SYSTEM USES

Completed Condos in Costa Rica

HISTORY OF THE PANEL MARKET
When discussing the proposed virtues of the panel technology for construction efforts, the same question always surfaces: If this technology has been around for 25 years and is so beneficial, why is it not more widely deployed?  There are two answers to this.
 
First, the technology is and has been fairly widely deployed. It is just not often the method of choice for major developers or construction companies and some countries such as the United States are reluctant to change their timber-centric construction methods.  Yet, thousands of buildings have been built with this technology in Latin America, Europe and Africa, and its virtues are well known in these parts of the world.  But the panel technology pioneers failed in one important way – they never succeeded in marketing this technology on a scale that would gain wider awareness and acceptance.  For the most part, the early proponents of the technology were seeking to control a niche of the construction market and were unwilling to share their technology, partner with others or seek relationships beyond their limited contracts.  The result is that while a few thousand buildings were erected with the panels, hundreds of thousands of other buildings were built with traditional construction methods.
 
Second, the world has changed in the last 25 years.  The response to natural disasters is very different now than it was even a decade ago.  Perhaps due to improved communications, the Internet, or just a change in our world view, governments and NGOs now rush off to affected areas of the world, bringing support, relief and in many cases plans for new housing.  Travel to a country like Sri Lanka a year after the 2004 tsunami and you would have witnessed dozens of organizations testing and touting what they felt was the latest in new housing technology – prefab buildings, trailer homes, concrete molded homes, straw and mud. As entire towns and cities had to be rebuilt, the opportunity opened up to showcase new construction methods, introduce new building materials and challenge local traditions.  But most significantly, what one often sees in the aftermath of a disaster is a new commitment combined with new resources to rebuild not just the affected areas, but the entire country – the roads, the hotels, the resort, town, cities, factories.  
 
Money is now available on an unprecedented scale to modernize and rejuvenate these developing countries.  The result is that these developing countries are beginning to build under new jurisdictions – banks which are loaning the money want to see buildings constructed faster, with stronger materials and greater abilities to withstand the next disaster.  Expatriates want homes to equal or exceed what they have come to know in more developed countries.  Resorts and tourist facilities need to compete with other quality attractions around the world.  Developers are not willing to work with traditional construction methods if it means longer construction times and inferior buildings.
 
Finally, the green revolution seems to have taken hold not only in places like California but in every developing nation around the world.  Governments are demanding that timber not be used, that materials that create pollutants be curtailed, that buildings adhere to new requirements to save energy.
 
In other words, the world is now ready for the Panel Point system.  Over the last 25 years we have been perfecting the technology and learning how to use the Panel Point panels for everything from single family homes to high rise skyscrapers.  We, at Panel Point, are now ready to advance this technology as what we hope will be accepted as a leading alternative to conventional construction.  And we intend to make these advances while avoiding the mistakes of our predecessors.  
 
We have established ourselves with local partners, governments and corporations in the most active areas of the world for new construction – China, Southeast Asia, India, Africa and Latin America.  From this worldwide base of operations, we plan to make this technology available on a much larger scale by offering less expensive manufacturing methods, providing training and technical assistance, and ensuring the highest levels of quality control.   We plan to promote and market this technology on a global scale for all its virtues as a superior method of construction, one that is better, more cost effective and the most beneficial for our communities, our cities, and our environment.  
 
We are in the right place, at the right time, with the right team and technology to make a world of difference.


DETAILED TECHNICAL DISCUSSION
The Panel Point Panel System is used in the construction of walls, roofs, floors and multi-level structures. This versatility has many advantages in the construction industry. One of the primary advantages is its architectural design flexibility. The Panel System can be engineered to meet any architectural design.
 
The Panel consists of welded steel wire reinforcing, foam core insulation, and Portland cement plaster on each face. The Panels incorporate a three-dimensional welded wire space frame utilizing a true truss design for strength and stiffness. Each face of the Panel has a welded mesh pattern of 2" x 2". Individually welded internal truss wires extend through the panel core between each face. These truss wires form a matrix within the panel core. The system allows for 3/8” key which significantly increased cement integrity while substantially reducing the ill effects of wind and weather. 
 
A core of expanded polystyrene provides exceptionally efficient insulation properties with R values from 5 up to 20.  Its firm substrate qualities allow the contractor to accurately forecast material usage.  The core light weight allows for easy overall handling.  The core also serves as an effective vapor barrier.  The foam insulation is recessed approximately 3/8" from each wire face to permit the exposed wire to be embedded in the cement plaster. All steel wire used conforms to ASTM A185 and A82; Steel Wire Fabric for Concrete Reinforcement. The light weight panels are erected and wire-tied to form the structure as designed by the architect. The Panels are very rigid and easy to handle on the site. They are easily cut to any size required. After the panels are erected, the required plaster thickness is applied. This is normally a 1" thickness of 2000 PSI Portland cement Plaster. The plaster surface may be applied by plaster gun or shotcrete.
 
The Portland cement plaster (minimum 3/8” thick) provides excellent sound attenuation qualities, outstanding fire resistance capabilities and remarkable strength and durability.  Combine with the wire and foam core, it provides remarkable curtain wall strength and durability.  It also offers the architect and builder an ideal substrate for a wide variety of veneers and finishes. 
 
We offer our partners, licensees, and customers complete technical support on all aspects of the panel use, implementation and construction.  Our team of engineers and other experts will ensure that our clients gain the finest results from the use of the Panel Point technology.