Weight & Loading
PiazzaStone is an effective solution to the problem of weight that is inherent in a cladding such as Cast Stone or Glass-Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC). Although these claddings have a quality appearance, they are extremely heavy and require significant back-up framing in the primary structure. We consider this to be unnecessary over-engineering.
PiazzaStone substitutes the internal part of the stone for either EPS or XPS, depending on the condition. This critical substitution solves both problems: by removing a large volume of stone, the weight is significantly reduced, and the resultant structural requirements are substantially lower. By removing only stone from the interior of the piece the appearance is no different.
The result? A dramatic reduction in weight and a corresponding reduction in structural requirements without any sacrifice in aesthetic. In one study, Piazza determined that on a decorative cornice there was a 78% reduction in the weight of the piece. We regularly slash the cost of the structural package by six figures through all of the cascading effects of this weight reduction in the cladding.
Thermal Performance
Driven by LEED v4 sustainability requirements and new criteria around energy efficiency in ASHRAE 90.1, building design is changing. Designers often must keep up with these new requirements and specify products that are more energy efficient.
A benefit to the Piazza system that many other claddings are not able to claim is the energy efficiency inherent in a foam cored product. Stone, concrete, and steel are poor at mitigating heat loss. With the Piazza system, however, the effect of the stone is minimized by exchanging the core of the piece for foam. In addition, the connection to the structure runs through a thinner steel element than with heavier claddings. By decreasing the amount of stone and steel in the cladding system there are fewer and smaller thermal bridges for heat loss.
These tweaks result in better energy performance than what can be obtained on competing systems.
NFPA 285
Everyone intuitively understands the importance of fire safety. But in reality, how can you be confident that a product will not make a building more dangerous in the case of a fire?
The presence of foam in our products necessitates an NFPA 285 test. This is an important test to determine the flame propagation characteristics in certain assemblies. In this test a large burner is placed on a wall assembly for 30 minutes and the temperatures throughout the assembly are measured. If the temperatures stay below the required threshold, the wall assembly passes the test.
The Piazza system has passed the NFPA 285 test as conducted independently by Intertek and reviewed by DrJ Certification. This establishes the Piazza system as a safe solution that can be specified with confidence.
Certifications
Anyone can make a claim. But we would rather rely on objective, 3rd-party reviews to establish the technical superiority of our products.
For our DrJ Certification with corresponding stamp & seal, see DrJ TER 1909-03. DrJ has reviewed PiazzaStone for IBC and IRC code compliancy from the various required technical angles.
For Piazza’s Florida Product Approval, see FL #35386.
PiazzaStone assists its certified manufacturers in making products that are in step with stringent quality standards. We work with our partners to enable them to obtain their own certifications and approvals as well.