Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1526133
Speedwall factory-assembled exterior wall system installation. D-Max wall assembly. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | 29 Building Enclosure Systems P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y T H E F LY N N G RO U P O F CO M PA N I E S; H U N T S M A N B U I L D I N G S O LU T I O N S The Flynn Group of Companies appreciates that the sheer number of interfaces between window and wall components in traditional building envelope construction, coupled with their installation and quality control in the construction site environment (often by multiple trades), leave the final product chal- lenged to meet the latest regulatory codes. Also, while previous energy codes evaluated the system efficiency of building envelope components in isolation, emerging requirements take comprehensive thermal bridg- ing calculations into account. Therefore, Flynn's approach to helping building owners achieve thermal performance is its Speedwall product, a factory-assembled exterior wall system whose modules lock together and deliver quality and performance levels far beyond what is possible with on-site construction. Built on an aluminum chassis based on Flynn's 6450 unitized cur- tain wall system, Speedwall modules are completely self-framed, sealed, and insulated in Flynn's manufacturing facility, with all windows, doors, and exterior cladding pre-installed. The brand has many practical advantages in addition to delivering net-zero energy performance standards: it integrates seamlessly with Flynn 6450 HP Curtain Wall where full-height glass is desired; it is suitable for steel, concrete, and mass timber construction; and limitless colours and finishes can be chosen to meet design intent. Another approach to envelope design is offered by Greenstone Building Products of Richmond, B.C., which manufactures the Insulated Composite Envelope (ICE), an engineered combination of expanded polystyrene and gal- vanized steel. This combination results in a much lighter and stronger building envelope, with the panels providing substantial transverse and compression bearing capacities. The unique manufacturing process and connection details eliminate thermal bridging, allowing Greenstone to market the system as one of the most efficient envelopes available. The envelope/building enclosure sector has seen its fair share of innovation in 2024, none more notable than the reinvention of the envelope from Mitrex. The company's range of architectural solar products are intended to seamlessly replace building facades while harnessing the sun's power, thanks to a robust aluminum honeycomb core and a layer of high-efficiency solar cells. Customizable facing makes these facades desirable for a wide variety of applications. Mitrex offers rain screen systems, ready-for unitized stick or built cladding, prefabricated wall systems, ready-for window wall installation, slab-to-slab con- nections comparable to precast concrete systems, and insulated wall panels. All of the systems are solar, and all are made in Canada. Projects that have relied on Mitrex technology include the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, which features a BIPV façade covering about 63,0000 square feet and whose solar power generation fulfills a portion of the facility's energy needs. In the realm of insulating foams and admixtures, Huntsman Building Solutions continues to rack up achievements for its polyurethane spray foams that outlast and outperform fibreglass as well as cut energy costs. "We recently received new Radon Protection System certification ULC ER-40477-02 for our Heatlok Soya HP, in addition to our radon diffusion results in accordance with ISO/TS 1665-13," says Huntsman's chief strategy officer Doug Brady. "This is in addition to CAN/UL S101 compliance for Heatlok Soya HP in both the X-Wall and D-Max wall systems for high-rise buildings, and new CAN/ULC S134 compli- ance for the D-Max Wall." The D-Max wall is a new type of assembly that allows the installation of spray foam insulation from the interior of the building, while managing the thermal bridging of the studs and the structure. The X-Wall system provides everything needed to ensure a solid and tightly sealed building envelope. With these wall assemblies, Huntsman Building Solutions provides the highest quality products and accessories, custom design assistance, engineering support, and approved installer network. As for Heatlok Soya HP, this product leverages Honeywell's latest Solstice hydrofluoro-olefin liquid blowing agent that has a zero Ozone Depletion Potential and a Global Warming Potential of 1. It has the best R-value of any HFO insulation product currently on the market, with a LTTR value at 50-millimetres of 2.06 RSI (R 11.68), and is an effective solution for both residential and com- mercial applications.