Masonry Magazine February 2007 Page. 53
Environmental Design (LEED) rating. In addition, masonry products often are harvested, manufactured and used locally, minimizing the consumption of fossil fuels and vehicle pollution incurred with long-distance freight transport. These characteristics, along with brick's energy-efficiency, inert properties, mini-
ing that clay brick cladding provides superior defense against wind-blown debris when compared to other siding materials. In the tests, engineers fired a 7-1/2-foot-long, nine-pound 2 x 4 at a brick veneer wall at 34 mph. It bounced off the brick, causing no damage to the interior wall. A 2 x 4 fired at the same speed penetrated a vinyl or fiber-cement sided wall by more than five feet, piercing the interior wall. The test was representative of weather that would generate wind speeds between 100 and 140 mph. In addition to brick's proven defense against wind-blown debris, it is better equipped to shield against ensuing water damage that often is part of such extreme weather events.
Since 2000, the U.S. insurance industry has paid out more than $39 billion to cover damage caused by hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters. This figure represents more than 50 percent of the combined payouts for all catastrophic events in the preceding 30 years. The 2005 hurricane season in particular prompted more commercial and residential homeowners to reevaluate the materials they use for construction.
The eco-friendly attributes of brick are well suited for parameters that are important to national, green-minded organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This group offers a rating system - a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable structures, otherwise known as a Leadership in Energy and Envi-
LESS EFFORT. MORE PROFIT.
If your project calls for foam board insulation, consider the superior insulating performance of Polymaster R-501® Block Fill Foam.
• Handle more jobs with less manpower. Get just what you need when you need it.
• Our certified installers work around your schedule to be on-site when you're ready.
• R-501 Foamed-In-Place Insulation is always immediately available through our national network of certified installers.
• You lay the block, we insulate it. Less labor for you means higher profit margins.
• Completely biodegradable, with no CFC's or ozone-depleting off-gassing. It's environmentally clean!
For a certified installer in your area, call us at 1 (800) 580-3626, or visit www.polymaster.com.
The Voice of the Masonry Industry