Products - May 2010 featuring International

Isokorb Loadbearing Thermal Insulation Elements
Balconies act like giant cooling fins. They punch through the building envelope and pull heat out of each room, and when the balcony and building are different materials—such as concrete and steel—this thermal bridging can be magnified. The German company Schöck offers a solution to this problem with its Isokorb loadbearing insulation elements. Made primarily from stainless steel and high-impact polystyrene, Isokorb provides insulation as well as a structural connection between steel-to-steel, concrete-to-steel, and concrete-to-concrete materials. By creating a thermal break, Isokorb not only minimizes energy loss, but also limits condensation and the conditions that can promote mold growth.

Schoeck Canada, Inc.; Kitchener, ON, Canada. 416-890-8393; www.schoeck-canada.com
[ Reader Service CIRCLE 107]

Bona Hardwood Floor Finishes
Founded in 1919, the Swedish company Bona is a leader in waterborne polyurethane technology, offering a full line of durable, low-VOC floor finishes that rival the performance of conventional solvent-borne products. Bona’s Traffic and Naturale are two-part waterborne polyurethanes that dry quickly yet are tough enough for high-traffic commercial spaces. When cured, Traffic provides a gloss finish while Naturale has the appearance of natural wood. Bona’s waterborne polyurethanes are Greenguard-certified for low emissions, but they are not for do-it-your-selfers; Bona sells only to flooring professionals. The company also offers portable dustless sanding machines, hardwood floor prep supplies, and maintenance products.

Bona USA, Inc.; Aurora, CO. 800-872-5515; www.bona.com
[ Reader Service CIRCLE 108]

TOTO Clean Dry Hand Dryer
Conventional electric hand dryers don’t work very well, they’re noisy, and they consume a lot of energy—up to 2200 watts. But TOTO’s Clean Dry high-performance hand dryers dry hands in less than 12 seconds using only 510 watts! Available in a recessed model that mounts into the wall, and an exposed, surface-mounted model, Clean Dry hand dryers operate at 63 decibels, relatively quiet when compared to most high-performance hand dryers that can be as loud as 84 decibels. These hand dryers come with washable air filters and drainage trays that keep water off bathroom surfaces.

TOTO USA, Inc.; Morrow, GA. 770-282-8686; www.totousa.com
[ Reader Service CIRCLE 109]

RH2O Rainwater Management
Collecting rainwater from roofs is a great way to provide building owners with non-potable water for irrigation, toilets, and cooling towers; and potable water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Collecting the water is the easy part; keeping it free of contaminants is much harder. RH2O North America offers a full range of components used to maintain the cleanliness of water in both residential and commercial rainwater harvesting systems, including rainwater filters, calming inlets that keep sediment out of the water, overflow siphons for surface particles, and floating suction filters. They’re imported from Germany and distributed mostly in Canada.

RH2O North America, Inc.; Breslau, ON, Canada. 519-648-3475; www.ourh2o.com
[ Reader Service CIRCLE 110]

Terrart Architectural Terracotta
Terracotta is a fired clay that has been used as a building material for centuries because of its natural ingredients, durability, and good looks. Terrart, made by the German company NBK (a Hunter Douglas Company), is a custom-designed, terracotta rainscreen panel that keeps moisture out of commercial buildings. Installed on an aluminum mounting system, the replaceable panels create space behind the facade to allow natural venting of the exterior wall. Hollow or solid panels are available in a variety of shapes, dimensions, colors, textures, and glazes. There is a five-year warranty on the aluminum support system and panels.

NBK North America, Inc.; Marblehead, MA. 781-639-2662; www.nbkusa.com
[ Reader Service CIRCLE 111]