EZ-BUILD SYSTEMS
The trend setter in
“systemizing” the
building process.
Hospitality
HIGH PERFORMANCE HOTELS: THE CASE FOR GOING GREEN
Many changes are occurring in the hotel construction industry today as a result of a steady stream of innovations; increased labor costs; less people entering the construction trades; a depletion of natural resources and a growing public awareness of the environmental impact of current building practices. The hotel owner’s desire for a more affordable, efficient and less time consuming way to build, combined with the government’s push for new and better technology, has led to an increased awareness and use of so-called “non-traditional” building products, components and methods of construction. While a variety of new systems are being used in hotel construction today, none can compare to the overall energy efficiency, affordability, ease and quickness of construction and “green” qualifications that the EZ-Build panelized tilt-up system offers.
EZ-Build Systems panelized tilt-up construction is a method where the walls of a hotel building are manufactured in a factory rather than built on site. To achieve superior structural integrity with a high insulation value, the best panelized option is Structural Insulated Panels (“SIPs”). SIPs consist of two outer skins and an inner core of an insulating material. Most structural panels use oriented strand board (OSB) for their facings, although plywood can also be used. OSB is the more popular favorite because it is available in large sizes and it meets with the rigorous testing needed for code approvals. The core of SIPs can be made from several different types of foam, but expanded polystyrene (EPS) is most commonly used.
While panelized tilt-up construction implies walls, SIPs can also serve as load-bearing floors, ceiling and even foundation components. Most SIPs are designed to carry the entire range of structural loads in a building. The insulating core and the two skins of a SIP are non-structural themselves, but when pressure-laminated together under strictly controlled conditions, these materials act synergistically to form a composite that is much stronger than the sum of its parts. The resulting sandwich panel product acts like an engineered I-beam, resisting both compressive forces from above and buckling forces from the side. Engineering tests show that, depending on the type of structural test being administered, SIPs range between two and four times stronger than traditional framing. SIP structures have survived both earthquakes and hurricanes/tornados.
Structural Insulated Panels are a green building product for several reasons: Their OSB skins are made from young, fast growing trees (thus preserving our old growth forests) and the EPS foam is recyclable. There is far less job-site waste with SIP building compared to conventional building and because of their high R-Values, SIPs reduce energy consumption in hotel buildings by greater than 50% compared to conventionally built hotels. SIPs qualify for Energy Star and LEED certification.
HOTELS WITH ADDED BENEFITS:
The results of using EZ-SIPs in panelized tilt-up hotel construction are:
FAQS:
Does building GREEN cost hotel owners or contractors more?
The answer is no. In most applications, our panelized tilt-up systems cost less to purchase and less to construct than other forms of hotel construction such as concrete tilt ups, steel, stick framing, etc. Furthermore, EZ-Build’s hotels SAVE owners thousands of dollars on energy bills, maintenance costs and construction interest.
Are SIPs a new product? I’m afraid of building with something that is not tested and true.
Structural Insulated Panels have been in use since the 1940’s. They have been used in thousands of commercial applications (including hotels) throughout the United States and worldwide. They have proven themselves time and time again through extensive, rigorous, independent testing, to be structurally and thermally superior to conventional framing. While quality control measures apply to a SIP tilt up system, the same quality control and rigorous testing is not applied to conventionally built structures. Tests have proven that factory built EZ-SIP hotels are more affordable, eco-friendly, go up faster and are more comfortable.
Does a contractor have to have special training to construct a hotel with EZ-SIPs?
While EZ-Build Systems does offer on-site training to GC’s, the simplicity of our system does not require any formal or extensive training. The learning curve on an EZ-built hotel is one project. If you had one framer on site who was familiar with SIPs, then the rest of the crew could be un-skilled laborers. Because there isn’t any framing involved (the panelized walls are pre-constructed and pre-engineered before they arrive on site), the system becomes much simpler and faster to erect than 100% site-built construction. Realistically, the system is like working with a giant erector set.
What if a contractor just does not like change?
Most of us don’t, however, that is not realistic. Change is necessary to improve the way we build, to remain competitive, and to save our environment. Technology, environmental sustainability, building codes and the drastic reduction of skilled labor entering the hotel and commercial construction industry are all factors that are forcing change. However, change does not have to be simply the result of being forced to do so. If building green can be achieved without any additional up-front costs, yet it is going to save you thousands of dollars on energy bills, construction interest and maintenance costs, then that is a change that involves choice and it is a change worth making.
Are there any design limitations to building with SIPs?
Absolutely not. In fact, there are more design options available to architects and designers of SIP hotels due to their superior strength and clear span capabilities. Architects who design with EZ-SIPs are able to offer their clientele a superior quality, GREEN, cost effective, higher re-sale value and LEED certified hotel.
Building your hotels with the EZ-Build panelized tilt-up system just makes good economic sense. Combining the cost savings and limitless design options with the ease of construction and reduced environmental impact makes EZ-built hotels a clear win for hotel owners, architects and contractors alike.
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