MCA releases three white papers
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The Metal Construction Association has published three white papers on its website, metalconstruction.org. The white papers address important design and safety aspects of metal construction, including metal roofing, metal walls and metal fasteners.
“Best Practices: Metal Building Sealant Types and Application Guidelines” is a new white paper containing information about the most common sealant types used in metal roofing and best practice guidelines for each. The benefits and limitations of the sealants are discussed, enabling building professionals to make informed decisions and recommendations regarding the correct product for a specific application.
“Is My Exterior Wall Material Truly Noncombustible?” clarifies safety standards in the International Building Code® regarding metal walls and ASTM E136, “Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C,” the test for material combustibility. The new white paper explains which products or materials will burn, what criteria causes a product or its assembly to be deemed noncombustible, and cladding flame spread performance.
“Fastener Compatibility with Profiled Metal Roof and Wall Panels” is an updated white paper outlining the differences among primary and secondary fasteners and the importance of fasteners in securing components to a structure. A Recommended Fastener Guide is included to clarify the selection of fasteners used with metal roofing and wall panels, and fastener durability, compatibility and load resistance also are explored.
The white papers can be downloaded for free at metalconstruction.org/tech-resources.
GCP Applied Technologies launches online design tool
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GCP Applied Technologies, Cambridge, Mass., has made available its MONOKOTE® UL Fireproofing Design Selector to streamline the selection of optimal UL fireproofing designs for MONOKOTE Fireproofing products used in specific construction project conditions. MONOKOTE fireproofing material is used for commercial buildings, as well as tunnels and oil and gas facilities.
MONOKOTE UL Fireproofing Design Selector is an online tool intended to help contractors, architects, specifiers and structural engineers accurately and efficiently determine the best GCP Applied Technologies fire-resistant UL designs—those with the lowest thickness that meet a project’s needs. The tool is intended for use in the U.S. and other countries that use the International Building Code.®
The tool guides users through a series of questions to determine the proper UL designs. Users can receive fireproofing information for a specific section of a structure or a complete project, including floors, columns and the roof system.
The MONOKOTE Fireproofing UL Design Selector is available at gcpat.com/en/solutions/products/monokote-fireproofing.
Solar panel construction declines amid COVID-19 crisis
A recently published article by international market research source researchandmarkets.com reports the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in the construction of fewer new solar panels, wind farms and other facilities to produce renewable energy, according to solarindustrymag.com.
The decline is caused by a slowdown in construction activity, supply chain disruptions and lockdown measures. Growth, resulting from completion of postponed projects and continued government support, is expected to resume in 2021. Despite the disruption to planned projects, the researchandmarkets.com article predicts 167 gigawatts of renewable power capacity will be added globally in 2020.
Analysts predict a partial recovery in 2021 as renewable energy installations are forecast to rebound to 2019 levels. However, combined growth for 2020 and 2021 is expected to be 10% lower than was forecast before the COVID-19 outbreak. The sharp decline in oil and gas prices also could affect the demand for renewable energy heating. Consumers experiencing the economic effects of COVID-19 may take advantage of reduced prices and delay switching from fossil fuel heating to renewable alternatives.
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