Top building products for August 2024

Building Design+Construction editors bring you the top building products for the month of August. Collected across a variety of building sectors, these products protect from fire, offer technological ease, and allow flexibility.

From raised access flooring systems to wireless multifamily locks, here are 15 products being used in the industry today.

August 2024 Top 15 Building Products

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Butech Raised Access Flooring systems

by Butech

Raised Access Flooring for interior and exterior applications deliver a range of construction solutions as well as aesthetic ones. The use of Raised Access Flooring for interiors hides systems like wiring, piping, air conditioning, and more beneath the floor with the advantage of keeping easy and immediate accessibility. Meanwhile, the Raised Access Flooring Outdoor System for terraces solves the potential problems caused by sloped terraces, offsetting height deviations and allowing any accumulated water to drain and channel through waterproofed slopes.

PAC-Shield roof, wall insulation panels

by Petersen, a Carlisle company

Available in a range of thicknesses and facers, the PAC-Shield line of polyisocyanurate (polyiso) roof and wall insulation products are designed to enhance the thermal performance of the building envelope with 10 panel options. Containing no HFCs, CFCs, or HCFCs, and made using recycled materials, the line of products can help reduce a building’s carbon footprint and earn LEED credits. Both the polyiso roof and wall insulation products are compatible with numerous finishes and applications and provide high-performance building envelope systems. Accessories available to complement the line include fasteners, washers, weather-resistant barriers, tapes, sealants, and flashings.

Guardian CrystalClear glass

by Guardian Glass

To help answer the broad appeal for highly transparent, low-iron glass, Guardian CrystalClear glass is launching in North America and suits a wide range of applications, like education, healthcare, retail, and more. Achieving 67% greater color neutrality than standard clear glass and 90% visible light transmission, the glass is available in 6, 8, and 10mm thicknesses and can be produced on jumbo lites (130 x 240 inches). Pair the glass with select Guardian SunGuard low-E coatings to help meet a project’s solar and thermal performance requirements.

ERC10 and ERC11 fire-rated counter doors

by Clopay Corporation

Fire-rated counter door building product — Photo courtesy Clopay Corporation

Under its Cornell and Cookson brands, the Models ERC10 and ERC11 provide fire-rated counter doors in small footprints and clean, streamlined appearances. A steel curtain and corresponding operational components and supports deliver formidable structural integrity, while an AlarmGard in-tube motor closes the door when an alarm signal is activated or during an extended power loss and resets automatically when an alarm is cleared or power resumes. The ERC11 model features the SmokeShield package with smoke gasketing integrated into the guides, and both models are available in sizes up to 16 feet wide and 10 feet high. Hand-crank, push-up, and motor options are available for operator safety and comfort.

Rockfon Chicago Metallic Drywall Grid suspended ceiling system

by Rockfon

The Rockfon Chicago Metallic Drywall Grid suspended ceiling system aims to improve speed, efficiency, and ensure a quality installation for building professionals. Suitable for a wide variety of commercial applications and eliminating the need for traditional framing, the suspended ceiling system is manufactured with G40 steel for durability and is suitable for use in geographies such as California and Canada that require systems withstand greater seismic loads and meet stricter code requirements. It achieves a Class A flame spread rating in accordance with ASTM standard E84.

MX-900 clamp awning designed for city balconies

by markilux

MX-900 clamp awning building product designed for city balconies — Photo courtesy markilux

A robust and easy-to-install clamp awning, the MX-900 offers a solution for challenging balconies with two clamp-in posts that securely fix the awning between balcony floor and ceiling. Because the clamping columns can be readily reassembled if needed, it can be relocated and adapted to various settings over time, such as a set pitch ranging from 5 to 70 degrees. The clamp awning comes in three standard frame colors, over 200 fabric patterns, and includes options for manual or motorized operation.

Socket-based electric vehicle charging solution

by Pando Electric

Socket-based electric vehicle charging building products — Photo courtesy Pando Electric

Combining hardware, software, and service into a seamless ecosystem, Pando Electric is an universal, socket-based EV charging solution that streamlines set-up and utilizes existing 240-volt power, making it uniquely suited for multifamily and commercial properties. The high-power Level 2 EV charging outlet has a commercial grade energy meter built in capable of real-time energy monitoring, plus its adaptive load management maximizes building electrical load and ensuring a balanced load across chargers to prevent overloading circuits or breakers. While users can simply park, plug-in using their own charging cable, scan within the PANDO app, and charge, building managers can utilize online and mobile tools for turnkey administration as well as receive support from a professional local service team.

MODcourt Pickle portable indoor pickleball surface

by Ecore

MODcourt Pickleball surface building product — Photo courtesy Ecore

Delivering a portable, high-performance indoor pickleball surface, MODcourt Pickle features an 8-mm vulcanized composition rubber (VCR) base layer that helps strike a balance between performance and comfort. Consisting of interlocking tiles that are pre-designed to create a temporary or permanent pickleball installation, its surface is engineered for heavy foot traction and remarkable speed with a high ball rebound rating, making it suitable for use in a wide range of facilities from fitness clubs and gyms to convention centers. This addition to the Ecore Athletic portfolio comes in two sizes: standard/regulation and a mini option for tighter spaces or portability.

SUBE bridging connector for cold-formed steel

by Simpson Strong-Tie

New SUBE Bridging Connector building products — Photo courtesy Simpson Strong-Tie

With the introduction of the SUBE bridging connector for cold-formed steel, contractors can experience faster and simpler end-of-wall bracing. Designed to connect cold-rolled channel at the end of a wall or single-jamb condition—or at the ends of panel walls, curtain walls or load-bearing conditions—the bridging connector connects to the open face of the stud while the u-channel attaches to the bottom of the connector, fitting snugly over the open side of the studs without special tools or clamping. The wall-stud bridging connector is crafted from 16-gauge steel with a galvanized (G90) finish, and its design values ensure compliance with AISI S100 Sections C2.2.1 and C2.3 for axially and laterally loaded studs.

Edge Bi-Fold Door

by PurOptima

Available in a space-saving two-panel configuration, the Edge Bi-Fold Door is a single-glazed solution used with PurOptima Microflush door frames that is ideal for areas where traditional swing or sliding doors aren’t feasible, such as office and meeting rooms. Furthering the hinged bi-fold door’s suitability for workspaces, it is offered with 12mm or 12.8mm Acoustic Laminate glass, helping it achieve up to Rw33dB in soundproofing capability. In alignment with the company’s circular economic principles, the bi-fold door integrates Hydro CIRCA aluminum, which delivers a reduced carbon footprint of 1.9 kg of CO2e/kg aluminum, and collaborates with local project delivery partners and glass fabricators.

Sto Fireblocking for combustible exterior wall assemblies

by Sto Corp.

Sto Fireblocking building products — Photo courtesy Sto Corp.

Driven by a commitment to innovation and safety, the launch of Sto Fireblocking leverages proven technology utilized in Europe for the U.S. market and, specifically, to meet the rigorous fireblocking requirements in the 2022 NYC Building Code for combustible exterior wall assemblies. This solution incorporates the use of Sto Lamella, a non-combustible mineral wool product spanning 48-inches long and four inches tall that comes in various thicknesses to accommodate R-value requirements. With the nationwide trend of new codes requiring non-combustible fireblocking to be incorporated into EIFS, MCM, HPL, FRP and any other cladding with foam plastic insulation, Sto Fireblocking is designed for use in a variety of the company’s wall envelope solutions.

I-Flush touchless flushing

by Flushmate

As a sleek and stylish solution for modern restrooms, I-Flush delivers improved touchless flushing operations to help reduce touchpoints and the spread of bacteria, water savings benefits and powerful flushing action. The wall sensor is equipped with advanced object detection due to its auto-calibration feature, while infrared sensor technology ensures a complete flush after each use. With its ADA-compliant design, the system—consisting of on-wall sensor, adapter and override button—offers four programmable options that allow users to customize its features for maximum convenience and hygiene.

Pro Plus Collection of waterproof wall panel systems

by Wetwall, a Wilsonart Company

Pro Plus Collection of waterproof wall panel building product systems — Photo courtesy Wetwall, a Wilsonart Company

Featuring 11 designs inspired by nature, the Pro Plus Collection is specifically designed for larger-scale commercial projects—like shower walls, bath surrounds, accent walls, and cladding—as a way to cut back on labor, time, and cost without sacrificing beauty. Ideal for new build to renovation projects requiring at least 9,700 sf of material, the wall panel system is created with a waterproof core and antimicrobial protection that inhibits the growth of stain- and odor-causing mold and mildew. A tongue-and-groove installation system on panels does not require special tooling or grout, delivering installation ease and helping construction timelines.

VacuMax Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG)

by Vitro Architectural Glass

VacuMax Vacuum Insulating Glass building product on college welcome center — Photo courtesy Vitro Architectural Glass

The latest generation of VacuMax Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG) has been refined to deliver improved aesthetics and further enhanced thermal performance. Each VIG unit consists of two lites of 4mm glass separated by a non-leaded metal edge seal and a vacuum space for a total thickness of 8.3mm, and this slim construction and light weight allow it to be incorporated into virtually any traditional glazing system, window frame or curtainwall application. Manufactured exclusively with Solarban 70 solar-control, low-E glass, this redefined VIG achieves a 79% improvement in U-values and delivers R-values up to R20.

Schlage XE360 Series Wireless Locks for multifamily

by Allegion

Focused on multifamily market needs, the Schlage XE360 Series Wireless Locks are made to fit a wide range of common area openings and complement a variety of design styles with in-demand finishes and modern lever styles. The electronic lock portfolio operates in an offline or No-Tour environment, which means property managers do not need to visit the lock as credentials update the access rights. Integrated with Allegion and third-party access control software providers and proptech systems for flexibility of choice between management systems, the locks also support the latest mobile credential technologies, including MIFARE, Bluetooth, and NFC mobile with advanced encryption to keep data and communications safe.