21st Century Building Envelope Systems: Merging Innovation with Technology, Sustainability, and Function

By addressing energy efficiency, moisture infiltration, aesthetics, and occupant comfort, building envelope elements and component systems enhance design opportunities and minimize potential risk
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Advertorial course provided by Dryvit, Vistawall, CENTRIA, W&W Glass, Oldcastle Glass, and Alcoa
Barbara A. Nadel, FAIA

High Strength Organic Fiber Material

This well-known, high strength organic fiber material is often used in high performance security products, such as lifesaving bulletproof vests and body armor for law enforcement, correctional, and military personnel. The material is also used in blast curtains, which are made from strong, tightly woven materials, such as high strength organic fiber, polyester or carbon fiber. Blast curtains are often used inside high-risk buildings considered terrorist targets, to protect building occupants by catching exploding glass shards and debris.

The high strength material consists of organic fibers with long molecular chains that form a strong bond, resulting in several unique properties. General properties such as high tensile strength at low weight, structural rigidity, dimensional stability, high cut resistance, and flame resistance make this material an ideal component when combined with an aluminum composite panel designed to resist the high winds and flying debris typically occurring during hurricanes. In this building industry application, high strength organic fiber material provides superior impact resistance, similar to how it works as a protective barrier around jet turbine blades and luggage containers for aircraft to help shield passengers from flying debris, in the event of an explosion.

Stopped in its tracks: In this lab test, debris hurled with hurricane force fails to break through aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber.
Photo credit: Alcoa

Aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber is well suited for commercial office and public building façades, especially schools, libraries, museums, hospitals, and other small and mid-sized structures in hurricane prone areas, like the U.S. Gulf region. "Protecting commercial buildings from hurricane damage results in maintaining livelihoods, allowing people to get back to work sooner, generate revenue, and make needed repairs to homes and other structures," says Samuel W. Chastain, Global Director of Marketing, Alcoa Architectural Products. Atlanta, Georgia.

Furthermore, aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber can be used on the bottom two floors of a structure and matched with standard aluminum composite materials on the upper floors. This is important since Florida building codes require that panel systems in high velocity wind zones provide protection up to 30 feet above the ground. Standard aluminum composite material passes the small wind borne debris test that is required above 30 feet.

Highly Engineered Solution

A lightweight aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber helps provide protection for a building with a superior strength to weight ratio, that is further enhanced by the extraordinary high strength of the organic fiber material, which is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis.

Easy Installation

Typically, panels made of aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber eliminate the need for protective backer materials, such as plywood and concrete masonry units. Only insulation material is required. Panel modules can generally be shop-fabricated and quickly and easily mounted onto structural steel studs at the jobsite, significantly reducing installation time and labor costs when compared to other traditional materials used on facades, such as brick and stucco.

Generally, initial costs for material and installation of aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber are compatible with those for traditional materials, but require less maintenance over the lifetime of the product because no repainting is required.

From a design standpoint, aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber shares the benefits of durability and versatility found in traditional aluminum composite material, which is used in a wide range of interior and exterior architectural and specialty applications. Generally, this aluminum panel system is available in a range of colors, further enhancing architectural aesthetics and design options. Aluminum composite material with high strength organic fiber can be fabricated in angles and curves, offering a flat, smooth, consistent surface; and rolled, routed, and drilled to meet most complex design specifications.

 

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Architectural Record
Originally published in August 2006

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