself
within the market to be there when the economy turns around. Starbucks saw an opportunity to sell premium coffee when most people would have told them they were crazy to think anyone would pay $3.00 for a cup of joe. Starbucks, Costco, Whole Foods, and CarMax all saw an opportunity and took full advantage of it. Threats: This is a tough one. You may not even see or know your threat exists but it is there. Everyone wants a piece of you or your business, especially if you are successful. And in tougher times, business tends to get tougher too, even downright nasty. The threat may be as obvious as a local competitor with new technology, someone under-cutting your costs or networking better than you. I am sure the video industry thought they had it made, and they survived the threat of the DVD. Will the current leaders survive Netflix? A threat can be slow and take time to develop or it can happen overnight and you find yourself obsolete. The wall and ceiling industry is not booming, and you probably have a little free time until things heat up again. When it does, will you be prepared to take full advantage or will you wing it as it comes at you? Grab a pad and pen and start the New Year with a SWOT.
MAGAZINE NEWS Walls & Ceilings’ Production Manager Lyn Sopala, who has been with the magazine for 10 years, has moved to a position with sister publications Security and SDM magazines. For 10 years, Sopala served W&C and its advertisers with strong commitment and a good attitude to boot. We thank her and wish her the best. Her replacement is Lynette Barwin, who comes to us from BNP Media’s accounting department. We welcome her to the fold and look forward to working with her, as well. T his year will see many new changes for you r company. A s always, we encourage you to share this information with us. Please get in touch with Editor John Wyatt at
[email protected] and tell us what’s new with you. W&C
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[email protected] Please Circle #236 On Reader Action Card EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Bob Drury — Executive Director, NWCB Michael Kwart — Executive Director, ICAA Michael Gardner — Executive Director, Gypsum Association Steve Pedracine — Executive Director, Minnesota Lath & Plaster Bureau Jon Mooney — President, Acoustics by J.W. Mooney Elizabeth Steiner — Executive Director, ICFA
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[email protected] WALLS & CEILINGS (ISSN 0043-0161) is published 12 times annually, monthly, by BNP Media II, L.L.C., 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084-3333. Telephone: (248) 362-3700, Fax: (248) 362-0317. No charge for subscriptions to qualified individuals. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in the U.S.A.: $115.00 USD. Annual rate for subscriptions to nonqualified individuals in Canada: $149.00 USD (includes GST & postage); all other countries: $165.00 (int’l mail) payable in U.S. funds. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2011, by BNP Media II, L.L.C. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for product claims and representations. Periodicals Postage Paid at Troy, MI and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: WALLS & CEILINGS, P.O. Box 2147, Skokie, IL 60076. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. GST account: 131263923. Send returns (Canada) to Pitney Bowes, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON, N6C 6B2. Change of address: Send old address label along with new address to WALLS & CEILINGS, P.O. Box 2147, Skokie, IL 60076. For single copies or back issues: contact Ann Kalb at (248) 244-6499 or
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TRADENEWS CALENDAR JANUARY 12-15 INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS’ SHOW 2011 Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Fla. www.buildersshow.com 17-21 WORLD OF CONCRETE Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas www.worldofconcrete.com
MARCH 9-11 EPS EXPO Baltimore www.epsmolders.org/6expo.html
APRIL 3-7 AWCI Paris Hotel Las Vegas www.awci.org 4-6 CISCA Paris Hotel Las Vegas www.cisca.org 4-5 EIMA Las Vegas www.eima.com 6-7 INTEX EXPO Paris Hotel Las Vegas
AISI TO PARTICIPATE IN COLD-FORMED STEEL SEISMIC DESIGN RESEARCH The American Iron and Steel Institute announced that its Seismic Code Team will partner with the Johns Hopkins University and the University of North Texas on two research projects that will advance the seismic design of cold-formed steel for lightframe construction. The projects have received grants from the National Science Foundation. The research results will advance the use of cold-formed steel in high seismic areas. Benjamin Schafer, Ph.D., P.E., chairman of the Department of Civil Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University and long-time member of the AISI Committee on Specifications and Committee on Framing Standards, was awarded an NSF grant in the amount of $923,000 to study ways to improve the seismic performance of buildings that use CFS light-frame construction for their primary structure. He will lead a research team from JHU, Bucknell University, and Devco Engineering that will develop computational models to determine how a complete building structure will perform during an earthquake. Cheng Yu, Ph.D., assistant professor and coordinator of the Construction Engineering Technology Program at the University of North Texas, was awarded an NSF Career grant in the amount of $400,010 to provide “Comprehensive Research on Cold-Formed Steel Sheathed Shear Walls: Special Detailing, Design and Innovation.” He will lead a research team in the development of advanced designs of high-performance shear wall systems with enhanced ductility and strength for low-cost building constructions in high seismic and high wind areas.
www.intexconstructionexpo.com
PLASTER/DRYWALL ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED; BOARD NAMED For additions or corrections to our Calendar, please call (248) 244-6404.
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The Contracting Plastering Associations of Central Valley and North-
ern California—along with the Capitol Drywall/Lathing Contractors Association and the Northern California Drywall Contractors Association—recently formed and will operate under the name Wall And Ceiling Alliance. The newly formed alliance is a partnership that was created to give its member associations a stronger presence in the plaster and drywall industry in Northern California. In September, the board of directors from each association came together to elect an executive board for WACA that is representative of the size, work scopes and geography of each of the seven associations merging into the new group. A select group of thirteen directors from the various associations make up the new executive board of WACA. The thirteen people elected to the board of directors are: Brian Harp, Chet O’Donnell, Craig Daley, Don Archuleta, Doug Camerer, Gregg Brady, Jim Ruane, Jim Watson, Joe Parker, Nancy Brinkerhoff, Roger E. Henley Jr., Steve Eckstrom and Todd Fearon. WACA will focus on improving member resources, geographical outreach and labor relations and intends to make its combined resources available to a much larger membership in today’s challenging construction marketplace.
POWERS FASTENERS MAKES STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT CHANGES Brewster, N.Y.-based Powers Fasteners has announced a succession of management for its family-owned business. Chris Powers, formerly company CEO, will assume the advisory role of chairman, while Jeffrey R. Powers has been promoted to CEO of Powers Fasteners global business, operating in eight countries worldwide. Frederic Powers III, former vice president of purchasing, will be president Mike Fergus has been hired as vice president of purchasing.
PBS AND INSULFOAM TO CONSOLIDATE MANUFACTURING Premier Building Systems is consolidating its manufacturing operations with those of its parent company, Insulfoam. As of October, the SIPs manufacturer began with the relocation of its Phoenix facility to an Insulfoam plant in Dixon, Calif. The company will also move from its Fife, Wash., plant to Insulfoam’s Tacoma, Wash., facility this year.
SPACKLE BY DAVE COVERLY
W&C HOSTS CI WEBINAR Walls & Ceilings will host its debut Webinar on January 26. Titled “Continuous Insulation: Plaster & The Energy Code,” the Webinar will be presented by Bryan Stanley of the Technical Services Information Bureau and Frank Nunes of the International Institute of Lath & Plaster. The event will be moderated by the magazine’s Editor John Wyatt. The Webinar will discuss how energy codes are changing the way exterior walls are built regardless of the cladding system. Presently, there are two ways to build energy efficient plaster/stucco walls: the “performance” method that takes into account factors in a specific building that will achieve an overall energy efficiency rating; the other, more simplified “prescriptive” method is to incorporate a layer of exterior continuous insulation behind the plaster assembly. The event will be followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Free registration for this event can be found at webinars.wconline.com (no “www.” prefix needed). The event is sponsored by BASF, Dryvit, Parex/Lahabra Omega and Sto. W&C
Please Circle #125 On Reader Action Card January 2011 | Walls & Ceilings |
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product
FOCUS
on
Insulation Closed-cell polyurethane foam plastic JOHNS MANVILLE JM Corbond III is a spray-applied, mediumdensity closed-cell polyurethane foam plastic insulation that can be used alone or in hybrid systems with glass fiber to create custom insulation solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications. The product offers a high yield, providing 5,000 to 5,200 board feet of coverage per set. It also provides strong thermal, moisture and cold-temperature performance and dimensional stability. It sprays at 3 inches per pass, allowing for maximum productivity. If you read this article, please circle number 250.
Sustainable fiberglass insulation material CERTAINTEED INSULATION The company’s fiberglass insulation manufacturing facility in Chowchilla, Calif., is now manufacturing Sustainable Insulation. The manufacturing process begins with a formula that uses organic, naturally abundant or recycled materials. In addition to sand, the insulation consists of a recycled glass content of 35 percent and a plant-based binder. The binder is comprised of rapidly renewable organic materials and contains no phenol, formaldehyde, harsh acrylics or dye. A closed-loop water system helps maximize water usage at the plant, and rigorous monitoring and management of energy usage has reduced the amount of energy needed to manufacture the product. When Sustainable Insulation is ready to ship, compression packaging is used to move more product in fewer loads. Strategically located distribution centers minimize transportation needs and make the product easily accessible to California’s building industry. If you read this article, please circle number 251.
OWENS CORNING EcoTouch Pink Fiberglas Insulation with PureFiber Technology is made with natural materials and a formaldehyde-free formulation. This product uses a minimum of 50 percent recycled content (30 percent post-consumer recycled content). It provides for energy-efficiency and comfort, and is designed with the environment in mind while delivering the same thermal performance. EcoTouch is fast and easy to install, helping reduce build-cycle time, enhance profitability and improve cash flow. EcoTouch is GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality Certified, as well as GreenGuard Children and Schools Certified, to meet certification standards. If you read this article, please circle number 253.
Soft foam and insulation material cutter RIEMA USA LLC
VersaBoard mineral wool insulation is a multipurpose commercial product that has high-recycled content designed for commercial construction. The product is available in four densities (3.5 to 8.0 pcf). The product is engineered to provide thermal insulation, fire protection and strong sound and noise absorption. The company can apply a variety of facings to the product during manufacturing to meet the aesthetic and functional needs of a building. It also repels moisture and can be an exposed interior surface. The insulation has up to 90 percent recycled content. It contributes to 33 LEED credits across four categories. It helps buildings conserve energy, control noise, improve indoor air quality, improve life safety and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The S-F-C 1330 R cuts soft foams, mineral wools, and hard foams coated with aluminum or paper with an oscillating wire. While these materials are now cut using knifes or saws, the tool also increases safety as the wire can be touched while in operation. The portable cutting table is light weight and can be set up in seconds. The user can adjust the speed of the motor from 600 to 2,600 rpm to optimize the cutting speed depending on the material. Angular scales and length scales make the cutting even easier and faster.
If you read this article, please circle number 252.
If you read this article, please circle number 254.
Multi-purpose mineral wool insulation THERMAFIBER
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Formaldehyde-free formulated insulation
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FREE Webinar – Register Now! Continuous Insulation: Plaster & the Energy Code January 26, 2011 | 2:00 p.m. ET Speakers
Bryan Stanley, CSI Technical Advisor Technical Services Information Bureau
Frank Nunes Executive Director Int’l. Institute of Lath & Plaster
National energy codes are changing the way we approach building exterior walls regardless of the cladding system and we can either be proactive or let conventional plaster/stucco become obsolete. Today there are two ways to build energy efficient plaster/stucco walls; the “performance” method that takes into account factors in a specific building that will achieve an overall energy efficiency rating, the other, more simplified “prescriptive” method is to incorporate a layer of exterior continuous insulation behind the plaster assembly. This 45-minute session, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A, will explore and discuss the following topics: • Why does Plaster “all of sudden need to be energy efficient”? • What’s driving these changes: Politics or Science? • Types of “CI” Plaster Assemblies • How to make “CI Stucco” work: “The Energy code and Plaster Assemblies” Brought to you by:
Moderator
John Wyatt Editor Walls & Ceilings Magazine
Register for FREE at webinars.wconline.com! Can’t attend live? Register to receive the on-demand version.
Bet on
Bendable T T
he modern Cherokee Nation encompasses 14 counties in northeastern Oklahoma and includes more than 280,000 official tribal members. Cherokee Nation has undertaken an aggressive tourism program that includes casino destinations designed to reflect various periods in Cherokee cultural history.
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Floating curves and clouds highlight the design of Cherokee Casino.
Design for the new Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs, Okla., is reminiscent of a time of rising Cherokee nationalism from the 1780s to 1830s, prior to the Cherokee
Nation’s removal from the southeast United States to Indian Country in present day Oklahoma. Design for the project was prov ided by T ha lden•B oyd•E mer y
Tracks Architects, of Tulsa, Okla. The firm specializes in the design and architecture of hotels, casinos and related hospitality projects and has been ranked as the one of the largest hospitality design firms in the country. The managing principal on the project was Charles “Chief” Boyd, AIA. He has worked with 45 tribes across
the country and is one of the most wellknown Native American architects. “The cultural emphasis reflected in the West Siloam Springs area represents the Carolina and Tennessee homelands prior to the Cherokees being relocated to Oklahoma,” Boyd says. “So, we designed the outside of the complex to use stonework and
colors that represent the Carolinas. And since Cherokee villages were always located near water, we created actual flowing streams and waterfalls on the outside of the casino. On the interior, we included a lot of symbolism for water with the curvilinear forms to represent the water in a more abstract manner. The theme became more abstract but we maintained the colors you might find in the Smoky Mountains—soft, earthtone colors. All the colors and features and materials depict the 1780s to 1830s period of the Cherokee culture. One of the ways the tribe can express its cultural timeframes is at the various casinos located across Cherokee country.” All of the interior framing on the project was done by Green Country Interiors, of Tulsa. Green Country has extensive experience with other Cherokee Casino projects and has proven to be extremely competent on projects of this magnitude.
DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES More than 8,400 linear feet of flexible track was used to implement the radius-filled interior design of the project. The casino features multiple radius applications throughout. Large floating clouds between soffits and radius columns with light coves are prominent.
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“The design was a challenge,” says Tim McGuire, vice president a nd pro duc t ion m a n ager w it h Green Country Interiors. “But it’s actually sort of fun to start a job like this with anticipation instead of trepidation. We’ve had a lot of experience [using f lexible track] on big jobs and there’s no way we could have done the framing the old way. We had complex curves, swooping multi-level soffits and wavy, irregular arcs. Just the stack of blueprints alone would have scared off most contractors!” Green Country Interiors arrived on the job at the end of February and finished in November. They utilized up to 25 carpenters who worked six 10-hour days each week to frame the soffits. Eight carpen-
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ters were responsible for forming all of the curves. Two of them specialized on the multilevel concentric clouds crowning the columns, while six ran the wavy, free flowing layers of soffits that meandered across the area. It was crucial that the curves be smooth to maintain the natural motif and mirror the flowing river theme through the casino. Tom Guilliaume was Green Country’s field foreman on the job and personally oversaw the forming of the really complex features. Bryan Jenkins was the general foreman. To transfer the vision of the architect onto the job site, Green Country carpenters laid out the pivot points for the large sweeping radii. They had the advantage of a cavernous area in which to work
and were able to mark the radii using a 100-foot tape and a marker. They had to be especially particular about making smooth transitions and accurate connections between the varying radii. Once the curves and columns were laid out, they were able to easily shape and lock the Flex-C Trac and Flex-C Angle on the ground.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM Carpenters made a top and bottom plate for each shape. Then they drove scissor lifts around and installed all the top plates, using lasers to precisely locate them above the layout on the floor. Next, they traveled through hanging the vertical studs on layout, usually 16 inch on center, changing down to
10 to 12 inch on the tighter radii to ensure the drywall would bend more smoothly. The next crew came through and ran kickers (angle braces) and plumbed every third stud. Then another wave of carpenters was able to take the bottom plate, which they had originally formed, and secure it over the bottoms of the studs. Matching plumb marks on the top and bottom plates guaranteed exact alignment. This same systematic approach was used to frame the different versions of soffits that wove their way across the aerial landscape. Such a reliable technique comes from their experiences using these products. These fluid forms were covered with 5/8-inch drywall. Some of the areas used 3/8 inch or even 1/4 inch
board for the tighter radii as they swirled around the columns. The result of their systematic process produced a smooth flowing panorama with no hiccups or flat spots, just what architect Chief Boyd envisioned. Architect Chief Boyd agrees. “The curvable track greatly enhances the contractor’s ability to do curvilinear ceilings. One of the things I’ve always been amazed at is how efficiently the framing contractor can lay out the curved pieces on the floor and use lasers to determine the exact positioning. With the use of the lasers and the curvable track, contractors can knock out these curved ceiling forms in no time at all. I am astounded at how fast and how accurate they can do it.
“The hotel is fully booked on weekends and 70 to 80 percent on weekdays,” he says. “The casino numbers are terrific, too. It’s definitely a destination that offers amenities and venues that aren’t that prevalent in the immediate area.” The general contractor for the project was Flintco Inc., Springdale, Ark. The Flex-Ability Concepts distributor was River City Materials Inc., Rogers, Ark. W&C Larry McLane is a freelance PR writer specializing in architectural products within the construction industry. He is based in St. Louis. If you read this article, please circle number 237.
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METAL CEILING & CEILING PANEL SYSTEMS THRIVE IN ‘11 Areas of growth include commercial office space retrofit and new construction in education, transportation, and healthcare industries. By Brooks Williams, CSI
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o matter which way you cut it, the outlook for the metal ceiling systems in the commercial market will be solid for 2011. Whether it’s retrofit for existing commercial buildings or in the limited new construction opportunities in the education, transportation, or healthcare segments, metal ceiling systems will play a bigger role than in years past. The retrofit of existing office space in particular will be a big growth area for metal ceiling product use. It is a well-known fact that with the abundance of existing commercial office space in many major metropolitan areas that fewer new office buildings will break ground. Tenants are staying in place longer or moving to new locations, which leads to an increased demand for improvements to existing office space. A quick, yet dramatic way to revitalize and add punch to existing space would be to utilize the existing suspension and conceal it with new suspension grid, metal ceiling, or acoustical ceiling clouds. The array of curving, linear, flat metal, perimeter treatment, and even open plenum designs can transform a tired space from “Mad Men”-era 1960s to cutting edge 21st century. T h e p a c e of n e w c o n s t r u c tion of education, transportation, and healthcare facilities will slow somewhat even as the use of metal ceiling systems grows in these segments. According to Chicago Metal-
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lic’s Technical Service Manager Peter Jahn, two trends that have gained popularity in these settings are an open plenum design and the incorporation of acoustic “hot spots.” “The open plenum ceiling design has become very popular and so too has the number of ceiling products for these types of environments,” he says. Jahn explains that an open plenum design conveys the illusion of a ceiling while maintaining openness to mechanical, electrical, and lighting equipment. Metal ceiling designs for these spaces include small- and large-scale open cell design, hanging baffles that create rows of undulating color, and open grid designs that can accept lay-in welded wire panels. The acoustic hot spot concept involves creating a “cloud” to minimize high-frequency noise while diffusing lower-frequency sounds. To accomplish this, designers position acoustic panels above the area where the sound needs to be controlled. Acoustical panels can be materials such as inorganic perlite, enhanced gypsum, or fiberglass, or perforated metal panels backed with an acoustical batt to increase the sound absorption of the ceiling. “We often refer to these as ‘hot spots’ that can be created by architects or designers as an acoustic cloud or canopy,” says Jahn. “These hot spots can contribute to the privacy needed in environments where
it is essential, such as in hospitals.” In an education setting, acoustic concerns are always at the top of the list for designers who wish to contribute to the indoor environmental quality of learning institutions. Studies have shown that good acoustics are essential, especially in the K-12 setting. Again, a wide selection of metal ceiling systems offers decorative and highly functional solutions to help maximize comfort and interpersonal communication.
WHY SO POPULAR? A number of other features of metal ceiling systems are contributing to
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their growing popularity in newly designed facilities: H ig h Rec ycled Content: T he d e m a nd for a g re e n bu i ld i n g approach is greater than ever and it is critical that designers choose products that incorporate the use of high recycled content material, as well as other sustainable characteristics. Steel ceiling panels may contain a minimum 25 percent post-consumer recycled content, while most aluminum panels are manufactured with as much as 100 percent post-consumer recycled content. When metal ceiling panels—with a life span that can reach 30 to 40 years—are ready
for disposal, all are 100-percent recyclable, as are the metal suspension grid systems that support them. These factors may all contribute to LEED certification credits. Healthy Option: When installed, metal ceiling panels do not absorb water as other mineral-fiber ceiling panels can. Absorbed water can lead to the growth of unwanted mold and mildew. In some regions, where high humidity is a fact of life, excess moisture can lead to sagging in mineral-fiber panels. This can be a real problem in facilities such as hospitals, transportation facilities, or sports arenas. In some sports facilities where the air conditioning is turned off or lowered significantly for extended periods of time, this could spell disaster for some organic ceiling tiles. The lowmaintenance feature of metal ceilings systems, which enables them to be easily and thoroughly cleaned, is another benefit appreciated by designers for both retrofit and new construction applications. Seismic Considerations: Uniform Building Codes were designed to identify areas where the potential for seismic activity is high. However, good seismic design should be considered in all zones. Some metal ceiling suspension grid systems manufacturers offer special perimeter clips which let installers use 1-inch molding and no stabilizer bars during installation, while providing verification to building inspectors that the clip has been installed at required intervals. The clip negates the need for the less desirable 2-inch wall angle required by code and replaces it with 15/16-inch angle to create a more sleek ceiling design. Installer-Friendly Systems: The b e st m a nu fac t u rers developi ng architectural building products keep both the architect/designer and the installing contractor in mind during the R&D process. The ideal is a manufacturer that provides products that have the aesthetics and performance characteristics of metal ceilings systems, along with the ease of installation of a suspension grid system. Extra product features, such as a torsion-spring that engages in a special slot in the T-bar grid, can be a small enhancement that can have a
big impact, speeding and simplifying installation of ceiling panels.
IT’S THE AESTHETICS The virtually limitless aesthetic possibilities of metal ceiling and ceiling panel systems are perhaps the number one reason why designers are choosing them for commercial construction projects. In the hospital environment, for example, wider open spaces such as corridors can be easily transformed with metal panel systems that span the entire space without the need for hanger wires and a grid system running down the center of space. To create an environment that promotes healing, new or retrofitted healthcare facilities are choosing ceiling systems that can incorporate sky scenes or photographic images
in specialty areas to produce a calming effect among patients. In other instances, designers are creating accent areas around nurses’ stations with dropped aluminum soffits and curved ceilings to direct attention to its role as the focus of each ward. Metal ceiling systems can work independently or together to achieve a practical, functional, and aesthetic solution to any design requirement. Ceilings can be transformed into soaring spaces, forests, clouds, and shapes that follow the form of the design. When made of aluminum alloys, metal ceilings can feature metallic tones, brushed, anodized, reflective, and primed and paintedin solid and perforated panels. Steel ceiling panels can be painted in virtually any color or custom matched. Some panels now feature a new type
of paint finish that replicates the color and grains of wood, such as oak, cherry, teak, and maple. The aesthetics of metal ceiling systems can range from the simple to the sublime and the performance of the products makes it among the most sustainable choices available to a building designer. Its installer-friendly features have likewise made it a favorite among acoustical subcontractors. There is no wonder why it will continue to grow as an important building component in the current commercial construction market. W&C Brooks Williams, CSI, is marketing manager, specialty ceilings, for Chicago Metallic Corp. and is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute. If you read this article, please circle number 238.
January 2011 | Walls & Ceilings |
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Strike a
Winning Balance Can you overprotect your building?
B
uilding a truly sustainable buildi ng requ i res t he def t touch of a racecar crew chief. To ensure his vehicle is competitive, the chief oversees a variety of disparate but integrated efforts—finely-tuning the engine, tinkering with the suspension, maximizing tire wear, analyzing track conditions and applying aerodynamic principles to determine the final set-up. And to cross the finish line, these and countless other key factors—like the skill of the driver—must strike the proper balance. So, too, the creation of a winning structure, one that blends moisture management, energy efficiency, indoor air quality and countless other factors to result in a champagne cork-popping building. But ours has typically been an industry of independents (designers, builders, manufacturers) that are experts in their own field but not necessarily accustomed to working as a team to achieve the most sustainable building possible. How do we guarantee in this demanding era of environmental acronyms—with LEED in the lead—that we work with pit-crew precision throughout the design and construction process? Clearly, we must continue to build our buildings and homes to be increasingly more energy efficient.
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
By Barry Reid, LEED AP
This requires superior moisture management, durability, and indoor air quality strategies to make certain that buildings perform well into the future. But in doing so, the challenges are many—and they must be addressed in order to orchestrate a balance when designing, constructing and maintaining sustainable buildings. L et’s consider a com mon but rarely considered moisture management conu nd ru m: can you actually over-protect your building?
TIGHT SPOTS With improvements in construction practices, building envelopes have become “tight,” meaning builders are doing a much better job of preventing moisture and air from infiltrating a building. But what happens when it does, say through a leaky window, an improper flashing detail, or a misplaced vapor retarder? The same system that works to prevent moisture from accumulating in the wall can serve to keep moisture from getting out, thus actually increasing the likelihood of moisture- and mold-related damage. Conversely, the misconception that buildings should “breathe” can mean there is little control over the infiltration of air and moisture being brought into the building. If this happens in
a well-insulated wall (chances are we won’t ever see lessinsulated walls), moisture can accumulate. Does anyone really want to live in the drafty, leaky log cabins of our ancestors? Although they certainly were able to dry out quickly after a storm and didn’t grow mold, they were not very comfortable. Properly installed and secured vapor retarders and air barriers are currently the tools used in reducing the likelihood that moisture can enter a wall assembly. But several factors should be addressed before choosing what grade and where to install vapor retarders, including the climate zone and the building’s use and tenants. Of course, the reputation-enhancing rewards for getting it done right can be substantial. Even though moisture control is referenced either directly or indirectly in Energy Efficiency, Resource and Materials, and Indoor Environmental Quality sections in virtually every green building code, standard and program, there are many ways to make mistakes that actually make things worse The point is—there are multiple paths and trade-offs to ensure moisture control is addressed. It is important to look at the climate zone, the building orientation and landscaping, the architecture—and shape of the roof and building, the windows and doors, the day lighting, the HVAC system and how it
is sized, and the material choices that have been made before making a final determination. Finding the right path that strikes a balance for that particular structure and its long-term p er for m a nc e m e a n s t h at you—and your building—will land in Victory Lane.
Q&A ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY Is striking the perfect balance with regard to increased energy efficiency, durability, improved indoor air quality and overall moisture management in a building envelope truly possible? Does it change as the weather or seasons change? While achieving this coveted balance is challenging, many tools and training are now in the market place to make doing so much easier. Building and remodeling for increased energy efficiency is not going away - in fact, it will be required like never before. To achieve the balance goal, builders will need to address the whole building, including the HVAC and ventilation systems, to optimize performance for moisture management, durability, and indoor air quality. It is a well-known fact that buildings that can effectively dry out will outperform buildings that don’t. Wet buildings will deteriorate faster and can contribute to other moisture related problems like mold. Airtight, energy efficient buildings also need outdoor air ventilation to help ensure good indoor air quality. This is one of the challenges of striking the perfect balance … to be able to bring in outdoor air, treat it for temperature and humidity while lowering the building’s energy consumption, the latter due to the advanced building enclosure and HVAC strategies in place. Naturally, there are seasonal and weather considerations as outdoor temperature swings and high humidity levels will always challenge the “perfect balance.” At any locale, moisture entering the building through either ventilation or the building enclosure must be addressed.
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Is there a hierarchy of import an c e? D oe s the h i e rarch y change depending on the region of the country? T he ma i n objec t ive of g reen building codes and programs is to increase the energy efficiency of new homes and buildings. But for buildings to be comfortable, long-lasting, and healthy, they need also have supporting moisture management, durability, and indoor air quality strategies to support the energy efficiency strategies. This system ideal is universal; how it is done will differ by climate zone to address the unique circumstances in each.
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Are any of the components more overlooked or underappreciated than others? High-performance wallboard is often overlooked and underappreciated. Wallboard is typically valued only for its recycled content and regional materials contribution, but not for its capacity to work in conjunction with the other components in the wall assembly for optimum performance in the balance we previously discussed. High-performance wallboard should be appreciated for how it deals with job-site moisture and long term moisture impacts over the life of the building. For example, with energy efficient wall assemblies, a lot goes into achieving a high R value and an air tight building enclosure. But what if water gets into the wall for whatever reason? That wall will be incredibly slow to dry. A high-performance wallboard designed to resist water has the ability to stay wet longer, without deteriorating or growing mold as the wall dries out. These products don’t fix moisture problems, but they can help keep a moisture or water problem from becoming something more detrimental.
4
Is one of the components over-rated? There is not too much emphasis put on any one component, but there may be some misunderstanding. One example involves window and opaque wall ratios and how they can impact the real R value of a wall assembly. An exterior wall with a lot of windows will have a different
energy efficient performance level compared to a well insulated wall without windows.
5
Is it possible for a contractor or even an architect to strike the perfect balance? It’s becoming easier for contractors and design professionals as there are now a lot of energy and moisture management modeling tools and training opportunities available that allow for simple product and systems planning. In addition, there is vast knowledge on the topic of achieving the most balanced and efficient building envelope now; much of it in response to mistakes made in the past! The DOE’s EERE Web site (www.eere.energy.gov) and the EPA’s EnergyStar Web site (www. energystar.gov) are good places to get started.
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How does a building owner or architect know that the envelope specialist is qualified? Are there credentials required? The qualifications—and needs— depend on the level of the building project. For example, in a highrise building, the entity that would be best qualified to know how to achieve a perfect balance within the structure would be someone aligned to the engineering and building commissioning field, the building’s HVAC system and can work with others members of the design team. A good example would be engineering experts like Morrison Hershfield, an engineering and management firm that has offices across the country. If you are building a singlefamily, residential home, you can get that knowledge from local green building experts like the EarthCraft Home program based here in Atlanta which works with both builders and homeowners. Credentials may not be required, but it is good to look for an experienced and trained company or individual, and ask about their certification and background in the areas important to the project team. W&C
Barry Reid, LEED AP is sustainability manager at Georgia-Pacific Gypsum LLC. If you read this article, please circle number 239.
January 2011 | Walls & Ceilings |
21
Texas, Hold ‘Em I
am a lath and plastering contrac contractor in Texas and was asked to share the impact of what a major storm has on exterior claddings in coastal areas. In September 2008, we had no idea what we would face in the next week or two. We were so convinced that Hurricane Ike was heading to South Texas and not coming to the Galveston area that my wife and I set out to Dallas early the previous morning to pick up two new Sharpei pups. Half way home, I received a call from my dad. He wanted to use the spare generator I have at the shop. He said that the storm was going to hit us head on. I thought he was caught up in all the media hype. We came to find he was right. Ou r home a nd of f ice a re i n
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
Over-fastening O ver fastening projects in tornado/hurricane prone areas can lead to destroyed and failed systems. One Gulf area contractor in Texas discusses the impacts of Hurricane Ike. By Tim Rogan Seabrook, Texas, 25 miles north of Galveston. This area is no stranger to tropical storms and hurricanes. In 1979, it was Claudette; in 1983, it was Hurricane Alicia; in 1989, it was Allison; in 1995, Tropical Storm Dean. In 2006, we were on the outer reaches of Hurricane Rita. There have been many more. When we returned from Dallas, it was the afternoon. This was 26 hours before expected land fall. We had enough time to secure our home, office and two neighbor’s homes. We made
plans to stay and ride it out. Of course, we had been through large storms in the past—but just in case, we had escape routes and back up plans. We were very lucky. We came through with little damage to our home and office. Unfortunately, some homes just two blocks from our office took on two feet of water or more. The closer to the bay, the higher the water rose in those homes. Seabrook was hit very hard. On my back porch, I witnessed wind gusts to 115 mph. Within a few hours
This souvenir shop is also on the seawall. The wall panels are metal studs encapsulated in 6-inch EPS. As the photo shows, this project was exposed for a long period of time to UV rays before being covered with mesh and basecoat. The EPS was yellow by the time the finish system was installed.
This Econo Lodge sits two blocks off the seawall and like most buildings facing the water, it faces southeast. The most powerful winds or “dirty side” of this storm came from the southeast. As you can see from the advanced state of decay of the OSB, there were water problems here long before the storm.
of the storm passing, our town of 9,500 people was closed to all traffic. Nobody could get in and if you left, you were not allowed to return. A week after the storm, the city was getting back on line, although many businesses would not open for many months and some never returned. At this time, travel was allowed to Galveston Island. I jumped into my truck the first day and headed south. You would not believe the amount of people going to the island: construction workers, clean up crews, emergency personnel and property owners were in line to get the rebuilding underway. This normal 30-minute trip took me an hour and a half. As I began to get closer to the Causeway Bridge, I saw hundreds of boats, cars and any other thing that was stored under these beach homes lining the freeway and access roads. At one underpass, I could not believe the height of the water line shown by the debris.
REBUILDING TIME Our firm helped repair some of the historic properties in the Strand District, many of which were built right after the Great Storm of 1900 that took an estimated 8,000 lives. We also repaired homes that we did ten or twelve years ago. These were stucco homes with high-quality products. Pure zinc trim, 3.4 metal lath, and Dow 795 sealants.
This photo (and the photo on the next page) shows an inn also on the seawall. It had only been open for a couple of months. What you do not see in this picture is this building suffered the loss of 50 percent of the EIFS on the left side elevation and 90 percent loss at the rear. There are no buildings adjacent to it.
The building codes require the lower floors of a house to be constructed with breakaway walls. This allows the house to remain while the walls break away and allow water to pass under the structure leaving the building. Other then superficial gouges in the finish, most of the damage was limited to the lower floors with the exception of roofs. Homes built before the breakaway code went into effect were washed away completely. This was the most compelling thing I saw and documented about the damage to buildings caused by a nearly Category 4 storm. Roofing systems were almost nonexistent. Exterior cladding suffered different levels of damage. The greatest damage I observed was to siding materials. This included vinyl siding, as well as cement board siding. This may have had something to do with installation. Vinyl siding is not installed with the amount of fasteners as metal lath. Cement board siding usually has the fasteners overdriven, thus compromising the holding capabilities. Keep in mind that a negative wind load has as much destructive potential as a positive wind force. These materials were sucked off the walls. My estimate of buildings with these claddings suffered at least 60 percent material loss. Buildings with EIFS cladding also suffered damage. I was surprised: the
most damaged was the mechanically attached EIFS. This was not from impact damage but rather an installation issue, as well. I can only figure these installations were a result of the building officials’ lack of knowledge of correct installation or a result of a contractor not intending to be around when problems start. I saw almost in all cases the EPS started out as 1 inch foam board. It was rasped (sanded) down to 3/4 inch or less. In some cases, the EPS was attached with the little orange or green plastic roofing washers, most of which were screwed to the wall with black drywall screws, none of which exceeded 1¼ inch in length. Even some system applications using the proper washers and screws shared the same installation defect.
MAXIMUM OVER-DRIVE In every case where I evaluated the EIFS installation, all of the washers were over-driven by as much as 1/2 inch. The other thing that stood out is most of the board did not have the recommended fastener patterns. On a large job, if you fasten three times in the center of the board and in the joints of adjacent boards, you can save a few boxes of washers, screws and labor. The systems that failed, but had the correct washers and screws, failed because the fasteners were so severely over-driven that the screws
January 2011 | Walls & Ceilings |
23
were still in the plywood substrate and the EPS, mesh, basecoat and finish were washed to sea. Almost every mechanically attached system suffered as much as 30 percent EIFS loss. On the other hand, the damage to adhesively attached EIFS was far less. Yes, there was some impact damage but I did not see entire elevations ripped from the structure. The fact is the only damage to this type of installation I observed was where the brown paper-faced sheathing was used behind the EIFS (remember this). Both the EPS and the face paper were ripped from the gypsum core or the sheathing was gone as well. Almost all of the newer buildings that have glass mat sheathing behind the EIFS showed no visible signs of delamination. The last, and by far the system with the lowest amount of damage was the conventional three coat stucco assembly. I did see some damage but not to the extent of the others evaluated. As I stated earlier, the greatest amount of damage was to the breakaway walls. This damage was minimal to the
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
homes where the contractor installed a two-piece joint with the lath cut at the joint. This was our installation procedures. The cement stucco systems that showed the most damage were the aged systems that were not properly waterproofed and were already in a state of decay. Most of these systems were installed with 6 mil poly behind them. (Some of you older guys will remember when we used poly as a back-up behind stucco. That was 25 years ago. Then an engineer found that the non-permeable poly created a dew point on the face of the plywood, creating rot and rust behind the system. This is why we use building paper and wraps today.) The cement plaster systems installed over the last 10 to 15 years showed almost no damage, and both stucco and EIFS out-performed other claddings. This is not to say they were all installed to design specifications or with high-quality materials, but the storm had little impact on the system. We did not evaluate any brick or other masonry buildings because this is not
the choice cladding in coastal areas and all beach homes are elevated at least 12 feet. When I shared what I saw with other members of the TLPCA, one leading manufacturer suggested that we push for the City of Galveston to adopt the Miami-Dade County EIFS Building Code. The contact I made with the Chief Building Official of Galveston was also part of my mission. When I saw the destruction firsthand I wanted a chance to tell our side of the story about the failures. I did not want Galveston to outlaw EIFS or stucco. I am the past president of the Texas Lathing and Plastering Contractors Association and very active in this industry. I offered to bring an educational seminar to Galveston to teach them the Dos and Don’ts of our products. These are very good products for coastal areas in the hands of a quality contractor. At the time, there was so much chaos, that the CBO said they would like to do this but they needed to let the dust settle. I see their point but I felt that this was the time to learn how to do it right. With the new energy codes at our doorstep, you will see much more EIFS-clad buildings. This will entail low-income housing, as well as high end. I only hope that we as an industry can have a handle on proper installations. All of this revolves around education of contractors, architects and building officials. For more information on what EIFS-clad buildings can do, look up and read the Oakridge Laboratories Report (which can be found at www.eima.com). The TLPCA is willing to help all municipalities provide education on installation of our products to any building inspector or design firm in the state of Texas. I encourage all to contact the Texas Lathing & Plastering Contractors Association and/or other local bureaus, and EIMA for any technical support or education programs. W&C Tim Rogan is operations manager and vice president of Houston Lath and Plaster. He was also past president and still a current member of the Texas Lathing and Plastering Contractors Association (now renamed the South Central Wall Ceiling & Plaster Association). You can reach Rogan at (281) 291-9500. If you read this article, please circle number 240.
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SPEC
S T E E SH The Walls & Ceilings Special Spec Sheet Section will supply the building community with a unique guide to new and innovative products now on the market. This section is designed to be a year-long resource for specifiers and architects. Whether you save for your own files or forward these on to a colleague, the spec sheets will help you determine the right products for a job. Keep this January issue on file or simply tear out the pages as a handy reference for current or future use.
BASF .......................................................27
National Gypsum ...................................39
On Center ...............................................29
Spec Mix .................................................40
Super Stud .............................................31
Armstrong ..............................................41
Georgia Pacific ......................................33
Total Wall................................................42
Certainteed Gypsum .............................35
Structus ..................................................43
Owens Corning .......................................37
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
sustainable construction loves chemicals Chemistry creates building materials and technologies that improve energy efficiency, durability and speed of construction. Our innovative product portfolio helps you balance environmental, economic and social priorities and our collaborative process helps you turn your visionary ideas into reality. Go beyond Code, and gain a competitive edge. At BASF, we create chemistry. www.basf.us/construction
Please Circle #223 On Reader Action Card
SPEC SHEET WALLTITE® Insulating Air Barrier Improve energy efficiency by up to 40% Structural wall
Insulation. Air barrier. Vapor barrier. Drainage plain. One product…one application. Fully-tested and field-proven. Thanks to its 90% closed-cell content, the WALLTITE® system combines industry-leading air permeance ratings and a superior insulation R-value to make a significant contribution to building energy efficiency. The WALLTITE® insulating air barrier system:
Transition membrane
WALLTITE Air Barrier Exterior finish
Eliminates uncontrolled air leakage Improves occupant comfort, health and safety Improves indoor environmental quality Improves structural strength Reduces condensation, moisture and mold problems Conforms to any shape Is approved by the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA) to meet the mandated air barrier requirements of the Commercial Energy Codes of Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Michigan Is installed only by ABAA approved applicators with third-party quality control inspection For master specifications visit www.walltite.com
ENERSHIELD™ Air/water-resistive Barrier Systems
ENERSHIELD™ provides new options for creating high performance air/water-resistive barrier systems. Four concepts form the basis of ENERSHIELD: Efficient use of premium materials One air barrier material for all wall assemblies Extensive supporting test data Safety and Sustainability ENERSHIELD products are designed for ease of application. Since they are fully approved for use on all acceptable substrates behind most claddings (including EIFS), they can be used as a single air barrier material for all wall assemblies. When reinforced with sheathing fabric, ENERSHIELD is ideally suited for treating window rough openings and other penetrations. This extends the seamless single system approach and minimizes the need for transitions between dissimilar materials. VOC levels of ENERSHIELD products are well below the maximum allowed by USGBC LEED program further minimizing emissions. For master specifications visit www.enershield.basf.com
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
Please Circle #225 On Reader Action Card
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SPEC SHEET
Please Circle #229 On Reader Action Card
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
The gloves are off.
The EDGE™ EQ Drywall Steel Framing System from Super Stud lets you take the gloves off. With its patent pending rolled edge to protect your hands, no other product in the industry rivals The EDGE. Formed from the highest quality, mill prime 40KSI steel, it is UL® classified for use in one-, two-, threeand four-hour wall assemblies, and meets or exceeds the criteria of ASTM C645 and C754. So if you’re ready to take the gloves off, let Super Stud give you
by
The EDGE.
www.edgesteelframing.com
1-732-662-6200
For licensing opportunities at select locations across the US, call or visit our website. Please Circle #120 On Reader Action Card
SPEC SHEET SPEC SHEET
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| Walls & Ceilings | January 2011
Please Circle #232 On Reader Action Card
Your work isn’t just work, it’s your reputation. That’s why since 1965, the name Georgia-Pacific Gypsum has been synonymous with quality products and expertise ensuring that “your work” and “your reputation” stay the same way, intact. Visit www.gpgypsum.com or call 1-800 -947-4497 to locate a distributor near you.
SPEC SHEET Technical Service Hotline 1.800.225.6119 or
www.gpgypsum.com Manufacturer Georgia-Pacific Gypsum LLC 133 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303
Georgia-Pacific Canada LP 7070 Mississauga Road, Unit 120 Mississauga, ON L5M 7V9
Technical Service Hotline: 1-800-225-6119 Description DensArmor Plus® High-Performance Interior Panels are noncombustible (per ASTM E 136) interior panels that consists of a moisture-resistant gypsum core with coated fiberglass mats. The fiberglass mats provide superior protection from incidental moisture. DensArmor Plus panels are highly resistant to the growth of mold, and have scored a 10, the highest level of performance for mold resistance under ASTM D 3273 test method. The core of DensArmor Plus panels is reinforced with fiberglass, increasing the product’s strength. The treated core and the coated facings made with fiberglass offer greater moisture resistance and improved dimensional stability than regular gypsum board. The product resists warping, rippling and buckling. They have a tapered edge to receive joint treatment.
low emissions of VOCs. CHPS is a national non-profit organization that works with school districts and their design teams to improve the quality of education by using products that have met requirements to receive CHPS credits.
Do not use DensArmor Plus® Fireguard® (per ASTM C 1658) panels where there is prolonged exposure to temperatures exceeding 125˚ F (52˚C), e.g. adjacent to wood burning stoves, heating appliances, saunas or steam rooms.
Primary Uses DensArmor Plus Interior Panels are an interior wall or ceiling covering material for use in new construction or renovation work. They are designed for direct attachment with screws or nails to wood and metal framing or existing surfaces. They may be used as a covering material for flat or curved structures.
Technical Data Flame spread and smoke developed rating of 0/0 when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 or CAN/ULC S-102. Noncombustible as described and tested in accordance with ASTM E 136. 5/8" DensArmor Plus® Fireguard® panels are UL and ULC Classified Type DAP. 1/2" and 5/8" DensArmor Plus® Fireguard C™ products are UL and ULC Classified Type DAPC.
• Use on interiors of exterior walls, where moisture intrusion is most likely.
DensArmor Plus Interior Panels are the first drywall panels to be GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified ® and GREENGUARD Children & SchoolsSM Certified for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by a leading third-party organization, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. In addition, DensArmor Plus Interior Panels are the first drywall panels listed as GREENGUARD microbial resistant. This listing means DensArmor Plus panels, which feature fiberglass mats instead of paper facings used on the surface of traditional gypsum board products, resist mold growth. The microbial resistant test is based on ASTM Standard D 6329-98, a testing standard set by ASTM International, which develops testing guidelines and procedures for building materials, products, systems, and services.
• Use in pre-rock areas, where the windows, doors or roof have not been installed making moisture intrusion inevitable. DensArmor Plus panels come with a limited warranty against delamination and deterioration for up to 12 months of exposure to normal weather conditions.*
DensArmor Plus panels also are listed in the Collaborative for High Performance Schools® (CHPS™) High Performance Products Database for
Intended for interior applications only, they must be kept dry during storage and handling.
• Where required by code, Georgia-Pacific Gypsum recommends the use of DensShield® Tile Backer in wet areas behind tile, such as tub and shower areas. Limitations DensArmor Plus Interior Panels are a non-structural product and should not be used as a nailing base to support heavy wall-mounted objects.
Applicable Standards Manufactured to meet ASTM C 1658, ASTM C 1396 Section 7 and ASTM C 1177. Installation DensArmor Plus High-Performance Interior Panels should be installed according to the most current versions of Gypsum Association Publication GA-216 “Application and Finishing of Gypsum Board for Non-Fire-Rated Construction.” For fire-rated installations, the installation and details shall be in conformity with those assemblies published in the Gypsum Association Fire Resistance Design Manual GA-600, UL and ULC Fire Resistance Directories. Visit www.gpgypsum.com for Handling Precautions and other important information. *For complete warranty details, visit www.gpgypsum.com.
Physical Properties DensArmor Plus®
DensArmor Plus® Fireguard®
Thickness, nominal4
1/2 (12.7 mm) ± 1/64 (0.4 mm)
5/8 (15.9 mm) ± 1/64 (0.4 mm)
Width, standard4
4 (1219 mm) ± 3/32 (2.4 mm)
4 (1219 mm) ± 3/32 (2.4 mm)
Length, standard4
8 (2438 mm) to 12 (3658 mm) ± 1/4 (6.4 mm)
8 (2438 mm) to 12 (3658 mm) ± 1/4 (6.4 mm)
Properties
Weight1, nominal lbs./sq. ft., (Kg / m 2) Permeance 7, Perms (ng/Pa • s • m2)
2.021 (9.9)
2.51 (12.2)
>10 (570)
>10 (570)
Linear expansion with moisture change, in/in %RH (mm/mm %RH)
6.25 x 10-6
6.25 x 10-6
Coefficient of thermal expansion, in/in/°F (mm/mm/°C) Flexural strength, parallel, lbf.3,4 (N)
8.5 x 10-6 (15.3 x 10-6)
8.5 x 10-6 (15.3 x 10-6)
>80 (356)
>100 (444)
Flexural strength, perpendicular, lbf.3,4 (N) R Value 2, ft 2 • °F • hr/BTU (m2• K/ W)
>100 (444)
>140 (622)
.56 (0.099)
.67 (0.118)
Combustibility6
Noncombustible
Noncombustible
Nail pull resistance, lbf.3,4 (N)
80 (356)
90 (400)
Hardness core, edges and ends, lbf.3,4 (N) Water absorption (% of weight) 3,4
*15 (67)
*15 (67)
