Alternative Building Materials
Foundations
Wall and Roof Systems
Framing Materials
Roofing Materials
Siding Materials
Insulation Materials and Radiant Heat
Doors, Windows and Trim
Interior Products
Bathrooms and Kitchens
Decking
Outdoor Products
Building to Help the Environment
About the Author
 
Abbreviations
Organizations
Who to Contact
 
Order Online
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Other references on Wall & Roof Systems:

Steel-Frame House Construction

Advanced Framing

Stair Builders Handbook

Estimating Home Building Costs

2008 National Heavy Construction Estimator


Thermastructure XT, Corp. has been producing and marketing a lightweight structural insulated system (panels) for over 20 years. Since 1976, the panels have been marketed under various names, like RADVA Panels, Wallframe, and Thermastructure steel-framed EPS panels. You can use them for foundation walls, floors, exterior and interior walls, as well as ceilings and roofs. The panel is designed to perform four functions in one high-tech step: structural framing, insulation, sheathing, and vapor barrier, which decreases labor costs and increases the speed of construction. Since then, the product has been refined and is marketed as ThermaSteel, but it's also referred to as Thermastructure Panel.

In 1995, Anguilla, an island of the British West Indies, took a direct hit from Hurricane Luis. A million dollar transmitter was housed in a commercial building constructed with this system. During the storm, in which winds peaked at over 175 mph, some water leaks occurred around the door (which is to be expected), and one of the walls suffered impact damage when a 40-foot container sitting on the ground some 15 to 20 feet away was picked up and thrown into the side of the building. After the container was removed, the only damage was to the corner of the building, and the two corner panels were later replaced. A thorough inspection yielded no other signs of structural damage.

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