Pinnacleceilings.com

ASHRAE 90.1 2010 & IECC 2012 REQUIRE BUILDINGS TO BE 30% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT

Joseph — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:10:59 +0000

ASHRAE and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) are the major design standards for new and retrofit buildings in the United States. Both standards have upgraded their model building energy codes. For ASHRAE, those new standards took effect in October, 2010, while the IECC codes will be published sometime this year. The new standard is for buildings to be 30% more energy efficient than they were based on the previous standard. How does the new standard achieve this? There are several combined strategies but the focus for Pinnacle and LW Supply customers is to raise the building system R-value (or lowering the U-value) of exterior walls. The new version uses climatic zones to prescribe building envelope requirements. While the national standard defines 8 climate zones, California defines 16. Each of these zones define the prescriptive or performance requirements for structures built in the zones. The prescriptive method is the easiest way to achieve compliance for standard buildings while performance based methods are better for non-standard designs. The new standards as it relates to you, our customers, means that minimum mass wall R-values have increased plus there’s the addition of continuous air barrier requirements (higher insulation, lower infiltration). Improving U-values by keeping Window-to-Wall ratios to 30% and by increasing the R-value of exterior walls using continuous insulation, heat loss/gain is reduced by 40% which means less energy consumption, more energy efficiency. Dryvit’s Outsulation EIFS is a proven system with years of significant experience in various applications to make seamless the shift to these new energy code requirements. For more information, please email us.

Hunter Douglas Gladius = Accessibility + Perfect Alignment (Time after Time)

Joseph — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 22:10:42 +0000

Hunter Douglas’ latest innovation, Gladius, is a self-centering 2′x2′ panel incorporating built-in spring clips that enables the installer to slide one edge of the panel into a standard 15/16″ T-bar and push up on the opposite edge to snap it into position. To remove, push the panel on one edge until it disengages the gird. These self-aligning panels provide a consistent 1/4″ reveal in the ceiling plane (no “stepping” back-and-forth as can happen with kerf-type panels). This aluminum product has a minimum 70% recycled content and can achieve up to a 0.90 NRC when perforated. They can be used interior or exterior and have multiple finish options.

Sculpt your client’s message onto their ceiling or wall with USG’s Pixels.

Joseph — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:30:08 +0000

USG’s Pixels utilizes a two-dimensional pixilated perforation process to sculpt nearly any image, logo or graphic onto their aluminum Celebration or Panz panel products. The image can be on a panel as small as 2′x2′ or it can be spread over a sequence of larger 2′x6′ panels to fill a wall, ceiling or corridor. The spacing of various sized punched perforations creates the two-dimensional image and is ideal to convey corporate identies, themes or even wayfinding means. The product can be backlit to enhance the pixilated images or to create unique shadows on walls. It contains up to 90% recycled content and can provide a 0.70 NRC value.

Extreme Impact Resistant Sound Absorbent Wall Panels

Joseph — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:57:31 +0000

Wall Technology has introduced a new acoustical wall panel called ARBORTECH™. These wall panels are specifically designed for use in areas requiring sound absorption + high impact resistance. Made from 100% recycled wood fiber, they can have NRC values up 0.85. The face of the wood fiber core consists of 1/8” 6-7 pcf fiberglass and the panel can be wrapped with a variety of fabrics including vinyl. This product is also tackable. This product is great for school corridors, gymnasiums, theaters or wherever sound absorption and high impact resistance is required.

Michelangelo on ACT & Polycarbonate Ceiling Tiles?

Joseph — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:24:51 +0000

Pinnacle has partnered with Ceiling Scenes, maker of acoustical ceiling and polycarbonate tile and wall cladding murals. Ceiling Scenes uses a proprietary printing process that can reproduce an image 30 times larger than the highest quality single photograph available without a degradation of the image. These products are an easy, cost-effective way to dramatically improve the aesthetics of any space. Install in standard T-Bar suspension systems or wall mounted. Standard sizes are 24”x24” and 24”x48”. In a hospital or clinic, murals can help patients relax while increasing their overall mood and comfort. Whatever the environment, it becomes more interesting and amiable, promoting a positive behavioral response. Images range from National Geographic photographs, tropical beaches, sky scenes, animals and many others. There’s also a “Where’s Waldo®?” collection.

Governor Schwarzenegger Announces First-in-the-Nation Statewide Green Building Standards Code

Joseph — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:51:11 +0000

California Building Standards Commission unanimously adopted the first-in-the-nation mandatory Green Building Standards Code (CALGREEN) requiring all new buildings in the state to be more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. Taking effect on January 1, 2011, these comprehensive regulations will achieve major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and water use.

CALGREEN will require that every new building constructed in California reduce water consumption by 20 percent, divert 50 percent of construction waste from landfills and install low pollutant-emitting materials. It requires mandatory inspections of energy systems (e.g., heat furnace, air conditioner and mechanical equipment) for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 square feet to ensure that all are working at their maximum capacity and according to their design efficiencies. The California Air Resources Board estimates that the mandatory provisions will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 equivalent) by 3 million metric tons equivalent in 2020.

Upon passing state building inspection, property owners will have the ability to label their facilities as CALGREEN compliant without using additional costly third-party certification programs.

In addition to the mandatory regulations, CALGREEN also includes more stringent voluntary provisions to encourage local communities to take further action to green their buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and conserve our natural resources.

The mandatory CALGREEN provisions will be inspected and verified by local and state building departments. CALGREEN will use the long-standing enforcement infrastructure that the state has to enforce its health, safety, fire, energy and structural building codes. Many of the mandatory provisions in the code are already part of the statewide building code, making verification of CALGREEN an easy transition for local building inspectors.

Translucents™ New Luminous Ceiling Panels Merge Nature & Light

Joseph — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:59:00 +0000

USG has added elegant new colors, patterns and finishes to their Translucents™ line of luminous ceiling panels and now come in sizes up to 24” x 72”. The panels encapsulate fabrics, industrial textures, and unique leaf elements found in nature. These panels can be used as infill panels in all standard T-bar grids, the Curvatura™ undulating ceiling system, or the Gridware™ suspension system. Panels are recyclable and the PETG panels contain a minimum 40% recycled content. These panels create a unique visual impact in retail, hospitality, office, education and entertainment environments.

Unigrille Open Cell Metal Ceiling Masks Plenum Spaces

Joseph — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:44:57 +0000

Hunter Douglas’s Luxalon line of metal ceilings has introduced a new product in its Open Cell category. Unigrille™ is made of aluminum strips assembled to form square or rectangular cells with dimension and height depending on application. These panels contain 70% to 95% recycled content and can mask the ceiling plenum or allow for an indirect diffusion of natural or artificial light.

Hunter Douglas’ Techstyle E Gets Greenguard Certification

Joseph — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:39:45 +0000

Hunter Douglas’ new Techstyle® “E” acoustical ceiling panels offers a new superior aesthetic, improved soiling resistance and noise reduction (NRC = 0.85). These panels are the only large format panels attaining the Greenguard® certification for emission requirements for Children & Schools. This Indoor Air Quality attribute is achieved through a mineral coated composite face and core. Techstyle E panels are an ideal fit for commercial offices, hospitals, public/government buildings, libraries and conference centers. The panels come in a wide choice of colors and finishes. Custom color matching is available upon request. The panels come in standard ceiling panel sizes and have a range of dimensions that go up to 96”.

Recycling ACT & Steel/Aluminum Grid

admin — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:46:24 +0000

Pinnacle’s Acoustical Ceiling Tile Recycling Program utilizes USG’s program. The main difference is that we’re able to deliver pallets to the jobsite and we do not require a minimum truckload quantity. Call us for details. Additionally, Pinnacle will accept steel or aluminum grid. Our program may help you achieve a LEED credit on your current or next project.