Built to hang tough. As green as it gets.GreenGlass gets high marks for both performance and high recycled content. Which is a very good thing considering the project… the Early Childhood Research Center for Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. The new 120,000-squarefoot facility brings under one roof the nationally accredited Early Childhood Laboratory, “exemplary”-rated University Charter School and award-winning Department of Elementary Education. SFA is the only university in the state of Texas operating both an early childhood laboratory and a charter school in conjunction with educator preparation programs with a proven track record of success.
“We were committed to building a facility that would do justice to the important work that would be going on at the research center,” explains Jim Kingham, President and CEO of J.E. Kingham Construction. “It was important to us that the materials deliver strong performance properties…and, if possible, environmental benefits. So, when we were introduced to GreenGlass gypsum sheathing and learned that it offered the mold and moisture protection of glass-mat facers, had the desired stiffness and had a higher recycled content than alternative fiberglass products, we decided to give it a test run,” says Kingham.
GreenGlass is produced with the TemShield® Mold Protection System engineered into its gypsum core and is faced on both sides with naturally mold-resistant fiberglass mats. It scored a 10, the highest value possible, when tested in accordance with ASTM D3273, the standard test for mold resistance. It also has a high recycled content level (of at least 90%) that set a whole new industry standard.
“The folks at Temple-Inland supplied us some of the GreenGlass material,” explains Kingham. “We did a bit of testing and found that GreenGlass performed as promised and required no change in our installation or construction process, no modification to wall assemblies – but would give us a big boost in environmental value. Plus, we were able to use the same fasteners, same building wrap and same exterior veneer,” says Kingham. “We were sold…but little did we know the biggest test was yet to come.”
Developed for use in commercial and residential applications under a broad range of exterior veneers including brick, stone, metal, wood and vinyl as well as EIFS and curtainwall systems, GreenGlass also adds structural strength, fire resistance and a warranty for up to 12 months of exposure in normal weather conditions. GreenGlass 5⁄8" Type X panels have been tested in accordance with ASTM E119 and therefore may provide a fire-resistance rating of one or more hours depending upon the assembly in which it is applied. GreenGlass products have U.L. approval for use in over 140 fire-rated assemblies, providing more design flexibility.
“We had the sheathing installation about 75% complete when Hurricane Ike blew through the SFA campus,” says Kingham. “But not the commercial wrap. The campus lost a considerable amount of trees due to very high winds and heavy rain – and the construction crew was worried about what they would find at the building site once the storm passed. Amazingly, we only lost one piece of sheathing that was left extended past a corner and got caught in the wind,” exclaims Kingham. “GreenGlass was extremely moisture resistant and held up great, saving us substantial rework and cost.”
Kingham went on to conclude, “The product arrived on time, installation went smoothly and the product has certainly performed very well…even against hurricane Ike. I expect to see the GreenGlass product line used in a variety of our projects down the road.”