Press Releases

VERSACORE PRECAST CONCRETE PANELS PROVIDE LOW PERMEABILITY FOR HUMIDITY CONTROL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 28, 2003

SAVAGE, Minn. ? August 28, 2003 ? VersaCore? brand panels from 30-year-old precast producer Fabcon Inc. provide attractive, cost-effective, and durable insulation with low permeability for consistent building environments. This improves moisture control for buildings in which humidity must be tightly regulated, such as indoor swimming pools, bakeries, car washes, printing facilities, and paper processing plants.

The wall panels are manufactured using a new technology that replaces hollow cores of precast concrete panels with insulating foam, enabling Fabcon to provide a higher-performing product without increasing cost. Concrete is able to maintain strict temperature and humidity control due to its thermal mass, and the insulated core of Fabcon's VersaCore panels adds to this inherent advantage when controlling humidity.

Walls must be absolutely airtight to retard moisture, as vapor will move through even the smallest opening in a panel. The high-density cell structure of foam gives VersaCore panels one of the highest insulating ratings available in a concrete panel at an R-value of 16.4. Wall movement must also be kept to a minimum to maintain a tight building. Flexing and bowing, common with many other building materials, cause high air infiltration rates, leading to high moisture permeability and possible mold growth. Computations using ASHRAE standards estimate the moisture permeability of Fabcon's VersaCore panels to be between 0.21 and 0.27 perms. This puts panel performance comparable to a vapor retarder or barrier. For more information visit www.fabcon-usa.com.

Company Background
Fabcon, an ISO 9001 registered manufacturer, which produces and installs precast concrete panels throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States and Canada, operates production facilities in Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The company has completed more than 8,000 precast projects and is celebrating 35 years as a leader in the precast concrete business. Since 1971, Fabcon has manufactured, delivered and installed precast wall panels for virtually every type of structure. Fabcon's experience helping customers accomplish their building goals includes 10,000 square-foot retail stores, million-square-foot distribution centers, and 16-story housing facilities. Visit www.fabcon-usa.com for more information.

For Further Information
Scott Jenkins:
952-882-7206; scott.jenkins@fabcon-usa.com
Madeline Riggs:
612-455-1755;
mriggs@psbpr.com