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Finished shot
of brick double-wall on office
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The double-wall precast insulated concrete sandwich
wall panels are manufactured to the most stringent specifications
at our state-of the art facility in Naperville, Illinois. The most
commonly specified thickness of the wall panels is 8 inches. The
walls can also be built 10 and 12 inches thick if desired. A typical
8-inch wall panel consists of two wythes (layers) of reinforced
concrete (each wythe is 2-3/8 inches thick) sandwiched around 3-1/4
inches of high R-value insulating foam. The two wythes of the interior
and exterior concrete layers are held together with steel trusses.
The insulation is continuous throughout the wall section. The composite
sandwich wall section has an R-value exceeding R-22. The wall panels
can be made to any height desired, up to a limit of 12 feet. Many
owners prefer a 9-foot clear
height for the quality of look and feel it affords a building.
The walls can be produced with smooth surfaces on
both sides because of the unique manufacturing process which form
finishes both sides. The walls are simply painted or stained on
the exterior surface to achieve the desired color or textured surface.
When desired, the exterior surface can be manufactured to have a
wide variety of brick, stone, wood or other formed and patterned
appearances through the use of reusable, removable formliners. Interior
surfaces of the double-wall panels are drywall quality in appearance
right out of the plant, requiring only the same prime and paint
procedure as is common when completing conventional interior walls
made of drywall and studs.
Window and door openings are cast into the walls
at the manufacturing plant as part of the fabrication process. Electrical
and telecommunications conduit and boxes are flush mounted and cast
directly in the panels in the specified locations. The carpenters,
electricians and plumbers do need to make some slight adjustments
when first becoming familiar with some of the unique aspects of
the wall panels. However, they still perform most of their job duties
in the manner to which they are accustomed.
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