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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
While there’s no single answer to all the challenges facing the building industry these days, one technology – an innovative new wall system known as steel thermal efficient panels, or “S.T.E.P.” – can help industry professionals respond positively to many of today’s key industry concerns.
Industry Challenges
Although the economic slowdown is the most immediate concern, the design and construction industries must also address a number of ongoing trends that will endure long after the current business cycle has run its course. Consider some key issues:
- Since 2003, the costs of production of key construction materials have increased by 33 percent, compared to a 14 percent increase in consumer prices.
- The average age of skilled construction workers is now in the 40s, and almost half of the workforce is nearing retirement.
- Energy codes are evolving from being prescriptive in nature to being performance-related, with California’s Title 24 one of the most high-profile examples.
- Thirty-one states have now developed “green” building policies – up from just 13 in 2005 – and the value of green commercial building construction is projected to increase to $70 billion by 2013 from only $3 billion in 2005.
In view of these trends it’s no wonder that a recent survey found architects and contractors agree that the four most influential industry trends over the next five years will be energy efficiency, green building design, workforce availability and construction cost escalation.
How Wall Systems Affect the Key Issues
Over the past few decades, the quest for more efficient building envelopes has produced significant developments in structural wall panel systems, which offer varying combinations of benefits and drawbacks.
Some – such as insulated concrete forms (ICFs) and structural insulated panels (SIPs), offer energy savings, but require specialized crews and equipment. Others, such as insulated structural metal panels (ISMPs) can pose problems for electrical, plumbing, mechanical and interior finish trades. But the newest system, steel thermal efficient panels (S.T.E.P.), eliminates these drawbacks.
S.T.E.P. system panels are fabricated using a proprietary technology that fuses cold-formed steel framing members and expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation. Thus, framing, insulation and sheathing are contained in a single system – and installed in a single step.
Thermal slots in the specially shaped steel studs optimize structural and thermal performance, and the panels themselves lock together to minimize air intrusion and insulation gaps. Window and door openings are pre-cut, and pre-punched openings simplify installation of electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems.
S.T.E.P. Energy Efficiency
Tests have shown the effective R-value performance of a conventionally installed wall system can be reduced by as much as 68 percent below the stated R-value of the insulating material. The loss of insulation efficiency is due to various factors such as framing members in the open cavity, air infiltration, moisture impact and insulation irregularities, installation flaws and gaps.
By fusing framing members and insulation together into a continuous system, S.T.E.P. panels provide superior energy efficiency while greatly reducing air infiltration. In addition moisture absorption problems are also avoided, since the steel framing and EPS insulation are non-porous, and resistant to mold and mildew.
Construction Efficiency
By combining framing, insulation and sheathing into a single step, S.T.E.P. panels can reduce labor costs by up to 50 percent over conventional framing, and 88 percent over concrete block construction. Similarly, the construction cycle for wall construction can be reduced by more than 70 percent over concrete block wall construction. And, because of the panels’ light weight, cranes and other specialized equipment are usually not needed.
The panels can be used either as structural components or as curtain walls, and can be finished in virtually any exterior cladding material. Because of this flexibility, the S.T.E.P. system is well-suited to a wide variety of design situations including structural, curtain walls and demising walls.
For example, members of the True Life Ministries congregation in Racine, Wis., initially chose the S.T.E.P system for its speed and cost advantages, but soon discovered other advantages since the panels could be fabricated in virtually any height – an important consideration since their building’s wall heights varied from 24 feet to as much as 42 feet.
The Green Choice (Download Green Sheet)
Reduced jobsite waste is a key aspect of the S.T.E.P. system’s green appeal. As a result of these and other factors, the S.T.E.P. wall system can contribute points to as many as four LEED® categories – an increasingly important factor in both residential and commercial markets.
By reducing labor costs, enabling a shorter and simpler construction cycle, minimizing waste, and offering superior energy-efficiency, the S.T.E.P. wall panel system is an innovative and effective answer to many of the most critical challenges that will face the design and construction industries in the years to come.
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