ENTEK
is a manufacturer of high performance panelized building systems for both residential
and commercial use. Our factory pre-fabricated panels are constructed from galvanized
steel and EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam. This combination of materials provides
an optimum mix of strength and insulation. To give you some examples, think
of holding an 1/8" thick Styrofoam coffee cup filled with 180 degree coffee
with no problem at all, or think about the most thermally efficient device in
your house -- the refrigerator -- which is likewise made of steel and foam.
These panelized systems are called SIPs (structural insulated panels.) The most
widely used type SIPs have thus far been made of foam sandwiched between sheets
of OSB. Such wood products are susceptible to moisture and insect damage and
have characteristically undergone large price fluctuations. Our system avoids
all these and other shortcomings of wood (e.g. warping, splitting, swelling),
yet accepts the application of all standard siding and roofing products (e.g.
stucco, hardy board, metal roofing, tile roofing). We don't lay claim to inventing
the product, similar systems have been around for 25 years or more. Over the
last several years we have refined design details and the manufacturing process
so as to produce a consistent, high quality panelized building system. One of
our guiding principals has been to endeavor to take as much labor out of the
field as possible and perform it in the factory under controlled conditions.
By employing mass production techniques, we can economically fabricate our panels
to very close tolerances, typically 1/32" for steel and 1/16" for
foam. The resultant wall sections which are assembled from these panels are
easily and rapidly fashioned together on site to produce a strong, highly insulated,
airtight, and durable building shell. Contractors can save time and money by
reducing overhead, liability, capital investment, crew size, cycle times, and
call backs. Owners will enjoy ongoing savings from significantly reduced heating
and cooling energy costs (R30 walls, R50 roof). Other benefits include the following.
The foam is non-out gassing which is hugely important to chemically sensitive
individuals (OSB products can often produce negative reactions). EPS is a totally
inert product which does not promote the growth of spores, mildew, and other
allergens which can likewise be harmful to sensitive individuals. The foam (which
is essentially a matrix of closed air cells) is an excellent inhibitor of sound
transmission. The panels, while more than 1 1/2 times stronger than comparable
wood frame construction, are lighter and easier to handle. EPS is non-flammable
and our system inhibits the chimney effect of fires which could start within
the wall or roofs of conventional systems. To further clarify, the foam will
burn given a high enough ignition temperature (although with less toxic byproducts
than conventional wood building systems) but it will not continue to burn unless
such ignition is applied continuously to the product. If this seems not clear
enough, we'd be glad to elaborate on this with you. Finally our open design
allows easy access to the face of the panels for insertion of mechanicals (wiring,
conduit, pipes, hose bibs, ducts, etc.)
