Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature
A Canadian family owned business operating out of Vaughan, Ontario since 1980, DuROCK Alfacing International Ltd. leads in EIFS industry innovation. Changes to the 2015 National Building Code of Canada have embraced the company’s product offerings and expertise.
Andre Turrin, technical director, says the 2015 code formally recognized EIFS as an acceptable solution for Part 5 and for Part 9 construction. “Ontario has already implemented those changes and other provinces are expected to follow suit in 2017.”
He says the EIFS subsection in Part 9 is specific to EIFS that have a Geometrically Defined Drainage Cavity (GDDC), such as the one in DuROCK’s PUCCS. “Simply put, PUCCS drains through a manufactured component of the system, rather than through a space that has been created by the installer.”
PUCCS was developed by DuROCK in 2004 in response to demands for a better system. “Conventional systems that drained through spaces between ribbons of adhesive were heavily reliant upon the skill of the installer. Our patented PUCCS, with its unique drainage pattern, has a 10-mm air space incorporated into the insulation manufacturing process and that provides a greater level of assurance when it comes to drainage.”
He says DuROCK’s proactive and forward thinking approach positioned PUCCS as a solution to prescriptive measures, introduced as an insurance policy amendment in 2010 that required this 10mm drained air space for Ontario buildings.
With greater focus on building efficiency and an understanding of insulation as a key component, PUCCS also provides the solution, Turin says. “As EIFS is an insulated cladding, PUCCS may provide, or otherwise contribute to, the effective thermal resistance of opaque wall assemblies stipulated in National Building Code of Canada Article 9.36.2.6. Equally, PUCCS low thermal conductivity has a significant impact on the overall thermal transmittance of opaque wall assemblies, as designers strive to meet the performance criteria stipulated in National Energy Code of Canada Article 3.2.2.2.”
Turrin says some provincial codes also include requirements for continuous insulation, and once again, he says, PUCCS is ideally suited to fulfill that role. “As codes continue to evolve, PUCCS is well positioned to perform any and all relevant environmental separation functions.” For more information, visit www.durock.ca
