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Sandwich Panels Ready To Take Bite Out of Structural Market
Use of structural insulated panels is spreading fast with the increasing awareness of these energy saving building components. Some even forecast they will eliminate framing crews.
Also called foam core, stress skin or sandwich panels, structural insulated panels have an expanded polystyrene core pressure bonded between skins of plywood or oriented strand board.
They provide incredible strength, cost saving installation and, best of all, excellent insulation, reducing heating and cooling costs. The foam core acts like an ice chest, virtually eliminating air and moisture infiltration. Panels range from 4' x 8' up to 8'x 28'.
While sandwich panels were first introduced in the I 920s, they weren't used in quantity until about World War II, when they were especially useful in the aircraft industry. Mobile homes became a primary user and, by the 1980s, they were being used for walls, floors, roofs and ceilings in residential and commercial buildings.
While the push is on to get retailers to stock 4 x 8's, panels are currently sold direct from the distributors. To promote the products, a Structural Insulated Panel Associ- ation was formed last year. It now has 35 members.
Manufacturers admit public acceptance will be gradual. "The old ways die hard," explains Stan Dimmick, president of Korwall Industries. "The building industry has used 2 x 4's and 2 x 6's for many years. The building officials also are very wary of anything new or different. Trade unions are very skeptical of anything they don't control. The sandwich type construction does away with a framing crew altogether."
Heated Gompetition ln Roofing
U.S. demand for roofing products is forecast to climb 2.60/o over the next five years to 221 million squares. In value, the market will expand less than 5% per year to $9.7 billion, as price competition within roofing product categories and between different materials continues to restrain dollar gains, predicted a Freedonia Group study.
Single-ply membrane-based elastomeric and modified bitumen roofing products will rise steadily, at the expense of built-up roofing, which is being disproportionately affected by the decline in new office building.
Though the largest category, asphalt shingles, and asphalt roll roofing will hold their own, they will experience competition from roof tile, with the advent of less expen- sive tiles. Cedar shingle and shake use will decline.
Metal roofing will record above average gains despite increasing competition from corrugated plastic roofing.
NAWLA Management Institute
The second Executive Management Institute for lumber wholesalers will be offered by North American Wholesale Lumber Association in conjunction with the University of Virginia, Mclntire School of Commerce, Jan. 5-10 on the Charlottesville, Va., campus.
Topics will include upper level management skills, financial analysis, marketing strategies and internal strategic planning.
