Material Review: One to Watch
Paper thin, lighter than glass, nonstick, and recyclable: ETFE is what gave shape to the Watercube and the Bird’s Nest at the Beijing Olympics. Hannah McCann details how one architect is emerging as an ETFE specialist.
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Vinyl Roofing Systems: Questions Answered
What are the key characteristics of vinyl that specifying architects should know? What are common misconceptions about vinyl? Walter Scarborough, director of specifications for HKS Architects gets to ask everything he ever wanted to know about vinyl.
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Itch-Free Zone
An alternative to fiberglass, polyester-based batt insulation promises full performance as well as DIY ease.
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Spray-On Protection
The same chemical that protects truck beds from dents and scratches can increase the structural strength of built structures. Les Shaver details the military’s use so far of spray-on polyurea.
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You Say You Want A Revolution
Since its development in the 1970s, mainstream use of ETFE in construction projects has largely been limited to Europe. That trend may change, however, once its use as a building material is showcased in the new sports arenas at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. In fact, the material’s incredibly flexible and resistant properties may just steal the show.
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Endless Louvers
Whether for historical or contemporary applications, residential or commercial, indoor or outdoor, structural or ornamental, polyurethane is quickly becoming the material of choice for today’s renovation projects. By taking advantage of polyurethane’s unique benefits, remodelers may more easily (and cheaply) replicate the look of vintage materials, while providing a moisture-resistant option for high-humidity areas.
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Innovations in Light and Sound
While plastic building products are often cited for their energy efficiency, durability, and cost effectiveness, their ability to produce eye-catching designs is sometimes overlooked. Similarly, some design/construction professionals do not consider the acoustic properties of certain modern materials. Two case studies demonstrate the innate aesthetic qualities of acrylics.
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Plastic Lumber Possibilities
Whether a composite mixture of wood and natural fibers or an entirely plastic material, ‘plastic lumber’ can provide resistance to insects, rot, and chemicals unmatched by many traditional materials.
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Foam Eggs and Ham
Hand-sculpted EPS foam and other custom applications achieved the unique cartoon appearance of the environment desired by the design team for Seuss Landing at Universal Studios’ Islands of Adventure.
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SPF Beyond Energy Insulation
Not only can spray polyurethane foam (SPF) help enhance a building’s energy efficiency, but it can also potentially improve structural integrity—making it a viable choice for high-wind regions
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Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Design, and XPS
Extruded polystyrene’s (XPS’s) closed-cell structure and lack of voids not only imparts durability and strength, but also helps the foam resist moisture penetration.
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Plastic Possibilities
Inserting lightweight plastic foam into car frames are helping protect passengers from side impact.
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Plastics Takes Improvement To The Wall
A unique study looks at ‘real-world’ wall system performance, comparing traditional construction configurations to those containing plastic and foam insulation materials.
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Cellular Polycarbonate Glazing
Not many materials can be delicate enough to let in the sun, but suitably durable to potentially withstand hurricane debris. Cellular polycarbonate can be an excellent choice.
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Plastic Possibilities
Soy-based polyols and polyurethane/polyurea defensive coating—innovations are changing the ways plastics are made and the applications for which they are used.
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Plastic Building Materials: A Real Solution For Today’s Building Market
Knowledge about the beneficial use of plastic construction materials is on the rise, but our Web survey suggests there still needs to be education done
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EIFS Solution for Pyramid Scheme
On the Las Vegas strip, plastic foams covered with polyurethane, polyurea, or exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) plastic coatings yield architectural marvels from medieval castles to New York City skylines, and the Luxor Hotel’s always impressive giant sphinx.
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Composites as High Performance Building Solutions
As this feature illustrates, melding natural and manmade materials can yield new hybrids with enhanced performance. However, design professionals must understand the options
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Urethane Millwork Renovation Work
Durable and flexible, polyurethane millwork can be an excellent option for both contemporary and historical renovation projects.
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The Specifier’s Guide to Vinyl Fencing
When one is looking to replace a fence, vinyl’s weatherability, color-consistency, and uniformity should make it a strong material option.
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Material Choices and Resource Use
Specifying the right products can have a huge impact on sustainability. The steps involved in processing materials, such as extraction, processing, and transportation, can pollute air and water and use up natural resources. Using recycled or salvaged materials can help minimize waste products, while selecting local or lightweight materials can reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
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Polyurethane in Home Construction
Originally used for modular projects and manufactured housing, polyurethane adhesives and sealants are finding new uses in construction projects of all types. Their elasticity and structural properties can provide effective substrate adhesion from the roof to the floor.
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Shelter From the Storm
Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) performed well through the hurricanes of 2004, leaving many Florida homeowners with roofs unscathed or only lightly damaged. Where failure did occur, analysis can show how proper specifications might provide better future solutions.
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The Value and Versatility of Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows can be an energy efficient, durable option for architects/engineers who want the performance of traditional materials with added performance benefits.
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Solutions for Natural Disasters: Using Concrete and Plastic Insulation for Safety and Energy Efficiency in Residential Design
Wild fires, tornadoes, and hurricanes cause billions of dollars in damage. The use of concrete and plastic insulation in exterior walls can help strengthen a home against these potential disasters, providing durability without compromising aesthetics
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Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations
Frost heave and settlement can cause severe structural damage to a building. One solution is frost-protected shallow foundations (FPSF), which raise frost depth by directing the building’s heat loss toward the foundation.
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Plastics: Building Material of the 20th Century
Modern plastics are the culmination of over a century of experimentation, accidental discovery, and necessity, becoming one of the most important materials of the 20th Century.
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The Expanding Role of EPS in Construction
From humble beginnings, expanded polystyrene has grown into one of the most versatile insulating materials in construction today, used in everything from insulation in walls, roofs,and foundations, to structural insulated panels (SIPs), insulated concrete forms (ICFs), and exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS).
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Resilient Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is referred to as ‘resilient’ because it characteristically bounces back from the weight of objects compressing its surface. Many interior designers and architects recognize resilient vinyl flooring as an important material in their palette, particularly when creating spaces sustaining heavy traffic or that have to be kept meticulously clean
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Polyurethane Foam & Softer Footfalls
Bonded polyurethane foam cushion gives carpets the benefit of comfort and appearance retention. Its construction provides comfort without excessive thickness, and its memory promotes rapid recovery from depressions caused by heavy furnishings. The double-glue method is increasing in popularity as way of installing this cushion in commercial settings.
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Flexing Your PEX: Plumbing the Possibilities of Cross-Linked Polyethylene Pipes
Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) neither pits nor corrodes, making the material an attractive option for plumbing installations. The piping is also adaptable to manifold plumbing systems, which can help reduce overall space, and increase water/energy efficiencies.
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High Performance Buildings Drive 'Engineered Materials'
The role of materials in construction is changing. No longer is the process limited to making commonly available materials fit evermore challenging designs and performance requirements. Instead, we are seeing a new wave of engineering customized building materials for each and every demanding application. Read more
EPS Geofoam Provides Novel Infrastructure Solutions
Expanded polystyrene insulation continues to drive innovation in construction. Not only is it used in countless thermal protection applications, EPS ‘geofoam’ is finding increased use in civil engineering projects, such as slope stabilization.
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