Lightweight-aggregate producer Northeast Solite is licensing production of a concrete masonry unit whose exterior and interior designs offer energy efficiency and labor-saving attributes
Source: Northeast Solite Corp., Saugerties, N.Y.
By Don Marsh
Lightweight-aggregate producer Northeast Solite is licensing production of a concrete masonry unit whose exterior and interior designs offer energy efficiency and labor-saving attributes. With an R-value of 15, Solar/Stud Block has plant-fitted, rigid insulation inserts on the exterior, ready for brick or stone masonry veneer, or conventional fiber cement, wood or vinyl siding. The center portion has self-aligning cores for reinforcement and grouting as codes and load-bearing conditions dictate.
Interior-face vertical channels, spaced 16 in. on center, substitute for studs or furring strips; they accept nail or drywall screws, owing to a proprietary mix design with lightweight aggregate and Elemix polymeric spheres. A Solar/Stud Block wall will absorb a significant amount of heat during the day, slowly releasing it to the interior during evening hours. The idea is to improve upon the energy efficiency of concrete masonry, says Northeast Solite CMU Division Director Ralph Acampora. We looked for an energy saving design with an exterior that would be acceptable to conventional veneers, he adds. The result is a reinforcement-ready wall with good R-value and no thermal breaks.
Along with sister company, Kentucky Solite Corp., Northeast Solite is offering Solar/Stud Block production licensing on per unit royalty basis, with no territory restrictions. Borrasso & Sons, Inc. in Islip Terrace, N.Y., is the premier licensee; a prototype mold is available for producers interested in trial runs. Û 845/706-1335; [email protected]