Homasote

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Contents 1 Material analysis 1.1 Traditional uses 1.2 Emerging uses / trends 1.3 Finish and aesthetic qualities 1.4 Surface forms / shapes 1.5 Cost analysis 2 Material properties 2.1 Primary structural use 2.2 Material performance 2.3 Dimensional and opening restriction 2.4 Acoustic property 2.5 Manufacturing process and assembly 3 Environmental impact 3.1 LEED 4 Life Safety & Rating Standards 4.1 Flammability rating 4.2 Coefficient of friction 5 References 5.1 Notes 5.2 Student contributions 6 See also 6.1 Similar materials 6.2 Building references 7 External links 7.1 Additional resources 7.2 Leading manufacturers

Material analysis

MasterFormat Number: 00 00 00

Traditional uses

• exterior vertical sheathing
• sound control
• roof decking
• concrete forming
• expansion joint
• thermal insulation.^[1]

Emerging uses / trends

• tack or cork board alternative

Finish and aesthetic qualities

• Homasote has a natural gray finish produced from the recycled paper and newspaper ink.
• It can be sanded on both sides to show a smooth, surface that can be used for display applications and requires no finishing. (Homasote product is called PINnacle). It can readily receive fabrics, wallcoverings, paint or dye.^[2]

Surface forms / shapes

• Homasote is manufactured in 8'x12' sheets, but are cut to size for various products.

Cost analysis

• Price/ 4'x8' panel: $15-$25
• Price / SqFt: $.46-$.78

Material properties

Primary structural use

• Homasote is a good material for exterior vertical sheathing, and can be used in place of oriented strand board (OSB) or plywood.

Material performance

• Homasote is made of post consumer paper and newspaper, water, wax emulsion, and biocide.
• It is weather resistant, structural, insulating, and durable fiberboard.^[3]
• Generally, it is 2 to 3 times stronger than the typical light density wood fiberboards.

Dimensional and opening restriction

• Manufactured in 8'x12' sheets, the product is cut to different sizes for various products.

Acoustic property

• Homasote has excellent sound dampening qualities that reduces ambient and through the structure sound.

Manufacturing process and assembly

• Product is made from post consumer paper and newspaper, where cardboard is removed and sold to other recyclers.
• Paper is moved on 6' wide conveyer system to giant hydropulper (steel cylindrical vat and blender), where paper is mixed with 18,000 gallons of 140 degree water, creating a gray slurry.
• A high speed roter keeps slurry in motion and pushes pieces of cellulose fiber pulp through a screen.
• Additional machinery removes non-paper materials.
• Small amounts of wax emulsion and biocide are added to slurry, which is them pumped into tanks to be molded into Homasote.
• The slurry is pumped into 8'x12' molds that shape the product by squeezing 25% of the water out.
• The mats are then moved onto rollers to giant presses where it receives 1,600 to 2,200 lbs/square inch of pressure, then moves into the enclosed dryer.
• The sheets are then ready to be cut into different sizes to be made into various Homasote products.

Environmental impact

• Primary material is post consumer paper and newspaper consisting of 250 tons processed per day.
• One ton of recycled newsprint conserves 300 cubic yards of landfill space.
• Homasote products conserve more than 1.37 million trees and eliminates 100 million pounds of solid waste products each year.
• The cardboard that is removed after the paper is received is then rebundled and sold to another recycler, since it cannot be used in the product.
• The water that is used in the making of the product, which is hundreds of thousands of gallons per day, is completely recycled in a closed loop system.^[4]

LEED

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Life Safety & Rating Standards

Flammability rating

• Most Homasote products are flammable, but not explosive. Products include ComfortBase, 440 Homasote, 440 SoundBarrier, 4 Way Floor Deck, Burlap Panels, Easy Ply Roof Deck, Homex 300, Ice Deck, Nova Cork Panels, and Thermasote Nail Base Insulation.
• Fire retardent products available are DesignWall panels, Firestall Roof Deck, and N.C.F.R. Homasote and Wall Shield. However, they are flammable, but not explosive.

Coefficient of friction

• Homasote isn't used as a finished flooring material, so the COF has not be given

References

Notes

1. ↑ http://www.homasote.com/typesofusers/Architects.aspx
2. ↑ http://www.homasote.com/about.aspx
3. ↑ http://www.homasote.com/products/
4. ↑ http://www.homasote.com/Envioronment.aspx

Student contributions

• Janet Lasher, Spring 2010

See also

Similar materials

• fiberboard

Building references

External links

Additional resources

• Wikipedia

Leading manufacturers

• Homasote Company