News - Dynamic Composite Technologies Pty Ltd

Nvelope Rainscreen cladding system

Fri, 31 May 2013 00:00:00 -1000

Nvelope Rainscreen Cladding Systems

Now available in Australia exclusively from
Dynamic Composite Technologies

To eliminate any disruption to a building’s exterior appearance, NVELOPE Rainscreen Systems Ltd, the market leader in rainscreen cladding support systems, has developed a range of vertical and horizontal cladding support systems which allow façades to be installed with no visible fixings.

The cladding industry is under pressure to specify and install Rainscreen systems which provide an overall flawless appearance and meet the relevant thermal bridging requirements set out in the Building Regulations. Dynamic Composite Technologies understands the importance of providing a rainscreen system that satisfies these demands and offers contractors a cost effective, easy to install products that can adapt to any building design. The Nvelope NV vertical and Nvelope NH Horizontal brackets are versatile and flexible, both key drivers in façade design and cladding systems.

“With constant changes and improvements taking place in cladding materials technology and design, architects and specifiers have the opportunity of greater choice and aesthetic variety,” explains Mike Smith, NVELOPE’s Sales and Marketing Director. “It is also tasking contractors with the need to deliver an effective, reliable and long-lasting cladding solution, whatever the façade material, its application and aesthetic configuration. Our brackets tick all the boxes that are required by all parties involved in the project.”

Both the Nvelope NV and the Nvelope NH ranges provide a secure fixing solution for façade materials including high pressure laminate (HPL), timber, weatherboard, fibre cement, fibre concrete, ceramic, thin stone, aluminium composite material (ACM) and many other metals. They are available pre-assembled with thermal isolators to help reduce thermal bridging and also prevent a chemical reaction which could occur between the aluminium bracket and the line in a concrete frame. Stand off sizes for the vertical range are from 40 – 300 mm and for the horizontal range are from 70 – 300 mm.

The NVELOPE ‘T’ and ‘L’ profiles are secured using support brackets which are connected through a series of fixed and flexible points – an arrangement that enables absorption of wind loading while also allowing for expansion and contraction in the structure and the facades deadload.

The vertical Nvelope NV bracket can be flipped 90 degrees, allowing the pocket in the bracket to have an NH support arm or NVELOPE ‘horizontal brace bar’ inserted for horizontal application. The NH system can be optimised when the panels that need supporting are tall or are randomly placed in the façade design. The NH system provides a cost-effective and versatile support system for all types of cladding layout - whatever the application.

Manufactured in Europe and developed using the highest specification alloys, NVELOPE products and systems are ideal for supporting a wide variety of façade materials.

ISO 9705 Certified Insulation

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000

Dynamic Composite Technologies is leading the Australian insulation industry as the first distributor of a polyisocyanurate ISO 9705 certified exposed lining insulation board as recognised by NCC/BCA Section C1.10.

The ISO 9705 test method simulates a fire under well ventilated conditions which starts in a corner of a small room with a single open doorway – see here The test method is intended to evaluate the heat release and flame spread properties when subjected to specific ignition conditions.

The test indicates the maximum extent of fire growth in a room, the rate of heat release, and if they occur, the time to flashover and the time to flame extension beyond the doorway following flashover.

During ISO 9705 fire test the 25mm PIR insulation was exposed to 100kW for 600 seconds, followed by exposure to 300kW for 600 seconds, the insulation did not flash over, melt or drip. The modified PIR foam core formed a strong char that prevented flame spread and further degradation. The improved fire performance and dimensional stability of the 25mm PIR insulation achieved ISO 9705 Group 1 Material rating in accordance with the requirements of the Building Code of Australia – an industry first.

Future proof your building’s fire rating and specify an ISO 9705 Certified insulation supplied from DCTech.

Start of test 100kW

300kW

Test Photo

DCT Sponsor Team UOW in International Solar Decathlon Competition

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -1000

Dynamic Composite Technologies sponsors Team UOW as they endeavour to build a net zero home for the international Solar Decathlon China competition.

Products including ProctorWrap vapour permeable membrane and DCTech Tuff-R roofing insulation were supplied to assist the team in achieving their sustainable retro-fit home.

The competition, run as a joint venture between the US Department of Energy and the China National Energy Administration, is the largest student-run competition in the world.

Held in Dantong, China it is estimated that over 500,000 people will attend the competition which spans over an area larger than that used in the Beijing Olympics.

The 30 student strong team, comprised of students from Wollongong TAFE and the University of Wollongong, aim to retro-fit an existing Australian fibro home with sustainable technologies making it the first of its kind ever entered into the competition.

With entries coming from across the globe team UOW's home is not only the first of its kind but also the first entry ever submitted from an Australian Team.

DCTech is proud to be apart of this project and wish them luck in China.

Click here for further information about team UOW.

XENERGY XPS - from the inventor of Styrofoam

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -1000

XENERGY: a new generation extruded polystyrene from Dow
Building Solutions

Offering a little extra for inverted roof insulation

XENERGY™ XPS combines the proven features of STYROFOAM™ XPS - durability, reliability and strength – with improved insulation performance and a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five.

We’ve achieved this through combining a manufacturing process which uses CO₂ as the blowing agent and adding infra-red blocking particles to scatter and reflect heat radiation within the foam board.

The first XENERGY XPS product is the XENERGY SL designed for inverted roof insulation.

XENERGY SL offers 4mW thermal conductivity gains in 140mm and 160mm thicknesses, an 11% improved insulation performance compared with ROOFMATE™ SL-A.

λ0.032 W/mK
Up to 11% improved insulation performance.*
Potential for significant thickness savings.
Initially offered in single extruded thicknesses from 100mm to 160mm.
4mW thermal conductivity gains from 140mm and 160mm thicknesses.**
Excellent freeze/thaw performance.
Low water absorption.
High compressive strength.
Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of zero and Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than five.

Driving further improvements through innovation.

Rigid polymeric foam boardstock technical assessment

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -1000

DOW Building Solutions have released a white paper at the recent Society of Plastics Engineers USA http://www.4spe.org/ conference in Orlando, Florida. The paper written by Research Scientist Dan Schroer has tested the different high performance insulation foams available in the insulation industry around the world. They have tested different high performance insulation Polyisocyanurate (PIR), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and Phenolic foams.

DCT is interested in the test results regarding the loss of thermal performance when tested to US standards in which are recognised in Australia. PDF report available for download.

http://legacy.4spe.org/conferences/antec2012/website/papers/1260999-150-File01060.pdf

Dow Styrofoam 20 Year Thermal Limited Warranty

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -1000

Styrofoam Brand extruded polystyrene foam insulation

The Dow Chemical Company hereby warrants to the owner of the building/structure upon which the insulation was installed that, for a period of twenty (20) years, commencing with the date of manufacture printed on the unit label or insulation, that the insulation’s actual thermal resistance will not vary by more than ten (10) percent from the minimum R-value identified in ASTM C578 or the then closest Dow approved effective equivalent thereof on the insulation with a thickness of one inch and above. If the insulation is determined by sampling and tests (conducted as provided below) to not meet warranty value, Dow will deliver to the owner of the building on which the insulation was initially installed a quantity of substantial equivalent product to replace the non-performing insulation or, in the alternative, at Dow’s sole discretion, refund to the owner the original purchase price of the non performing insulation. In no event shall Dow be liable for any other costs or damages, including labour costs. Total Dow expense for the life of this warranty will be limited to the original purchase price of the insulation.

Conditions/Exclusions

The following conditions/exclusions apply to this Warranty:

A. Dow’s obligations under this warranty are applicable only to insulation with a thickness of one inch and above manufactured by Dow after June 1, 2012 and purchased and installed in ASEAN & ANZ.

B. Insulation must be installed in typical building and construction assemblies (including roofing) in strict accordance with all applicable Dow specifications, recommendations and guidelines that were in effect at the time of such installation.

C. The building must be owned by the claimant at the time of any warranty claim.

D. This warranty shall be void if, in Dow’s sole judgment, there is damage to the insulation resulting from improper handling and installation, maintenance, intentional or unintentional misuse, negligence, impact of falling objects, vandalism, earthquake, lightning, hurricane, flood, fire, hailstorm, high wind, tornado, excessive UV exposure, cascading roof/floor water, ponding water, immersion in water, non-diffusion open assemblies,or failure or distortion in the walls or foundation of the building/structure, including settling of the building or movement of framing members.

E. Insulation must be stored prior to installation in accordance with Dow’s recommendations. These instructions are available by calling Dow’s customer service department.

F. Dow does not warrant the compatibility of any other products, whether manufactured by Dow or not, including (but not limited to) any roofing membranes or coatings.

G. Building and/or construction practices unrelated to building materials could greatly affect moisture and the potential for mould formation. No material supplier including Dow can give assurance that mould will not develop in any specific system or product.

INSULATION SAMPLING/TESTING

All sampling shall be conducted in accordance with sampling procedures prescribed by Dow, and samples of the insulation shall only be taken in the presence of an authorized Dow representative. Testing of insulation samples shall be in accordance with ASTM C518, or the then closest Dow-approved effective equivalent thereof. Insulation samples shall be conditioned to equilibrium prior to testing. All sampling and testing costs (including but not limited to costs of insulation covering removal and replacement) shall be at the owner’s sole expense.

CLAIM REQUIREMENTS

All claims must be initiated within 30 calendar days after owner learns, or reasonably should have learned, of the factual basis for the claim, or the claim is waived. All claims must be initiated by Dow’s customer service department.

EXCLUSIONS OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES/LIMITATIONS

THESE WARRANTIES ARE IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER GUARANTEES AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES OTHER THAN THOSE SET FORTH IN THIS WARRANTY.

DOW DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FORANY INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) INCREMENTAL HEATING, COOLING OR SIMILAR COSTS ND ANY OTHER HARM TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY.

This warranty may not be changed or modified except in writing, signed by an authorized representative of Dow.

Remarks:

- Customers can contact Dow Building Solutions Regional Account Managers for claim related questions.

- ASEAN covers Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines,Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. ANZ covers Australia and New Zealand.

Thermal Performance Explained

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000

Thermal Conductivity (Lambda Value)

The rate at which heat is transmitted through a material, measured in watts per square metre of surface area for a temperature gradient of one Kelvin per metre thickness, simplified to W/mK. The lower the value, the better the thermal efficiency of the material.

Thermal Resistance (R Value)

It is measured in m2K/W and is equal to the thickness of the material (in metres) divided by the conductivity of that material. Surfaces and cavities also provide thermal resistance and there are standard figures for these resistances that must be taken into account when calculating U-values. The resistance of each material within an element are added together to determine the overall resistance of the element. The reciprocal of the overall resistance is the U-value. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

Thermal Bridge

A thermal bridge is created when materials that are poor insulators come in contact, allowing heat to flow through the path created. Insulation around a bridge is of little help in preventing heat loss or gain due to thermal bridging: the bridging has to be eliminated, rebuilt with a reduced cross-section or with materials that have better insulating properties, or with an additional insulating component.

Thermal Transmittance (U Value)

Commonly known as the U-Value, it is a measure of the rate of heat loss of a building component. It is expressed as watts per square metre, per degree Kelvin, W/m2K. The U-Value is calculated from the reciprocal of the combined thermal resistance of the materials in the element, air spaces and surfaces, also taken into account is the effect of thermal bridges, air gaps and fixings.

If you would like any further information on thermal performances or require a thermal calculation please give us a call on 1800 051 100 or email.

Cradle to Cradle Certificaton Renewal

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -1000

Dow Building Solutions (USA) insulation products receive Cradle to Cradle® Certification renewal

Rigorous Annual Reassessment Confirms Dow's Ongoing Commitment to Energy Efficient Building and Next Generation Product Development

MIDLAND, Mich. - April 3, 2012 - Building insulation products from Dow Building Solutions have achieved recertification by the Cradle to Cradle® Certification program, a well-known, multi-attribute eco-label that assesses a product's material content, recyclability and manufacturing characteristics.

Originally certified in 2010 and re-certified in 2011, after rigorous analysis in 2012, Styrofoam Brand Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Insulation re-certified at the SILVER level and Thermax Insulation achieved BASIC recertification.

"When evaluating sustainable building materials, Dow advocates taking a holistic approach, and we feel the Cradle to Cradle Certified programme provides a strong indication of a product's comparative value when looking at energy efficient solutions and underscores Dow's commitment to meeting its 2015 Sustainability Goals", said Michael Kontranowski, Strategic Market Director for Dow Building Solutions.

"However, the process of evaluating the sustainability profile of our products does not end with Cradle to Cradle Certification. Because the programme looks at the entire product life cycle - from manufacturing to disposal - we are able to identify key priorities for continuous improvement. At Dow we are committed to constantly improving the environmental profile of our products so that they remain affordable, accessible, sustainable, durable, and easy to use and install for builders, contractors and designers around the world. In the meantime, we are proud to have achieved recertification."

Unlike single-attribute eco-label's, the certification program uses a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the sustainable attributes of a product, as well as the practices employed in manufacturing the product. In cooperation with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, a global sustainability consulting firm, the Cradle to Cradle Certified process evaluates products across five different life cycle categories: material health, material re-utilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship, and social responsibility.

Dow products that are Cradle to Cradle Certified may be eligible to contribute toward points in building certifications, such as the US green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Rating Systems.

At Dow, we strive to offer solutions that insulate, protect and enhance the entire building envelope for maximum energy efficiency and performance to help create a more energy efficient world," said Kontranowski.

Dow Building Solutions has a 60+ year legacy of providing energy saving solutions to the global construction industry, which began with the launch of its flagship Styrofoam, one of the most recognised brands of insulation in the world. Dow Building Solutions offers unsurpassed building science expertise to help builders, designers, architects and home owners reduce energy costs and protect against wind, rain and moisture, while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Dynamic Composite Technologies is the proud distributor
of Dow Styrofoam, Dow Thermax and Dow Tuff-R insulation products in Australia.

Dow Thermax vs. Reflective Insulation and Radiant Barriers

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -1000

Dow Thermax verses Reflective Insulation and Radiant Barriers

The Thermax product line is specifically designed to provide a high R-value Polyisocyanurate foam insulation board that can be exposed to the interior of a building without a thermal barrier. The family of Thermax products represents a complete insulation solution for metal framed buildings. With over 25 years of service, Thermax has a proven track record. As the market leader, Dow not only provides a product line of foam insulation boards but also joint closure systems and accessories. Installation details based on experience and proprietary systems that are in-place with the industry's leading metal building manufacturers.

Thermax addresses all three types of heat flow

There are three types of heat flow:-

Conduction
Convection and
Radiation

Insulation is used to provide resistance to heat flow, which is always from hot to cold, and the measure of that resistance is termed R-Value. The higher the R-Value (resistance to heat flow), the better. Since heat flow can occur in three different ways, all three must be addressed for the insulation to be the most effective.

Thermax addresses conduction

The transfer of heat through an object or from one object in contact with another is referred to as conduction. Metal - to metal contact is an example of conductive heat flow in metal framed buildings. The inert gas trapped in the closed foam cells of the Thermax product provides an excellent resistance to this type of heat transfer. Reflective insulation and radiant barriers are not designed to address this type of heat flow. This is clearly evident in

the comparison of the products' R-Values.

Thermax addresses convection

The transfer of heat between air and an object is referred to as convection. In a metal building in the winter, for example, warm conditioned air can pass through small breaches (ie holes, tears, etc) in some types of insulation and energy will be lost.

Thermax has continuous durable aluminium facings and joint closure systems to prevent convective heat flow. To insure the long-term durability of the facing during cleaning of the building, the complete Thermax product line (except Thermax Sheathing) has pressure wash ratings. Some reflective insulation and radiant barriers are continuous but do not have adequate joint closure systems and most will not stand up to the forces generated by a pressure washer.
Even if a small tear occurs in the facing of the Thermax there is a second line of defence. Closed celled Polyisocyanurate foam acts to resist the flow of air. This is not the case with the thin reflective insulation and radiant barriers that become completely breached as a result of abuse.

Thermax address radiation

The transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves (or alternately, photons) in radiation. The value used to measure the ability of an object to radiate heat is emittance, represented by the Greek letter epsilon (å), ranges from 0 to 1. The opposite of emittance is reflectance. The sum of the emittance and reflectance of an object is one. Shiny (not oxidized) aluminum has an emittance of 0.03 and a reflectance of 0.97, compared to, for example, fibreglass that has an emittance of 0.70. Hence, the high reflectance of shiny aluminum provides an excellent resistance to radiation transfer. For a reflective material to be used as an insulator, the reflective surface must be adjacent to an air space, preferably another highly parallel surface. This air space is referred to as a reflective air space.

Properly designed systems (ie furred masonry walls) with shiny aluminum facings such as Thermax can have high R-values. However, reflective air spaces can be impractical in many construction assemblies and the superior insulating effect can be significantly reduced if the product (less reflective air space) does not have a high R-Value to address conductive and convective heat transfer.

Applying the proper construction detail to take full advantage of low emittance facings in metal buildings include:

The air space must exist - the air space must be engineered into every part of the metal building to insure that no areas will be compromised by a construction detail (ie corners).
A dead air space must exist - the air space must be sealed to prevent any air movement due to convection. this is difficult in metal buildings because of ridge vents, soffits etc.,
The air space must be uniform - this is not difficult with Thermax. On the other hand, it is next to impossible with reflective insulation and radiant barriers because they tend to drape between purlines.
The head flow must be in the direction that the designers intended (eg up, down, horizontal etc). Climatic conditions, changing interior building conditions, roof slope etc., could all potentially have an effect.

With high quality aluminum facers, Thermax can provide R-Values for the reflective air space that are as good as or better than any reflective insulation or radiant barrier on the market. However, since reflective R-Values are difficult to achieve in the real world as just described above, Thermax also provides real R-values.

Thermax has a 15 year thermal warranty. With over 30 years of service Thermax has a proven track record.

Thermax has FDA allowance. The white coating on Thermax White Finish product has FDA allowance. Competitive reflective insulation and radiant barrier products are limited in this allowance.

Thermax has a wide operating temperature range. Thermax has an operating temperature range of -73°C to 121°C. This is compared to a typical bubble pack range of -15°C to 82°C. Metal roofs in summer months normally reach temperatures of around 70°C or greater depending on the colour of the roof. Some dark coloured roofs can reach temperatures above 90°C.

Thermax has enjoyed a long and successful product life, meeting the needs of the metal building industry for over 30 years. Dow is committed to continuing the product line to meet the needs of the industry. Dow has already met environmental needs of the US EPA clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol with new hydrocarbon technology and compliance at Dow plants. The new formulations have been tested and listed with the appropriate code bodies.

If you would like any further information on Dow Thermax please contact our office on 1800 051 100.

How to prevent damaging interstitial condensation forming

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -1000

How to prevent damaging interstitial condensation forming

Most methods for keeping out the wind, rain and snow involve wrapping up the building using water and vapour impermeable products such as foil, perforated foil or reflective bubble type sarking. These products help prevent the water from getting in, however they also prevent the moisture from safely getting out - which can result in damaging condensation forming on cold surfaces within the roof space and wall cavities.

The new era of energy efficient buildings make better use of the roof space and stud frames, accommodating higher levels of bulk insulation and the implementation of air tight building practices. However, failure to consider the correct use of thermal insulation, vapour control layers and breathable membranes at the design stage has revealed a widespread increase of condensation forming inside the layers of the building envelope, particularly in cold and temperate climates and high humidity buildings where there are higher concentrations of water vapour.

Moisture is the number one enemy of most building materials. It only takes a small amount of consistent moisture to cause rot and corrosion of load bearing timbers and ferrous metals. To make matters worse there is a danger that moisture can build up in the insulation causing loss of thermal effectiveness. This can also lead to health problems for the occupants caused by mould springing up and spreading unnoticed within the roof space and walls.

To reduce the risk of condensation forming where it is not wanted, roofing and wall grade breathable membranes are now available in Australia that have a long and proven track record from overseas. A breathable membrane installed on the cold side of the insulation does much the same job as conventional sarking such as keeping rain, snow and dust from getting into the roof and wall cavities, but also lets the vapour escape, allowing the building to breathe.