GigaCrete

GigaCrete refers to a family of green building products based on proprietary non-silica, non-toxic, non-combustible, cementitious, mineral-based binders[1][2] combined with filler material. GigaCrete building materials do not contain silica-based sands or Portland cement.[1] GigaCrete products are manufactured by a privately held company, GigaCrete, Inc., whose factory headquarters are located in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3]

History

GigaCrete was invented in the early 2000s by British-born architect and industrial designer Andrew C. Dennis.[2][4]

Green Building Products

PlasterMax

GigaCrete PlasterMax, an LEED-qualified[5] interior wall coating, is listed as a green building material and interior finish by Architectural Record.[6][7]

GigaCrete PlasterMax is a fire-resistance rated interior wall coating for insulating concrete forms (ICF), thereby providing a fire-rated green alternative to gypsum drywall over ICF. When applied over an expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam facade of stacked ICF blocks, PlasterMax bonds to the foam and forms a surface that resists abrasion and abuse. PlasterMax can be applied over drywall.[5][8]

StuccoMax

GigaCrete StuccoMax is an exterior water-resistant green stucco product, an inorganic mixture of mineral binders and limestone sand. Like PlasterMax, StuccoMax bonds with expanded polystyrene (EPS) and forms a surface resistant to abrasion and abuse.[2]

BallistiCrete

GigaCrete BallistiCrete is a green protective interior plaster passed as NIJ Level III and NIJ Level IV Armor Piercing in tests conducted by Intertek's H.P. White Laboratory, an accredited ballistics and ballistics resistance laboratory.[9]

Controversy in Rio de Janeiro

In April 2017, Marcelo Crivella, mayor of Rio de Janeiro, announced a plan to fortify 400 schools with BallistiCrete. The schools are located in areas of the city allegedly dominated by drug traffickers. Critics of Crivella's plan argued that school buildings, made resistant to incoming gunfire by the application of BallistiCrete, could be seized by bandits and used as armored fortresses in wars between gangs or clashes with police.[10][11][12]

GigaHouse

GigaHouse refers to GigaCrete's steel-framed, insulated-panel building system designed to be finished using GigaCrete exterior and interior plasters.[13][14] External claddings can be added to a GigaHouse.[14][15]

On October 15, 2020, Bloomberg News reported: "A Nevada company called GigaCrete manufactures panels made with expanded polystyrene insulation foam that slot into steel frames to form walls. Once assembled at a building site, the exterior and interior surfaces are coated with a proprietary non-combustible material that resists temperatures up to 1,700°F (927°C). GigaCrete structures have also been rated to withstand wind speeds of 245 miles per hour (394 kilometers per hour)."[16]

Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA)

On May 30, 2019, the Miami-Dade County Product Control Section issued a Notice of Acceptance (NOA #19-0326.04) in respect to the GigaCrete Exterior Wall Panel System and Large and Small Missile Impact Resistance, thereby designating said system as complying with the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) of the Florida Building Code.[17]

On December 10, 2020, the Miami-Dade County Product Control Section issued a superseding Notice of Acceptance (NOA #20-0922.04) in respect to the GigaCrete Exterior Wall Panel System and Large and Small Missile Impact Resistance, thereby designating said system as complying with the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) of the Florida Building Code.[18]

FAA

In February 2015, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a solicitation for "Design & Construction of 5 Duplexes at Kaibab National Forest, Tusayan Ranger Station, Tusayan, Arizona." In section 02.Scope of Work, the solicitation states, "The housing design/construction shall be GigaHouse by Giga Crete or equal.", and further states, "Each stem wall must use the GigaCrete mortar-less joint CMU system; or equal."[19]

On August 4, 2015, pursuant to said solicitation, the FAA awarded the contract to Koo Design-Build, Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona in the amount of US$1,085,100.00.[20]

East Bay Revitalization

East Bay Revitalization, Inc., a California nonprofit organization, sponsored the construction of a 300-square-foot (28 m2) energy-efficient Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) a.k.a.Tiny house in Richmond, California.[21] The unit was completed in September 2016 and built using GigaCrete's GigaHouse system and materials technology.[21][22] In February 2017, sponsor EBR announced commencement of construction of a 1,500-square-foot (140 m2) GigaHouse adjacent to the Richmond ADU.[22]

Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County (Sonoma Wildfire Cottage Initiative)

Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County, California, is one of 1,400 affiliates of Habitat for Humanity International.[23]

On June 6, 2018, Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County announced a Sonoma Wildfire Cottage Initiative, a pilot project of temporary cottages showcasing a variety of innovative construction technologies for the purpose of evaluation. Three firms were selected to participate in the test, viz., Connect Homes, West Coast SIPs, and Giga Crete/Presidio Realty Advisors.[24][25][26]

As reported on June 13, 2018, in Builder magazine, the then-interim CEO[27] of Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County, Mr. John Kennedy, chairman of the board, stated, “The devastating October (2017) wildfires destroyed over 5,200 homes in Sonoma County, which made our housing crisis dramatically worse. This pilot project helps us quickly evaluate a variety of technologies while simultaneously helping families in dire need of stable temporary housing."[24][25]

Construction for the pilot program commenced October 12, 2018, on the Medtronic Fountaingrove campus in Santa Rosa, California.[26]

On August 16, 2019, the North Bay Business Journal reported, "The first five 'wildfire cottages' built for survivors of the October 2017 blazes that destroyed thousands of Santa Rosa homes were dedicated Friday on land donated by Medtronic during a ceremony honoring the many partners involved."[28]

Awards

In 2007, Popular Mechanics magazine awarded a Best in Green Design to panels made with GigaCrete hydraulic cement and waste materials.[29]

U.S. Department of Energy Builders Challenge

In 2009, Next Gen 09 LLC, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy Builders Challenge program, built a high-performance 5,200-square-foot (480 m2) ICF demonstration home outside Las Vegas, Nevada.[5][30][31] A score of 70 or less on the Energy Smart Home Scale qualifies for the Builders Challenge.[32] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, citing GigaCrete PlasterMax as the interior wall finish of the NextGen home, wrote: "[PlasterMax is] a mineral-based hydraulic cement made with recycled waste materials such as fly ash. Sprayed over ordinary drywall and then troweled smooth, it's lighter than conventional concrete and also won't shrink or crack; it's also bullet and blast resistant."[30]

ICF Builder Magazine

The 2016 ICF Builder Award Winner for Best in Class Small Residential is an ICF home erected in Corte Madera, California. GigaCrete interior and exterior plasters were applied directly over ICF wall surfaces.[33]

References
  1. "Frequently Asked Questions". www.gigacrete.com. GigaCrete Inc. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018.
  2. Mitchell, Shelby O. (21 May 2009). "Sustainability In and Out - Cement coatings add to ICFs' green appeal". Concrete Construction. Delaware, US: Zonda Media. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. "Business Profile for Gigacrete, Inc". Better Business Bureau. 14 November 2006. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  4. Brueck, Hilary (15 October 2015). "This Man Built His House with Storm-Proof, Bullet-Proof Concrete". Forbes. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017.
  5. "Green Building Materials on Show in State-of-the-Art NextGen Home". www.azom.com. Azo Materials. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009.
  6. "Green Materials". Architectural Record. New York City, NY, US: BNP Media. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020.
  7. "Division 09: Finishes". Architectural Record. New York City, NY, US: BNP Media. 1 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
  8. "Interior ICF Finishes". Insulating Concrete Forms Magazine. Summit Publishing, LLC. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. "Bulletproof wall plaster passes military testing for homes, schools and offices". LEO Affairs. 15 September 2014. Archived from the original on 14 October 2014.
  10. Werneck, Antônio (4 April 2017). "Especialistas em segurança e professores criticam ideia de Crivella para proteger escolas" [Security experts and teachers criticize Crivella's idea to protect schools]. O Globo (in Portuguese). Infoglobo. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018.
  11. Werneck, Antônio (17 April 2017). "Vereadora quer explicações da prefeitura sobre blindagem de escolas do Rio" [Councilor wants explanations from city hall about shielding of schools in Rio]. O Globo (in Portuguese). Infoglobo. Archived from the original on 18 April 2017.
  12. Brito, Renata (13 April 2017). "Schools caught in crossfire in violent Rio de Janeiro slums". www.apnews.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  13. Choudhary, Nikhil (30 October 2019). "Resilient Construction: Building Structures That Withstand Nature's Fury". Forbes. Jersey City, NJ, US. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020.
  14. "Arri/Lecron's Groundbreaking Fire-Resistant Homes". Malibu Magazine. ES Media Services, LLC. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 2 November 2021.
  15. Vass, Drew (9 June 2016). "Five Up-and Coming Building Products". Builder Magazine. Delaware, US: Zonda Media. p. 3. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016.
  16. Woody, Todd (15 October 2020). "Climate-Proofing Your Home: Upgrades to Protect Against Wildfires". Bloomberg News. New York City, NY, US. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021.
  17. "Notice of Acceptance (NOA) 19-0326.04" (PDF). www.miamidade.gov. Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources Board and Code Administration Division. 30 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  18. "Notice of Acceptance (NOA) 20-0922.04" (PDF). www.miamidade.gov. Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources Board and Code Administration Division. 10 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  19. "Statement of Work for Design & Construction of 5 Duplexes at Kaibab National Forest Tusayan Ranger Station Tusayan, Arizona 86023". faaco.faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. February 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  20. "Solicitation Contract# DTFAWN-15-R-00120-0004 Award". faaco.faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. 4 August 2015.
  21. Schaffer, Miriam (29 September 2016). "Tour a Prototype Sustainable Accessory Dwelling Unit in Richmond: Designed to Combat High Housing Costs". Patch News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017.
  22. "East Bay Revitalization, Inc., to Sponsor Building of GigaHouse, an Energy Efficient, Affordable Home in Richmond, Calif". Cision PRWeb. Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC. 28 February 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
  23. "7 Communities Benefiting from Habitat for Humanity Donations". Vonigo. Vonigo Software Ltd. 25 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018.
  24. "Habitat for Humanity Launches Sonoma Wildfire Cottage Initiative". GlobeNewswire. Santa Rosa, California, US. 6 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018.
  25. Ghazarian, Leah (13 June 2018). "Habitat For Humanity launches Sonoma Wildfire Cottage Initiative". Builder Magazine. Delaware, US: Zonda Media. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018.
  26. Crushman, Ted (13 November 2018). "California Habitat for Humanity Chapter Ponders Wildfire Rebuilding Choices". The Journal of Light Construction. Delaware, US: Zonda Media. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018.
  27. "Habitat for Humanity Sonoma County picks as top exec the CEO of Petaluma's Committee on the Shelterless". The North Bay Business Journal. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  28. Quackenbush, Gary (16 August 2019). "First 'wildfire cottages' in Santa Rosa are readied for survivors of 2017 Tubbs Fire". North Bay Business Journal. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
  29. Gorman, Jim (March 2007). "The Best of Green Design". Popular Mechanics. New York City, NY, US: Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007.
  30. McKay, Gretchen (7 February 2009). "NextGen house green, sleek, strong". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. John Robinson Block. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009.
  31. "Builders Challenge High Performance Builder Spotlight - NextGen Home" (PDF). United States Department of Energy. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2009.
  32. "Builders Challenge". www.greendesignbuild.net. Eliot, Maine, US: Green Design Build. 5 April 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012.
  33. "BEST SMALL RESIDENTIAL". Insulating Concrete Forms Magazine. Summit Publishing, LLC. 2016. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016.
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