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August 2012

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have been done incorrectly, resulting in water ingress, and so on," says Rob Harris, technical manager at RCABC. The association publishes a roofing practices manual, which anyone with an Internet connection can access free of charge. At one time, the manual consisted of a big binder that had to be periodically updated with new info sent in annual mail-outs. The RCABC then switched to CDs for members only before settling on the current universal access approach. "It costs less and helps us with promotion and it gets the latest Kalzip metal roof and cladding – Calgary LRT station, courtesy Flynn Canada Ltd. version out to everyone," Harris says. Although the manual was designed as a knowledge attract interest in North America. Kalzip standing repository to help members, it is capable of providing a seam roof systems, available in a range of con iguracomfort zone for general contractors and owners alike tions, are suitable for both warm and cold roof conacross the country, especially if they – or their consul- struction in both new and retro it applications. It can tants – insist on certain quali ications and standards be used on very low-slope roofs – of 1.5 degrees. The Kalzip system was developed in Germany in the for installers and products. "The RCABC roo ing practices manual guarantees that people who use it prop- late 1960s and is designed differently from the traditional standing seam roof systems used in Canada. No erly will provide you with a good roof," Harris says. Noting that guarantee system requires hidden fastener penetrates the outer skin of the roof – in fact, fasteners for metal roofs, Harris says that installers the fasteners don't penetrate any part of the system. are doing more roll-forming of individual roof pan- The clips or fasteners are made of either aluminum els on-site. If each section has a custom dimension, with a thermal barrier or of reinforced polyamide. The this reduces waste and is quicker because panels go clip heads are designed to freely accommodate movement of the external sheet during thermal cycling, straight from the roll-forming machine onto the roof. One of the factors that's expanding market share enabling the use of long sheet lengths where required. for insulated metal panels (IMPs) is the upswing in Reinforced polyamide clips were introduced recently demand for energy-ef icient buildings. "IMPs are gain- to cut thermal bridging. "Kalzip is available in numering market share quickly both for their thermal value ous pro iles, widths and depths, and can be installed and ease of installation. As well as energy ef iciency, in sheets up to 600 feet long. It can be curved in any they also are one of the quickest and easiest paths to direction. All lap details, mitres and curbs are welded LEED and energy code compliance," says Gail Read, in place. It's available in copper, stainless steel and aluminum. About a billion square feet have been installed, marketing manager at Robertson Building Systems. The company's panels consist of two single-skin mostly in Europe. Architects like Norman Foster like metal panels, with a foamed-in-place core, that attach it because of the variety of shapes it allows. Kalzip can to the structure with concealed clips. A continuous make sheets con igured to any shape, even S-shaped air barrier helps prevent cold air from in iltrating the or like a hockey stick," says Stephen Teal, a manager at building in the winter and keeps hot air out in the sum- the Calgary of ice of Flynn Canada Ltd. Unlike conventional systems in North America, mer. "This meets owners' requirements for high therwhich mostly use a simple fold, the Kalzip system mal ef iciency," Read says. On the other ef iciency front – installation speed deploys a circular form that partially envelops the top – she points to a recent project. Robertson IBL panels sections of the E clips. Architects in Canada and the U.S. have taken an with two-inch standing seams were used for a roof in Brandon, Manitoba. In the middle of winter, the crew interest in Kalzip products, Teal says. Recent projinstalled 15,000 square feet of roo ing in four-and-a- ects using Kalzip metal roofs in Calgary, for example, half days. Read says this cut work time by more than include four hockey rinks at Canada Olympic Park and ive light rail transit (LRT) station roofs. two days and saved the associated labour costs. A product line that has been growing in market Bit by bit, in luences like LEED, the lure of energy share in Europe and around the world is starting to and operating cost savings, and the sheer quality of Metal Roofing and Cladding p.20-23 metal roof.indd 23 products like Kalzip, are shifting owners toward the building technologies and systems of the 21st century. Consultants and suppliers, while still having to cater to what are regarded as the conservative tastes of owners, nudge the process of change and adaptation forward. Sometimes this involves new design; at others, a new product line. Firestone has launched a whole new division called Firestone Energy Solutions that provides solar PV products and systems, geared for both conservation and production of energy for the building envelope. The division's arrival is timely. The continent is seeing growing demand for solar PV solutions, says Mike Epstein, the national metal roo ing manager at Firestone Building Products. "Overall, solar PV for all applications increased 110 per cent in the U.S. from 2010 to 2011," he says. Although some issues are not yet resolved, he sees grounds for optimism about the company's new division and focus on solar PV. Grid connectivity remains a concern in some situations and locations, and costs have been a challenge, but these are dropping. He sees thin ilm laminate solar PV technology as a natural it for metal roof systems. "The primary advantage of metal is that you don't have to penetrate the outer skin of the roof with a mechanical fastener. You can use an adhesive. It's easier to hide the wiring within the assembly of the metal roof itself," Epstein says. Roo ing systems and metal wall cladding offer great versatility. More than 20 years ago, Sobotec was the irst to design a rainscreen system, SL-2000, using the metal composite material Alucabond. It is a large manufacturer of modular panel systems, and produces about 2,000,000 square feet annually. "The SL-2000 is the most commonly used system. It's tried and true and proprietary to Sobotec," says Vlad Sobot, president of Sobotec. The system is geared to the high end, he says, and is popular on projects ranging from hospitals to car dealerships to university faculty buildings. Considerations of quality and esthetics have been driving demand for a new product at Behlen Industries LP. The product is a Strukturoc galvanized wall panel with a baked-on base coat on both sides. The outer textured inish, which is factory-applied and oven-cured, is an aggregate combination that produces a stucco inish. At Behlen, the panels are sold as Stucco-Span. "It's become popular of the last year-and-a-half. We sell it as a component to a dealer or as part of a package," says Dwayne Schaus, national sales manager at Behlen. ■ AUGUST 2012 /23 7/13/12 9:57 AM

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