Updated Sections:
Section 2: Extended Coverage Sprinklers
Section 4: Residential Sprinklers Section 5: Dry Sprinklers
Section 10: Dry System Valves
Section 13: Deluge System Valves and Accessories
Section 16: Specialty Items
Section 18: Fire Grooved Products
Section 19: CPVC Pipe and Fittings
Section 21: Electrical
Section 22: Aquamist

LEWISVILLE, Texas – The best designs have a specific direction right from the start. The Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire, Wis., was constructed to fit into its site where the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers meet, using traditional and practical façade features, including insulated metal panels from Metl-Span.

“The location along the river played a big part in the design process,” says Gilbert Oh, AIA, LEED AP at Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture of New York. “Metal panels were a pragmatic decision because of the insulation. The depth of the panels helps the appearance because they are high up and we didn’t want that look to get lost from the street.”

Almost 29,900 square feet of Metl-Span’s 7.2 Insul-Rib insulated metal panels were installed on the project. IMPs were filled with a 3-inch urethane core. The 22-gauge exterior metal on the panels is Weathered Zinc, while the 26-gauge interior metal on the panels is Igloo White. The symmetrical 7.2 Insul-Rib features distinctive 1-1/2-inch-high ribs on 7.2-inch centers. The IMPs house the main theater.

In addition to the insulated metal panels, the façade features 18,000 square feet of shop-fabricated copper, supplied by KME, and a 3-1/2-inch sawn height of Aqua Grantique stone from Krukowski Stone Company. The stone is a local product, bringing everything full circle on this unique building.

“The stone is Wisconsin stone, mined less than 50 miles from the site,” Oh says. “That was important because historically, a lot of Eau Claire structures are built using masonry; it’s more brick than stone, but it’s a familiar look in the area. The curved copper extends as close to the river as possible and it contrasts the stone.”

The Pablo Center was definitely designed with durability in mind. “When you construct a civic facility like this you do so with the intent that it will last over 100 years,” says Malcom Holzman, Partner-in-Charge at Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture. “And the stone, the copper, the metal, provide an appearance that you might find at any civic center in Wisconsin.”

The Insul-Rib panels from Metl-Span offer a rib that is 1-1/2 inches high, which played an important role in the design plan. “The profile depth of the panels is important,” says Holzman. “We want the building read as a volume and not as a panel. The shape and shadow deceive the eye so it reads as volume.

“When you’re building a stage tower, it gets to be pretty high, so when you go to clad it, you want to get it done easily and quickly, so you can get it enclosed, which was important in this case. Insulated metal panels allowed that to happen.” Division V Sheet Metal of St. Paul was in charge of installing the 7.2 Insul-Rib panels.

“It was a pretty straightforward job for us,” says Bruce Reed, senior project manager at Division V Sheet Metal. “With the copper, the stone and the IMPs, there had to be some coordination with the delivery and installation, but it went well. The biggest challenge for us was working in the middle of winter instead of the middle of fall. Fortunately, the insulated metal panels were delivered on time and they were packaged by elevation so they were in the order we requested. That saves even more time during the installation because we don’t have to spend time sorting out panels.”

Because the insulated metal panels were installed on the upper mezzanine level, the use of a tower crane was required to hoist panels to the roof. From there, panels were lowered into place with a swing crane. “Hoisting the vertical panels was a bit of a challenge,” Reed says. “We developed some clamps to hold them into place. We work a lot with insulated metal panels, so we know our way around.”

J P Specialties, Inc. has earned certification to NSF/ANSI 61, the American National Standard for Drinking Water Treatment Components - Health Effects for its Earth Shield® PVC Waterstop from global public health organization NSF International.

Government agencies around the world utilize NSF International standards to verify the safety and performance of water treatment chemicals, pipes, and plumbing components and to ensure these products do not leach harmful levels of contaminants into drinking water.

To earn NSF/ANSI 61 certification, J P Specialties' Earth Shield® PVC Waterstop was subject to rigorous testing and evaluation to verify the product met requirements for use in treating drinking water. NSF International also audited J P Specialties' manufacturing facility to verify compliance with the standard requirements.

NSF International is a global independent organization that writes standards and protocols, and tests and certifies products for the food, water, and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. Founded in 1944, NSF is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Food Safety, Water Quality, and Indoor Environment.

Bossier City, La. - In its continuing effort to educate building owners, McElroy Metal has published a second E-book. Tired of Replacing Your Shingle Roof? is available for download on the McElroy Metal website.

Tired of Replacing Your Shingle Roof? discusses installing a metal-over-shingle recover system that offers a long-term solution with cost-saving benefits. McElroy Metal, a family-owned manufacturer of metal roofing and wall panels for a variety of markets, has developed two symmetrical standing seam metal roofing systems that are installed more quickly and provide a long-term, high-performance solution.

Tired of Replacing Your Shingle Roof? was produced to help commercial building owners understand there is a better way to recover a failing shingle roof than to apply another short-term asphalt shingle. Metal offers the advantages of aesthetics, long service life, lower utility expenses, higher recycled content and it can be recycled after service life. Metal is also fire resistant, hail resistant and resistant to high winds.

Along with the list of the advantages of metal, the E-book discusses the growing variety of metal roofing options. It also illustrates how the airspace created between the old roof and the metal roofing system enables energy to move and vent into the atmosphere and not get absorbed into the building. This "above sheathing ventilation" reduces utility load and expenses.

Ontario, CA - Hallmark Floors is pleased to announce a new marketing partnership with the Starnet Commercial Flooring Cooperative effective January 1, 2019. As a Starnet Vendor Partner, Hallmark will market its commercial flooring offerings to Starnet Members across the United States.

Hallmark Floors is launching exciting new products that will enhance their portfolio, including, NEW to the industry - "through color" hardwood flooring along with a PVC FREE plank collection delivering the highest rated heat stability available.

For over a decade Hallmark has been supplying hardwood and vinyl floor coverings for both commercial and residential applications across the nation. With Hallmarks National network of distributors, they are currently well poised to service and support the immediate needs of Starnet Members.

Metl-Span provides color-matched panels for Clearwater, Fla., addition

LEWISVILLE, Texas – When the owner of the Clearwater Ice Arena wanted to expand the current building, hoping to lure the local National Hockey League team into a state-of-the-art practice facility, constructing an energy-efficient building was among the top considerations.

Insulated metal panels (IMPs) from Metl-Span provided the solution with the desired R-value, while offering single-pass construction to help erect the building quicker and with less expense. Metl-Span also had color options available to match the color scheme of the original building.

“Typically, we use precast concrete for ice arenas,” says Tom Moorse, partner at HTG Architects, with offices in Minneapolis, Tampa and Bismarck, N.D. “We took a look around the site with the general contractor and there wasn’t a lot of room to work with tip-up concrete. It was decided that using the structural framing of a pre-engineered steel building with insulated metal panels would make the construction a lot easier.” HTG has been a part of numerous ice arena projects and Moorse has specialized in designing them for 10 years. Most are community-owned facilities for school or youth program use with a seating capacity of 1,000 to 1,200. This project was an addition to an existing rink and training facility to be used by the community and area schools. In addition to hockey and figure skating programs and camps, the new NHL-sized ice rink will be available for private parties. The owner hopes to have the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning use the facility for training. Among the amenties added within the walls of the addition are a spacious “pro” locker room and weight training area.

“This project will be a valuable resource for us,” Moorse says. “We will definitely be using insulated metal panels again. In addition to being a time saver for the installer, we learned that insulated metal panels are cost-effective, which is a big consideration for privately owned or community owned facilities.”

Moorse says the variety of color options made it easy to match the colors on the existing building. Almost 23,000 square feet of insulated metal panels from Metl-Span were installed vertically on framing from Ceco Building Systems. The insulated metal panels were 4 inches thick with a Polar White exterior and an Almond interior.

“Using insulated metal panels offered an upfront savings because of the efficient erection,” Moorse says. “The savings continues with the energy efficiency of the insulated metal panels. We’re basically building a big refrigerator, so having energy benefits is an important consideration, especially in Florida.”