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Inspiration5 min
Engineering: The Key to High-Performance Products
The Scottish physicist Lord Kelvin (who devised the Kelvin temperature scale) once said, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”
It’s difficult to measure the performance characteristics of many traditional building materials like lumber and stone – and they haven’t improved significantly for centuries. If builders use green wood in a wall, it will eventually twist and warp.
In contrast, LP engineered wood products can be continuously tested, measured and improved, which is the key to providing added value and high performance. LP CEO Brad Southern explores some of these advantages in an article called “Driving Performance” in the latest Engineered Wood Magazine.
Here are some of the engineering innovations he highlights:
LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated OSB. Type X gypsum hasn’t changed much in 75 years. It’s an effective material for meeting fire code, but it doesn’t offer much more. With LP FlameBlock Fire-Rated Sheathing, meeting fire code is just the beginning. It also provides greater structural strength and more design flexibility than most alternatives – and reduces labor and material costs by eliminating a layer of gypsum.
LP® TechShield® Radiant Barrier. California’s rigorous new Title 24 energy codes are calling a lot of attention to “high-performance attics.” But LP TechShield Radiant Barrier has helped builders boost attic performance for more than 20 years. It blocks up to 97% of radiant heat to reduce cooling costs and lower attic temperatures up to 30° F.
LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding. These products are engineered to be more durable than traditional wood, without the imperfections, knots and voids. In addition, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding outperforms both vinyl and fiber cement siding in a number of impact tests (including those conducted by the National Wind Institute). That’s why LP SmartSide products are now warranted for hail damage.
LP® Legacy® Premium Sub-Flooring. LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring uses resins that bond wood fibers at the molecular level for premium performance. The product offers today’s highest density in sub-flooring, making it ideal to place underneath hardwood floors and tile applications.
LP is driven to deliver high performance in everything we do – and it all starts with our commitment to engineering excellence.
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