The science of construction product development, which is already proceeding at a blinding rate, has shifted into an even higher gear. Consider the DuPont™ ArmorWall™ System which promises to deliver a “5-in-1 exterior wall solution,” and is now offered to commercial builders by Acme Brick, a company that has supplied premium construction products for more than 130 years.
This trend of employing high technology in the construction industry has been evident in several new building techniques such as Passive House construction, which is an air-sealing process for reducing residential utility useage. Plus, energy saving cladding products such as CUPACLAD Rainscreen cladding and MAC Metal Architectural cladding have dramatically improved energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings.
What This Means for You — The ArmorWall System is a premium, high-performance wall solution for commercial buildings that incorporates five traditional building enclosure elements:
- Structural Sheathing for Direct Cladding Attachment
- Fire-Resistance
- Continuous Air Barrier
- Water-Resistive Barrier
- Ultra Low-GWP Continuous Insulation Layer
Since its founding in 1891, Acme Brick has embraced technological innovations in the manufacture and sales of construction materials. Commercial builders now have access to the ArmorWall System which will forever change the way exterior wall construction is completed. Click here to learn more.
ArmorWall Replaces Several Other Components
According to DuPont, manufacturer of the ArmorWall System, this ground-breaking exterior wall product “enables attachment of cladding rail assemblies virtually anywhere on the panel face without needing to fasten them back to studs. Essentially any cladding type, including rainscreens like MCM and fiber cement, EIFS, stucco, conventional brick and thin brick become easier and quicker to install thanks to ArmorWall’s unique Magnesium Oxide (MgO) structural sheathing, providing exceptional strength and durability.”
“This product can replace several individual components that would otherwise need to be purchased and installed on site separately,” said John Brewer, Acme Brick’s vice president of sales. “We think it will be a real benefit to our commercial customers in the Southwest, and we’re pleased to be their exclusive source for it.”
The threat to property and loss of life from wildfires has forced many cities to strengthen fire codes throughout the world, but this has been especially prevalent in the southwestern U.S. This, in turn, resulted in the increased insurance rates for these structures and commercial builders and owners have struggled to deal with this “new normal.” The ArmorWall System represents an excellent antidote to this expensive trend. Commercial buildings such as institutional and municipal, medical, high-rise, mixed-use, retail, and multifamily can all benefit from this innovation.
ArmorWall Plus Fire-Rated Structural Insulated Sheathing (FR SIS) offers multiple fire-rated assemblies when tested as prescribed by ASTM E119 or Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 263 standards. A second series, ArmorWall™ SP Plus FR SIS, offers enhanced fire-rated assemblies. Additional information for achieving fire-resistance ratings is available through ICC-ES ESL 1302.
The ArmorWall™ System has been successfully evaluated to the DuPont Commercial Wall Assembly Test Protocol which includes structural loading and thermal cycling prior to air and water penetration resistance per ASTM E2357 and ASTM E331 up to 15 PSF of water penetration resistance. Here is additional information on the DuPont Commercial Wall Assembly Test Protocol.
Both series of ArmorWall Plus FR SIS are offered as 48” x 96” panels, in a choice of three thicknesses, including 2” (R10), 2.75” (R15), or 3.75” (R21).
Brewer adds, “The ArmorWall product family is certified by GreenCircle and can contribute toward LEED credits for sustainable building design and construction. Once the system is installed, and seams and fasteners sealed, the enclosure may be considered ‘dried-in.’ This allows interior construction to begin right away, speeding construction schedules.”
A Checklist for Commercial Builders - Key Features and Benefits of ArmorWall
For building owners, along with their architects and builders, time is money, and ArmorWall saves both. Here is a quick summary to consider about this exemplary exterior building product.
- It has proven performance for 1- and 2-hour fire ratings and NFPA 285 compliance with multiple claddings and wall configurations
- ArmorWall enjoys third-party verified performance featured in multiple ICC - ES Listings
- It streamlines installation which can save time, labor and material costs
- It enables direct attachment of claddings without fastening back to studs
- Features a pre-applied air- and water-resistive barrier
- The insulation layer has a high R-value of 6.5 per inch; ArmorWall’s patented “Fusion Technology” bonds the insulation to the MgO board, preventing voids seen in products that glue or laminate their materials together
- It is certified by GreenCircle and is eligible for LEED credits
- ArmorWall enables compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 continuous insulation (CI) and thermal bridging energy code requirements
- It reduces onsite waste since weather-resistive barriers, insulation, and structural furring such as hat channels are no longer needed to be installed separately
Acme Brick sales offices in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma are now offering DuPont’s ArmorWall Plus Fire-Rated Structural Insulated Sheathing (FR SIS) for commercial buildings. For more information on this innovative building product, contact an Acme specialist or set an appointment for an onsite demonstration.