PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwire - November 2, 2010) - SYNTHEON INC., a premier building science company specializing in high-efficiency building envelope systems, has announced a new, heavy-gauge upgrade of its highly successful accel-E® Steel Thermal Efficient Panel (S.T.E.P.) wall system. The new panel was designed specifically for the commercial construction market, where the S.T.E.P. system has already proven very popular among building owners, architects and contractors.
"Commercial building designers and contractors have enthusiastically embraced our original accel-E® S.T.E.P. system," said Jeff Peskowitz, director of marketing for SYNTHEON, the company that manufactures the system. "This new, heavy-gauge upgrade enables us to further meet their needs by offering them an additional wall system option for their most demanding projects."
The accel-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 the new panel, the steel framing members are upgraded to heavy 16-gauge steel.
"This important option adds even more advantages to the innovative wall system in commercial installations," said Peskowitz, noting that the new panel is offered in an 8-inch thickness. The company also continues to offer its original accel-E® S.T.E.P. panel system, as well, in both 5½-inch and 8-inch thicknesses. The 4-foot wide panels can be manufactured to virtually any height, limited only by transportation considerations.
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, helping to reduce energy costs for heating and cooling while meeting the new, more stringent, energy code requirements.
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.
"These sustainability features make the accel-E® system an important and proven component of 'green building' approaches," Peskowitz noted. The accel-E® system is GREENGUARD® Indoor Air Quality Certified and a LEED® point contributor.
In addition, the S.T.E.P. system also reduces construction time by combining framing, cavity insulation, and continuous rigid foam insulation into a single installation process. Window and door openings are pre-cut, with pre-punched knockouts that simplify electrical and plumbing installation. As a result, construction cycle time can be shortened by as much as 66 percent, and associated labor costs can be cut by more than half when compared to traditional wall assemblies.
The accel-E® system fully complies with both the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC). The system's effective R-Value and U-Factor exceed ASHRAE 90.1 2007 and IECC 2009 Energy Code requirements for cavity plus continuous insulation in steel stud wall assemblies for all climate zones. For more information, please visit www.accel-E.com.
About SYNTHEON Inc.
SYNTHEON Inc. is a building science company specializing in high-efficiency building envelope systems with advanced component fabrication. SYNTHEON's systemized solutions capitalize on the latest technologies in the marketplace -- creating environmentally and economically sound structures. SYNTHEON's global business is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with affiliates and joint venture partners throughout the world, including the U.S., Mexico, Chile and India. For more information, please visit www.syntheoninc.com.
accel-E is a registered trademark of ACCELERATED Building Technologies, LLC, a SYNTHEON Inc. company. SYNTHEON logo is a trademark of SYNTHEON Inc.
SYNTHEON Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NOVA Chemicals, Inc.
LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Source: 2005 Building Energy Efficiency Standard, California Energy Commission based on ASHRAE 90.1. STEP tested by Intertek. Wall A--24"oc wood frame R-19 batt OSB sheathing. Wall B--24"oc steel frame R-19 batt plus 1" XPS. Tested in a controlled environment. Actual R-Values may vary slightly.
Documents and/or Photos available for this release:
accel-E STEP wall system
To view supporting documents and/or photos, go to www.enr-corp.com/pressroom and enter Release ID: 276313