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Prodema ProdEx Panels in Rustik in use at the Germain Tower, Calgary, AB. AUGUST 2016 | 19 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY SOUND SOLUTIONS EXCEL is another of the company's structural and insulating sheathing boards. "The system already has the air barrier membrane on the outside, so it saves a step and allows you to do detailing more easily. Interest is switching to finished materials partly as a result of code changes. EXCEL has no VOCs and is very safe, and is being sold as an upgrade over OSB. EXCEL's binding agent isn't glue, but a starch," Belley says. When it comes to dual purpose products, the quest for both better quality materials and superior esthet- ics probably has a role in driving interest in some newer variations of ancient technologies and mate- rials. "Finally, after many years, we're starting to see growing interest in extruded terracotta," says Andrew Rogers, president of Sound Solutions. Today, terracotta is often found in the form of extruded hollowcore tile that is hand-set into a building as rainscreen or rear-ventilated facade. "All of our prod- ucts – NBK, Prodema, or Fibre-C – are for rear-ventilated facade or rainscreen. We've been doing this for years. Everyone is familiar with the application," Rogers says. But now a Canadian first is being achieved with a terracotta-clad condo tower at 592 Sherbourne Street in Toronto. Its facade will feature extruded solid terra- cotta tile incorporated into a precast concrete panel. "This new job means that the precaster lays the terra- cotta at the bottom of the mould and pours the concrete onto the back of the terracotta. Both are old technolo- gies. Now, we're marrying the two. It's a first for Sound Solutions, for NBK, and for Canada," Rogers says. Building Envelope Beautiful. Durable. Lightweight. (Yes, we're talking about precast.) Proud member of: Available in Canada exclusively from Armtec Call 204-338-9311 or visit: wwww.armtec.com/arcis Armtec.indd 1 16-05-13 10:16 AM

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