Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Contact: Karen Miller
VantEdge Corp.
828-883-8362, ext. 303
e-mail: karenm@vant-edge.com

 (PITTSBURGH, Pa., March 1, 2010) — Theaccel-E™ Steel Thermal Efficient Panel (S.T.E.P.) wall system has been GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. The certification represents a significant achievement for the wall system, according to Al Alayon, president of ACCELERATED Building Technologies (ABT), which manufactures the S.T.E.P. wall system that provides both superior construction and energy efficiency.

"We are very pleased that the accel-E™ S.T.E.P. wall system has qualified for this important certification," said Alayon. "Numerous global, federal, state and local authorities recognize the value and specify GREENGUARD Certified products in their green building codes and purchase specifications."

The highly energy efficientaccel-E™ S.T.E.P. wall system is manufactured by fusing cold formed steel framing components and expandable polystyrene (EPS) insulating panels together into a single continuous system. In order to be GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified, the EPS insulating material in the S.T.E.P. panels was screened for more than 10,000 different volatile organic compounds, and found to emit the fewest possible chemicals into the indoor environment.

"By using products bearing the GREENGUARD Certification mark, architects, designers and specifiers can be assured these products have been independently verified to meet some of the most rigorous chemical emissions standards in the world," Alayon said.
The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), a not-for-profit American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Authorized Standards Developer, oversees the GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM.

"GEI applauds Accelerated Building Technologies on its commitment to furthering our mission of improving indoor air quality," said Henning Bloech, GEI Executive Director. "As products such as accel-E™ S.T.E.P. help buildings become more tightly sealed and energy efficient, reducing the number of pollutant sources in indoor environments becomes even more important to create healthier spaces for the people who occupy them."

Certified products are recognized and specified by the nation's leading organizations focused on sustainability including the United States Green Building Council LEED® program.

By fusing steel framing components and EPS insulation into a single system, the accel-E™ S.T.E.P. system eliminates air infiltration and provides a continuous energy envelope that outperforms conventional framing and insulation, Alayon noted. In addition to helping to reduce energy costs for heating and cooling, the S.T.E.P. system also reduces the construction build time by providing a one step installation.

The steel framing members are made of recycled steel and are themselves recyclable. Moreover, replacing conventional framing and insulation with pre-engineered accel-E™ panels virtually eliminates jobsite waste and disposal issues – all of which further add to the system's LEED points.

The materials used in the panels also resist mold and mildew while minimizing the building's long-term environmental impact. The accel-E™ system fully complies with both the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC).

About ACCELERATED Building Technologies

ACCELERATED Building Technologies, LLC, was formed by two leading building materials manufacturers, combining the talent, resources and knowledge of Dietrich Metal Framing and NOVA Chemicals. ACCELERATED Building Technologies maintains ownership under SYNTHEON, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NOVA Chemicals, Inc., for the building and construction industry. For more information, contact Jeff Peskowitz, director of marketing, at 412-490-5037; or visit the company's Web site at www.accbt.com.

About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

Founded in 2001, GEI is an industry-independent, not-for-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM. The Institute's mission is to protect human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air that people breathe. As an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for building materials, interior products, furnishings, electronic equipment, indoor environments and buildings. The more than 200,000 GREENGUARD Certified products must meet stringent; third-party standards for low chemical emissions based on established health standards and undergo rigorous testing and verification processes on a regular basis. An online guide to GREENGUARD Certified products is available at no charge at www.greenguard.org.

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