Here's the Latest in Building Envelope Innovation

The products selected for Building Design+Construction’s annual 101 Top Products report are determined by you, our readers. From security doors to metal ceilings, fabric ducts to rainscreen wall systems, linear drains to bacteria-killing LED lighting, these are the products that appeared in the pages of the magazine over the past 12 months that readers wanted to learn more about. The products were selected based on the number of reader service inquiries. BD+C editors selected a few of our favorites as well (marked “Editors' Picks”). Below are the Building Envelope products selected.

MIRAIA FIBER CEMENT PANELS

Miraia fiber cement panels are available with this reflective, high-gloss finish. Three color options: Glacier, Onyx (pictured), and Snow. Offers the luster of metal at a competitive price point, according to the maker. The panels are factory sealed on six sides and cover 8.88 sf per panel. Dimensions: 17-7/8 inches high, 71-9/16 inches long, and 5/8-inch thick. Concealed clips and fasteners provide a clean, uninterrupted appearance.

STARTER BOARDS AT LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES

Project: Lifestyle Communities, Nashville, Tenn. Problem: The design called for eight-inch EPS shapes around the windows, which meant back-wrapping these termination points in the field would have been near impossible. 

Solution: Dryvit Acrocore Starter Boards were integral to the project at these termination points. The boards are uniformly machine-coated to produce a product that is three times harder and stronger than hand-applied starter boards. Installing pre-coated starter boards was three times faster than manual back wrapping.

ROOF, WALL INSULATION AT LAX

Project: Los Angeles International Airport concourse. Problem: The project needed an insulation solution to help meet the California Green Building Standards Code Mandatory and Tier 1 requirements. 

Solution: The team used more than 215,000 sf of Atlas EnergyShield CGF Pro for wall insulation and 500,000 sf of ACFoam-II for roof insulation due to their low VOC emissions and performance. The EnergyShield GCF Pro wall insulation is vapor permeable and composed of a Class A fire-rated (NFPA 285 compliant), closed-cell polyiso rigid foam core faced with a high-performance coated glass facer on the front and back. The ACFoam roof panels needed to be custom made (2x8 feet) in order to meet the architect’s design needs. On the team: Gensler, gkkworks, Turner Construction, PCL Construction.

OPTIM-R

This rigid vacuum insulation panel features a microporous core, which is evacuated, encased, and sealed in a gas–tight envelope. The result is an ultra–thin (20mm to 50mm) insulation product with up to five times better thermal efficiency than commonly available insulation. R-values from R-29 to R-60. Applications: roof assemblies, balconies, and terraces.

VACUSEAL VENT SECURED ROOF SYSTEM

The VacuSeal Vent Secured Roofing System uses special vents that harness the wind to lock roof membranes in place. Negative pressure venting pulls air and moisture out from under the membrane to maintain insulation dryness and R-value. VacuSeal reduces installation time and minimizes the need for traditional fastening methods, which reduces the amount of glue, ballast, or fasteners a project requires. The vents are made from UV-resistant PVC, contain no moving parts, and require no penetrations.

PAC-CLAD AT CADE MUSEUM

Project: Cade Museum for Creativity + Invention, Gainesville, Fla. Problem: The museum needed a creative and eye-catching design. 

Solution: 11,400 sf of 22-gauge PAC-CLAD corrugated straight panels and 6,000 sf of PAC-CLAD corrugated curved panels, all in a Galvalume Plus finish, were installed throughout the museum’s exploded-circle plan. The design creates a sense of movement, which is reinforced by the running lines of the structure’s corrugated metal wall and roof panels. On the team: GWWO Architects, Thornton Tomasetti (SE).

EN-V METAL PANEL SYSTEM

This dry joint, pressure-equalized aluminum panel rainscreen system starts at just $11.95/sf for panels, one of the lowest prices on the market, according to its maker. Twenty-one panel dimensions (ranging from 18x48 inches to 120x24 inches), combined with vertical and horizontal stacked and staggered panel layout options, maximize design flexibility. Formed corners and trim pieces are available, as are custom colors. Material is .080-inch aluminum with fluoropolymer finish.

DELTA-STRATUS SA

To help combat deterioration from UV exposure during the construction process, Dörken Systems developed Delta-Stratus SA, the industry’s only vapor-permeable air- and water-resistive barrier with a fourth layer of added UV protection. The barrier features two outer layers of high-strength polypropylene fabric, a vapor-permeable, watertight polymeric middle layer, and an inner layer made of an acrylic UV-resistant coating. Delta-Stratus SA was tested using real-world conditions to ensure it retains optimum water-penetration resistance, air tightness, and building integrity. It is fully adhered, from back to edge, allowing for simple, straightforward application without fasteners.

TYPAR DRAINABLE WRAP

EDITORS' PICK: This building wrap features a layer of multi-directional polypropylene fibers that diverts bulk water from exterior wall cavities. It sheds more bulk water than traditional wraps, protecting structures from moisture, mold, and rot. It can be installed in any direction without affecting performance. Offers six months of UV resistance. Has a Class A fire rating and drainage efficiency of 94.8% (per ASTM E2273). Five-foot-wide rolls come in 100-foot lengths.

PASSIVE RAINSCREEN SYSTEM

Modified wood products manufacturer Kebony introduced a clip system that makes it easy for contractors to create a rainscreen cladding using the company’s wood siding. The system supplants predrilling of cladding, reduces installation and labor costs, and eliminates potential moisture penetration from face fasteners. It can be applied over most exterior and interior envelope design types, including directly over mineral fiber exterior insulation.

THERMALSAFE STRIATED IMP

EDITORS' PICK: Metl-Span’s ThermalSafe insulated metal panel is now available with a Striated exterior profile. The metal panel features the company’s LockGuard interlocking side joint to achieve a one-, two-, or three-hour fire resistance rating for walls and 11/2 hours for ceilings. ThermalSafe’s core is made from non-combustible structural and non-toxic mineral wool boards processed to maximize compressive strength. The core insulating properties are 3.61 R per inch. Panels are 42 inches wide and available in thicknesses of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 inches.

PERM-A-BARRIER VPS 30

EDITORS' PICK: The Perm-A-Barrier VPS 30 air barrier from GCP Applied Technologies is a primerless, permeable, self-adhering air barrier membrane. It features advanced adhesive to enable primerless installation on concrete, CMU, or exterior gypsum, cutting installation time by up to 35% compared to traditional systems, according to the maker. Designed for wall assemblies that require vapor permeability. Just peel off the release liner and adhere the air barrier to the substrate.