Readers’ Choice Awards for 2014

by Jonathan McGaha | April 1, 2014 12:00 am

By Administrator

Welcome to the Metal Architecture Readers’ Choice Award for 2014. Between January and December 2013, our readers sought out more information about hundreds of projects, looking at products and projects featured in the magazine. We measured their interest by the number of leads they generated for each mention and then ranked them. The top 20 products received the most leads for products featured in the editorial content of the magazine.

This is the first year that we’ve identified the top products, and the results were not really surprising. For the most part, architects are trying to grapple with improving building performance, especially on the energy side, and they focused on products that would do that and give them design flexibility. That’s not to say architects are acting solely like engineers, though. Much of their interest went to design ideas, looking for that clever improvement that can help them differentiate and give their clients the exciting environment they want.

Please take a look at the 20 selections for Metal Architecture’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2014.

	1. Englert Inc. Solar Sandwich January 2013 The Englert Solar Sandwich combines the beauty and durability of a standing seam metal roof system with the latest technological advances in solar thermal heating and electrical generation to reduce a home’s energy bill by 20 to 80 percent. www.englertinc.com[1]
	2. Icynene Classic Max January 2013 Icynene Classic Max is an open cell spray foam insulation. This product also provides superior spray performance (up to 50 percent greater yield than competitive sucrosebased formulas), superior adhesion (to substrates and to itself), drip-free application and advanced air pocket control. ICC-ES approval (ESR 1826) confirms that Icynene Classic Max can be sprayed throughout the entire residential structure without an ignition barrier, including unvented attics. www.icynene.com[2]
	3. Sol-Ice Building Integrated Solutions SubSolarThermal System January 2013 The SubSolarThermal system installs under roofing/siding and uses the sun’s energy to heat domestic hot water, swimming pools and buildings. Using night sky radiation, SubSolarThermal can cool buildings without AC. In addition, Sol- Ice has a retrofitting product called ProRetroSolar. www.sol-ice.com[3]
	4. MBCI Photovoltaic Solution January 2013 MBCI premier photovoltaic (PV) solution is glass-based crystalline silicon. The crystalline solution is a rigid module that can be installed on one of MBCI’s standing seam metal roofs using a non-penetrating clamp assembly. This option provides the highest energy conversion efficiency at 13 to 18 percent, which is about 10 watts per square foot. www.mbci.com[4]
	5. Armstrong Serpentina Waves Metal Ceiling System November 2013 Armstrong introduces Serpentina Waves corrugated metal ceiling system. The new corrugated panels bring this popular, industrial look to ceilings in the form of a curved metal cloud with a wave or ripple profile. An ideal way to accent an area, especially in exposed structure or open plenum spaces, the corrugated metal ceiling system imparts a clean, sleek custom look even though it is created with standard ready-to-assemble components. www.armstrong.com[5]
	6. RHEINZINK America Inc. RHEINZINK Gutter System November 2013 The design and extensive assortment of components and accessories make the RHEINZINK Gutter System adaptable to virtually any roof configuration. Half-round or box-shaped gutters, RHEINZINK manufactures more than 300 parts and accessories. All gutter components are fabricated in RHEINZINK and are available in prePATINA blue-grey and prePATINA graphite-grey finishes. www.rheinzink.us[6]
	7. Metl-Span LS-36 Insulated Metal Panel January 2013 Metl-Span has introduced its versatile new LS-36 insulated metal panel for both roof and wall applications. The LS-36 panel utilizes a through-fastened joint for quick installation and offers a multitude of design options. www.metlspan.com[7]
	8. Airolite Sun Control Products June 2013 Airolite introduces a new line of standard sun control products that includes a versatile mix of the most widely used blade designs. The nine new models include airfoil blades, fan blades, rectangular tube blades and a louver zee blade. Airolite’s sun controls filter up to 80 percent of the sun’s heat and glare, cut wintertime radiant heat loss and integrate natural light into atriums, walkways, skylights, reception areas and work spaces. www.airolite.com[8]
	9. CENTRIA Coating Services LumaTread October 2013 LumaTread, manufactured by CENTRIA Coating Services, is a lightweight, economical and flexible treadplate embossed metal. LumaTread is easily customized for everything from architectural accents to truck trailers. Available in Brite and Color, LumaTread comes in a variety of gauges, widths and substrates. www.rollwithcentria.com[9]
	10. Firestone Building Products Co. V-Force Vapor Barrier Membrane January 2013 Firestone V-Force Vapor Barrier Membrane doubles as a reliable vapor barrier and self-adhered temporary roof. Providing a puncture-resistant surface that withstands roof traffic, V-Force provides weatherproofing for new construction or re-roof projects. With a non-slip, UV-resistant surface, V-Force can be exposed to the elements for up to three months. www.firestonebpco.com[10]
	11. GAF Energy Guard Cover Boards July 2013 GAF is now producing high-density polyisocyanurate (ISO) cover boards, which can be used as a protective layer over boardstock insulation or as a recover over an existing roofing system. GAF offers two versions: HD with over 80 psi and HD PLUS with over 110 psi compressive strength and a durable, coated glass facer. Each of these boards is an ideal choice for protecting your roof from the elements and rooftop traffic. www.gaf.com[11]
	12. IMETCO SYNTHEON ACCEL-E May 2013 IMETCO announces that it will offer SYNTHEON ACCEL-E panels with IMETCO’s line of metal cladding and rainscreen products to provide a fully integrated stud-to-cladding wall assembly under a single-source warranty. The ACCEL-E Steel Thermal Efficient wall panel, manufactured by SYNTHEON Inc., is a fully integrated system that combines framing and insulation into one easy step. www.imetco.com[12]
	13. Metal Sales Vertical Seams Standing Seam Metal Roof Panels April 2013 The Keith residence in Elizabethtown, Ky., features 110 squares of Louisville, Ky.- based Metal Sales Manufacturing Corp.’s 24-gauge, 16-inch-wide Vertical Seam panels with a Kynar 500 PVDF finish in Dark Bronze. “This residential reroof project went very well thanks to Metal Sales’ assistance,” says Mark Nett, CEO/owner of Nett Construction LLC, Elizabethtown, who served as installer and specifier for the project. “You always encounter unexpected challenges on a project, and whenever we did with the Elizabethtown home, we called on our local Metal Sales representative. [Metal Sales] offered us advice, provided their expertise and worked through challenges with us every step of the way.” www.metalsales.us.com[13]
	14. EXTECH/Exterior Technologies Inc. Hybrid Wall /Skylight System July 2013 EXTECH/Exterior Technologies Inc. has been awarded a patent for the design of its Hybrid (Green) Wall/Skylight System. This light transmitting skylight system is composed of a glass outer layer, followed by an air space and a second layer of cellular polycarbonate. The combination results in an insulating value nearly twice that of conventional insulated glass systems. It provides diffused daylighting for energy savings. Further savings can be achieved through optional photovoltaic panels in the outer layer. www.extechinc.com[14]
	15. Spiral Stairs of America Custom Spiral Stairs June 2013 Spiral Stairs of America, Erie, Pa., provided a custom spiral stair for the Rechler Equity Office Building in Plainview, N.Y., a LEED certified building that was completed in December 2011 and sits along the Long Island Expressway. The curved steel staircase leads up to the second floor common area/kitchen space. Accenting the stairs are ornamental stair treads created out of clear anodized aluminum swaged floor grating from Ohio Gratings Inc., Canton, Ohio. www.spiralstairsofamerica.com[15]
	16. Thermasteel RP Ltd. Structural Insulated Panel June 2013 The Rechler Equity Office Building in Plainview, N.Y., required 7,200 square feet of structural insulated metal panels by Thermasteel Corp., Radford, Va., which are located behind the metal panels and act as an insulation barrier. SIPs are used in lieu of the combination of traditional cold-formed metal framing (exterior metal studs) and insulation as the combination of the two products provided cost savings in terms of time and labor. The use of the SIPs allowed the architects to add more glass to create a stronger daylighting component to the entryway. www.thermasteelcorp.com[16]
	17. Kawner Co. Inc. 1600UT Curtainwall System May 2013 Delivering high thermal performance, versatility, reliability and value, Kawneer introduced its 1600UT (Ultra Thermal) curtainwall system. The system is stick-fabricated, pressure glazed, ideal for low- to mid-rise commercial applications, and proactively addresses International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1, 189.1 and state requirements with double- and triple-glazed configurations. www.kawneer.com[17]
	18. MFM Building Products WindowWrap PowerBond May 2013 MFM Building Products offers low temperature window flashing tape. WindowWrap PowerBond is a self-adhering, self-sealing waterproofing tape that is composed of a silver polymer film coated with an aggressive PowerBond asphalt adhesive. It adheres in temperatures as low as 25 F. The product offers a 180-day UV exposure rating. WindowWrap PowerBond is designed to be used as a waterproof tape around windows, doors, building seams and in general construction. The PowerBond adhesive self-seals around common fasteners and protects from water, air, insect and noise penetration. www.mfmbp.com[18]
	19. Petersen Aluminum Corp. SNAP-CLAD Panels May 2013 Petersen Aluminum Corp.’s SNAPCLAD Panels feature architectural panel aesthetics as well as structural panel performance. Produced in continuous lengths, SNAP-CLAD is corrective leveled to provide superior flatness. These panels feature a 1 3/4-inch leg height and continuous interlock for improved structural performance and wind resistance. A concealed fastener clip system allows for thermal expansion/contraction while providing extraordinary hold-down strength. www.pac-clad.com[19]
	20. S-5! PV Kit January 2013 The S-5! PV Kit provides an easy, cost-effective way to install solar panels directly to standing seam metal roofs. Its mounting disk is ETL-1703 and UL- 2703 listed for module-to module conductivity, eliminating the need for inter-module copper wires and lug bonding, often saving enough to pay for the entire S-5! mounting system. www.s-5.com[20]