| BASF’s EPS foam helps make new home
built with Monotech® system better
Custom home designed in conjunction with Philip Johnson shows style,
eco-efficiency
HOUSTON, Texas, November 10, 2004 -- A recently completed single-family,
custom home in Houston, Texas, designed in conjunction with world-renowned
architect Philip Johnson, showcases the design flexibility attributes
of Monotech Building Systems. BASF is the exclusive supplier of
Styropor® resin for the expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam used
in Monotech Building Systems.
Monotech Building Systems are primarily used for affordable homes,
as well as to build commercial structures and perimeter walls. They
were developed to eliminate steps in the construction process and
reduce labor and materials costs while providing a fast, cost-effective
and energy-efficient product. Because of the thermal properties
of BASF’s Styropor EPS foam, Monotech homes stay warmer in
winter and cooler in summer, and offer recurring energy savings
for homeowners.
According to John Walt, Director of Monotech, Houston, Texas, the
company’s building system also delivers aesthetic benefits.
“As the Philip Johnson house demonstrates, affordable and
energy-saving housing doesn’t have to be a collection of unimaginative
square boxes standing side by side. The Monotech Building System
enables the design flexibility to make these structures more attractive
and more of a home. The Philip Johnson house features a high-end
design and energy efficiency supported by BASF’s EPS foam.”
The Philip Johnson custom home in Houston is a 2,200-square-foot,
one-story dwelling with a 500-square-foot garage. It has two bedrooms,
two bathrooms, a large kitchen and living space, along with three
courtyards surrounded by Monotech perimeter walls.
Monotech’s patented building systems feature Monocrete®,
the company’s proprietary concrete-blend material. Monocrete
is specifically designed to bond to BASF’s Styropor EPS foam
and delivers tremendous strength qualities. No wire mesh or other
materials are required for Monocrete to adhere to the BASF foam
panels. A double-monocoque structure forms when only a half-inch
of Monocrete is applied on each side of the foam panels. The two
layers of Monocrete provide the structural integrity of the building.
The technology used in the Philip Johnson custom home in Houston
was built with the Monotech Hybrid System. The hybrid system simply
transfers the structural integrity from the Monocrete to steel members,
which brings added protection from mold and pests. In the hybrid
system, the exterior BASF panels are covered with Monocrete, while
the interior side of the panel uses drywall.
The Monotech Wall System used for the perimeter walls utilizes
BASF’s Styropor EPS foam panels coated with a half-inch layer
of sprayed-on Monocrete. The unique strength of Monocrete provides
a significant advantage over stucco walls, and the simple method
of construction allows for faster turnaround and capital cost savings.
With the Monotech building system, affordable housing can be constructed
easily without the need of heavy machinery to erect the structure.
As a result, a house can be built in about one week.
“Until Monocrete came to market, the intensive labor and
reinforcement required to attach cement to EPS foam made the use
of these composite building products too expensive,” Walt
explained. “The Monotech Building System has significant advantages
over conventional methods in terms of performance, design flexibility
and attractiveness to support the development of affordable housing
in areas that desperately need it.”
Walt added that extensive independent testing has verified that
the Monotech Building System is durable, extremely well-insulated,
non-toxic, energy-efficient and easily maintained, as well as earthquake-resistant,
water-resistant, wind-resistant and fire-spread resistant.”
“We see BASF as a supplier of choice because of its global
supply capabilities and worldwide presence, which are vital for
us to bring our building systems to developing countries. BASF is
able to supply a consistent, high-quality EPS foam anywhere in the
world,” said Walt.
More information is available on the Internet for Monotech’s
technology (www.monotech.com)
and BASF’s Styropor EPS business (www.plasticsportal.com or
www.styroporeps.com).
BASF – The Chemical Company. We don’t make
a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you
buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American
affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. We employ about 11,000
people in North America and had sales of approximately $9 billion
in 2003. For more information about BASF’s North American
operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit
www.basf.com/usa.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Our goal is
to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company.
We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent
system solutions and high-quality products. BASF’s portfolio
ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural
products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through
new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities.
We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable
development. In 2003, BASF had sales of approximately $42 billion.
BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS),
London (BFA), New York (BF), Paris (BA) and Zurich (AN). Further
information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
For more information, contact:
David A. Elliott
BASF
Tel: (734) 324-6148
E-mail: elliotd1@basf.com
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