Polymer manufacturing company Covestro introduced a prefab wall panel that offers a number of benefits to site-built wall framing, including faster and less expensive installation.
PUReWall is an insulated structural wall panel that is put together in a factory and comes ready to assemble to a job site. The panels are made from conventional wood frames with polyurethane-based insulation between the framing. The panels also have a rigid polyiso board for continuous insulation, which reduces thermal bridging. When combined with a structural closed cell spray polyurethane foam, rigid polyiso board provides a similar unit shear capacity to continuously sheathed wood structural panels.
The panel eliminates many of the common components needed to build a wall. For example, the panel features an integrated weather resistive barrier with coated glass facer and taped joints that eliminates the need for plastic house wrap. The all-in-one prefab panel cuts down on installation time and jobsite waste since it comes pre-made with all the necessary components.
The panels are heavily insulated, staring with an R-17 value and ranging up to R-33 for Net Zero homes. The panels can help homes achieve a higher HERS score with less air infiltration, and are adaptable to meet all Climate Zone U values in IRC 2015 and California’s Title 24 energy efficiency code requirements.
“By licensing our PUReWall technology, panelizers are able to integrate higher levels of functionality and quality in a wall assembly that simplifies on-site construction for builders with less waste, time and cost. The end product meets or exceeds International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) 2015 requirements, providing a better wall assembly for homeowners," said Jim Lambach, manager of Building and Construction, Industrial Marketing, Polyurethanes, Covestro LLC in a news release.
