Update: (October 3, 2005)

US Century, the manufacturer of FlexShake, is no longer in business.

EBN’s usual policy is to encourage only the use of wood products certified to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards, but we recently learned of uncertified flooring that is good for the forest.

Flooring, paneling, and other wood products from Green Mountain Woodworks (GMW) in Southwestern Oregon are made entirely from thinnings—trees culled from National Forest Lands that are now dangerously dense due to decades of fire suppression. These overly dense forest areas are susceptible to catastrophic wildfires, epidemic insect infestations, and disease.

Collins Products LLC, a division of The Collins Companies, has developed a new line of concrete forming panels that will be available with FSC-certified wood. (A seasonal scarcity of certified logs has limited current production to non-certified product.) The line includes four products: ValuForm, Apex, Apex II, and Apex III. All of the forming panels have a five-ply softwood core, tropical hardwood face veneers and MDO (medium-density overlay) and/or HDO (high-density overlay) outer surfaces. The various products have different levels of durability. Valuform panels have a single layer of MDO and are rated for moderate reusability, while the top-of-the-line Apex III panels have an MDO layer topped by two HDO layers for a durability rating of 50 or more pours.

“We’re trying to make these products as green as possible,” said Rick Bacon of Collins Products. The sealers and release agents used on the panels are water-based, as are the phenolic resins used in the overlays. The company intends to source certified hardwood for the face veneers, but if logs are not available, the panels will still meet FSC standards under the percentage-based claims rule.

EBN

Vol. 5, No. 4), which are no longer available.

Recycled plastic lumber is commonly available for decking applications, but the supporting structures have continued to be constructed with preservative-treated lumber. U.S. Plastic Lumber (USPL) now offers a complete deck system made of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) under the Carefree brand. The brand consists of recently code-approved decking and guardrail products and the new Carefree Structural Lumber.

USPL has become the largest manufacturer of recycled plastic lumber products by acquiring more than a dozen companies over the past three years (see

EBN

Fiberock Aqua-Tough Sheathing, a new product from gypsum products giant USG, has significant environmental and performance advantages. Strength, durability, and integral water resistance are selling points for this unfaced gypsum sheathing.

Aqua-Tough Sheathing, Fiberock Underlayment, VHI Abuse-Resistant interior wallboard panels, and XL interior wallboard panels comprise the Fiberock family of gypsum-fiber products. All of these products contain recycled cellulose fibers within the panel core and do not have paper or fiberglass facings like conventional gypsum wallboard and sheathing. Unlike faced gypsum products, which rely on their facings for strength, Fiberock is not susceptible to significant losses in material integrity when its surface is damaged. Risk of delamination is also avoided.

The Fiberock family of products has an interesting history. The family is split between a plant in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia (underlayment and wallboard) and the new sheathing production line in Gypsum, Ohio. The Nova Scotia plant, formerly owned by Louisiana-Pacific, produced Fiberbond wallboard and underlayment (see

First, it is designed for exterior mounting, which keeps all combustion outdoors, eliminating risk of combustion gas spillage and saving valuable indoor space. Second, it is one of the few gas-fired demand water heaters with electronic ignition instead of a pilot light —one of the features that enables it to achieve its high 82% AFUE efficiency (the Targa had higher efficiency, but it is not currently available). Third, it has a unique computer-controlled, modulating-valve burner that delivers 19,000 to 180,000 Btus/hour (5,600–53,000 j/s) in 13 increments according to inlet water temperature and hot water demand. Fourth, it offers a high degree of controllability, with up to three point-of-use digital controllers per water heater and the potential of getting different temperature water in different locations—for example, higher in the kitchen or laundry room than in bathrooms. Fifth, it is designed for both durability and repairability—the heat exchanger carries a 10-year warranty, all other parts are covered for 5 years—and all components are designed for easy replacement, according to Technical Service Manager Gary Williams.

KE Fibertec, a Danish company that has recently entered the North American market, offers an alternative.

They produce fabric ducting designed for exposed applications. Porous, woven polyester fabric provides both the ducting and air diffusion. Conditioned supply air inflates the ducts and diffuses through the fabric into the occupied space. In this process, the duct fabric provides final filtration of the supply air.

Innovations in Wallcoverings, Inc., a 25-year-old manufacturer of vinyl wallcoverings and upholstery, introduced Allegory® at the NeoCon® trade show of commercial interiors in June 1999. The company’s first non-PVC product is comprised of 50% wood fiber and 50% spun-woven polyester with inks that contain no heavy metals or formaldehyde. Several simple yet attractive patterns and soft colors are available.

Allegory is not ideal for all applications. Unlike vinyl, it is moisture-permeable and thus not recommended for high-moisture areas, such as shower rooms. It can be washed but not “scrubbed,” so may not be appropriate for areas that receive heavy soiling. On the other hand, moisture permeability can be a benefit from an indoor air quality standpoint. Consulting engineer and IAQ expert Joe Lstiburek, P.E. has become alarmed about mold problems caused by the low permeability of vinyl wallcovering. “We’re seeing problems with vinyl in all climates, though it is particularly bad in hot-humid climates,” said Lstiburek. Most vinyl wallcoverings have a permeability of about 1 perm (60 ng/(s·m2Pa)), according to Lstiburek. “Any wallcovering that is permeable or semipermeable is good, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. Lstiburek, who was not familiar with Allegory, cautioned that some hybrid (cellulose-polymer) products are not dimensionally stable across a wide humidity range. If Allegory proves stable, it could be a winner.

or Concrete

Asphalt and concrete account for the vast majority of paving today. These materials are very different: asphalt is a mix of aggregate and leftover heavy hydrocarbons after more valuable, lighter fractions of crude oil have been extracted; concrete is a hardened, rock-like material usually made by mixing Portland cement with sand, coarser aggregate, and water. In the green design community, there is some interest in avoiding these conventional pavement products in favor of more natural, less energy-intensive materials using locally available aggregates and bio-based binders. Road Oyl™ Resin Pavement™ from Soil Stabilization Products of Merced, California is such an alternative.