SIKA SUPPLY CHAIN AND COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT
RE: SIKA HEALTH, SAFETY AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY (COVID-19)
April 24, 2020
Dear Valued Customer: The health and safety of our employees, customers, and of their families are of the upmost importance to Sika. Since the development of COVID-19 in the United States, Sika Corporation has taken several measures for the continued good well-being and that our business remains operational to supply and service our customers in these unprecedented times.
All employees not working in a production or supply related function continue to work from home. Our production and shipping operations are working safely and diligently to keep our customers and critical infrastructure projects supplied with our products nationwide. This has been accomplished through the dedication and resilience of our people.
All Sika facilities, at a minimum, continue to follow the health and safety guidelines of the CDC as well as all state and local government officials. Practicing social distancing, wearing appropriate PPE, enhanced cleaning and sanitizing, on-site temperature monitoring and clear health guidelines for employees are part of Sika’s safety program.
Sika continues to manufacture products that support essential service industries that are part of our Nation’s and State’s critical infrastructure. For example, Sika products are essential to continued critical infrastructure viability in the construction, maintenance and repair of facilities in medical and healthcare, telecommunications, food and agriculture, transportation, logistics, energy, water/wastewater and public works industries. In addition to our dedicated employees manufacturing and supplying these products, Sika’s sales and service team remain fully engaged in supporting you as our valued customer. We also continue to provide webinars, virtual continuing education seminars and specification support in areas where face-to-face interaction is not yet possible.
Please rest assured that Sika is an established company and has been in business for 110 years. While COVID-19 has presented unique challenges, we remain committed to protecting the health and safety of our employees and continuing to earn your trust.
We wish you and your families continued good health
Sincerely,
Richard Montani
President and Chief Executive Officer
David White
SVP, Quality & Risk Management
Energy Savings Go Through the Roof!
Posted By PIMA
When it’s time to replace a roof, most owners choose roofing materials based on performance qualities like longevity and weather resistance. But a well-designed roof can also shine in another performance area: energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency is important to many owners with concerns ranging from climate impacts like building carbon footprints to the costs and reliability of energy resources. Since approximately 25 percent of heat loss in an uninsulated building occurs through the roof, choosing materials that add insulative power can add significant energy savings. For commercial and low-slope roof applications, adding layers of rigid foam insulation to the roofing system can deliver exceptional R-value without a lot of bulk.
An article last month from the Energy News Network details initiatives in Warren, Minnesota and Arnsberg, Germany to use thermal imaging in evaluating building heat loss to help owners determine the best energy efficiency opportunities.
The program was conceived after municipal leaders from Warren and Arnsberg met through the Climate-Smart Municipalities program sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment which paired five cities in Minnesota with similar cities in Germany. Arnsberg had been using remote-piloted aircraft to collect thermal images of building heat loss. Leaders in Warren decided to try using drones to get more detailed information.
Piggybacking off each other’s ideas, the two cities are innovating the practical applications of these thermal images in directing energy efficiency efforts to the places that will have the greatest impact. Their research provides further evidence that reroofing with energy-efficient materials can decrease building heat loss and lead to reduced energy consumption.
Tags: building envelope buildings continuous insulation Efficiency energy efficiency insulation Polyiso
Canada to Address Building Code Gap for Existing Buildings
Posted By PIMA
The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes has issued recommendations to address “the absence of clear code requirements for existing buildings.” The report outlines an approach to constructing a regulatory framework for today’s building stock to address five objectives, including improved energy efficiency. Canada has invited interested stakeholders to provide input on the report through a brief online survey by August 30, 2019. PIMA plans to submit comments that highlight the United States’ experience with the existing building provisions of the IECC and respond to the report’s concerns of building fire safety. To view the online survey, click here.
Energy Conservation Lives!
Posted By PIMA
A recent Trump Administration document “encourages communities to adopt and enforce up-to-date building codes.” This important policy recommendation, contained in the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)’s National Mitigation Investment Strategy (NMIS), is expected to further catalyze code adoption and pave the way toward enforcement of these critical building standards.
The NMIS Recommendation 3.1 further states:
“Building codes regulate the design, construction, and occupancy of buildings and structures by providing minimum requirements to safeguard public safety, health and general welfare. Architects, engineers, builders, and regulators should use the latest building codes for the most up-to-date requirements for structural integrity, mechanical integrity, fire prevention and energy conservation. Using up-to-date building codes helps communities survive, remain resilient, and continue to provide essential services after a disaster occurs.”
This recommendation, combined with increased code adoption at the local level will be a powerful market signal. Further information and an explanation of the document is available here.
Durham’s Liberty Warehouse – Iconic and Insulated
Liberty Warehouse will be Durham, North Carolina’s next iconic building and an anchor of the Central Park neighborhood. The project will use the Rmax ECOMAXci Wall Solution to provide Polyiso Continuous Insulation (CI) in the walls along with specialty windows to enhance this unique re-development effort.
Originally built in the 1940’s as one of the last of the large tobacco auction warehouses, this space will now include 246 luxury rental apartments and 24,693 square-feet of retail space. The ECOMAXci Wall Solution is an NFPA 285 approved assembly, providing continuous insulation to eliminate thermal bridging through the steel studs, and an integrated air, water and vapor barrier to improve performance, lower costs, and reduce environmental impact.
Insulation Fly-In: Building Relationships for Better Buildings
Posted By PIMA
In this age of instant connectivity, virtual encounters allow communication and cooperation with unprecedented speed and ease. But there’s something about a face-to-face meeting that really helps people reach common ground. In May, 110 contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers from the insulation industry representing the majority of states met on Capitol Hill with lawmakers to discuss issues and ideas for harnessing the resources of the insulation industry to tackle some of our country’s most pressing problems. And they were serious about building those face-to-face relationships—and packed in 101 meetings on Capitol Hill, 23 of them with members of Congress.
With the constant stream of news stories highlighting the human costs and economic consequences of a changing environment, momentum is growing behind solutions that can address these environmental challenges in ways that strengthen U.S. economic productivity and competitiveness. To that end, PIMA members are working to build enthusiasm for federal action on policies that optimize the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. Raising standards for new residential, commercial, and industrial buildings and retrofitting older ones can lead to long-term savings through better building performance.
Increasing the energy efficiency of our buildings is a practical way to help the environment, create jobs, and save money. Boosting energy efficiency alone can provide 40% of the necessary greenhouse gas emissions reductions to meet global targets and the work to implement these standards will lead to jobs in manufacturing, distribution, and installation. These improvements will save consumers billions of dollars in energy costs annually – money that can be invested back into the U.S. economy.
But these policies would do more than save energy; they’d also provide buildings and the people who use them with added protection from severe weather events. In 2017 alone, there were $317 billion in losses from US natural disasters, jump-starting discussions on creating more resilient buildings and communities. Optimizing insulation for an energy efficient building envelope improves performance post-disaster or during prolonged events like heat waves or extreme cold. And the investment would pay off – it’s estimated that designing buildings to the 2018 I-Codes would deliver a national benefit of $11 for every $1 invested.
Some legislative tools to promote these improvements include:
Strengthening oversight of new rules for disaster preparedness and response.
Supporting investments in building science research.
Recognizing buildings as infrastructure, including critical structures such as hospitals and schools.
Improving the energy efficiency and resilience of our built environment is a proactive approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while boosting economic growth, improving energy security, and advancing U.S. global competitiveness. PIMA members are working together to promote policies that support these goals through events like Insulation Industry National Policy Conference.
For a deeper dive into the policy topics that were highlighted during the industry fly-in, please download the policy briefs:
The Overarching Impact of the Insulation Industry
Posted By PIMA
Insulation can be found in buildings, refrigeration and a multitude of other end use products, and is used for floatation and transportation. From an environmental standpoint, when insulation products such as Polyiso are used in building and construction, the purpose of the insulation is to stop the flow of air (hot or cold) through the exterior walls and roofs of a building. Reducing the air transfer reduces the amount of energy required to regulate a building’s heating and cooling system. As a result, the insulation has a direct impact on the cost and use of energy to run that building.
Beyond its sustainability and environmental attributes, a new report, “The Contributions Insulation to the U.S. Economy in 2018,” produced by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), shows that the insulation industry contributes significantly to the U.S. economy. In fact, the industry generates more than 550,000 jobs and $33 billion a year in payrolls. For extended details on the economic contributions, insulation industry segments, and more view the full study here.
Attached Files:
Contributions of the Insulation Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2018.pdf (45.16 KB)
Sika® acquires the global Parex business
“Parex offers a number of complimentary brands that will benefit our customers through a more complete product offering in façade and interior finishing solutions…we are excited to welcome all Parex employees to the Sika® team.” – Christoph Ganz, Regional Manager Americas
Sika® Acquires Parex Press Release
Polyiso Fire Performance
Posted By PIMA
All construction materials, including insulation products like polyiso, must provide a suitable margin of fire safety. Polyiso insulation products are tested per material-specific tests as well as part of full assemblies that test fire performance as constructed. Importantly, polyiso possesses a high level of inherent fire resistance when compared to other insulations due to its unique structure of strong chemical bonds. These bonds result in improved high temperature resistance (up to 390 degrees F – more than twice the temperature resistance of some other building insulation products), which in turn leads to enhanced fire resistance. In addition, polyiso does not melt or drip when exposed to flame. The product forms a protective surface char that enhances its fire resistance in terms of reduced flame spread and the potential to contribute to flashover.
For more information on polyiso insulation’s performance in fire tests, consult the following Technical Bulletins:
Roofing Day
Posted by PIMA
On April 4, 2019, as spring unfolded in Washington, D.C. with the arrival of the cherry blossoms, PIMA and a sea of more than 400 roofing industry professionals descended on Capitol Hill for meetings with Congressional representatives to discuss issues of importance to the entire roofing industry. PIMA and its member companies were there to advocate in support of three key issues:
A robust buildings component for infrastructure legislation.
Immigration reform that meets the roofing industry's workforce needs.
Expanded workforce training incentives.
There is strength in numbers and Roofing Day is an opportunity for the entire roofing industry to speak with one unified voice. Groups of roofing contractors, front-line workers, state and regional roofing associations, roofing manufacturers, distributors, and design and roof-consulting professionals participated in close to 300 Congressional meetings. Roofing Day 2019 had an increased participation of 5 percent compared to Roofing Day 2018.
Visiting Capitol Hill with hundreds of roofing industry professionals was powerful as were the connections that were made. Equally as powerful and valuable - the connections made among the attendees.
Storage and Handling Recommendations For Polyiso Roof Insulation
Posted by PIMA
While it has been a long winter, spring is sure to get here sooner than we think, which means many roofing project will soon be underway. Here are key considerations (TB109) about the storage and handling of polyiso roof insulation on a job site:
Storage
Polyiso insulation is typically shipped protected by a plastic wrap, plastic bag or both. This factory packaging is intended for handling the polyiso in the manufacturing plant and during transit; it should not be relied upon as protection at jobsites or other outdoor storage locations unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer.
Material delivery should be carefully coordinated with the roof application schedule to minimize outdoor storage. When short-term outdoor storage is necessary, whether at grade or on the roof deck, the following precautions should be observed:
Bundles should be stored flat above the ground utilizing included feet or on raised pallets. If possible, the bundles should be placed on a finished surface such as gravel, pavement, or concrete rather than on dirt or grass.
Unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer, cover the package and pallet with a waterproof cover, and secure to prevent wind displacement.
Note: Polyiso insulation is fully cured and fit for installation upon delivery. No additional storage time is required.
Handling
Exercise care during handling of polyiso insulation to prevent breaking or crushing of the square edges and surfaces. Remove the polyiso bundles from trucks with proper equipment. Other means of mishandling, such as pushing pallets off the edge of the truck or “rolling” the pallet across the roof deck, must be avoided.
Product Application
Polyiso should always be installed on dry, clean roof decks in dry conditions. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding product application to ensure performance to the intended design life of the roofing system. Apply only as much polyiso roof insulation as can be covered by completed roofing the same day.
Construction Traffic
Avoid excessive traffic during roof construction of or on a completed roof surface. Although polyiso has been designed to withstand limited foot traffic, protection from damage by construction traffic and/or abuse is extremely important. Roof surface protection such as plywood should be used in areas where storage and staging are planned and heavy or repeated traffic is anticipated during or after installation.
Some designers and membrane manufacturers specify the use of cover boards as a means of protecting the insulation. If specified, installers should ensure that the cover board used is compatible with all components of the roofing system, is acceptable to the membrane manufacturer, and meets specified fire, wind, and code requirements.
Polyiso roof insulation, like other roofing materials, requires a proper understanding of storage, handling, and application to result in a properly constructed roof system. You can find additional technical information about polyiso roof and wall insulation at polyiso.org.
Tags: building site construction handling insulation Polyiso storage