Home Slicker, manufactured by Benjamin Obdyke, recently received an evaluation report (ESR# 2890) from ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), providing evidence that Home Slicker Rainscreen meets code requirements. Building officials, architects, contractors, specifiers, designers and others utilize ICC-ES Evaluation Reports to provide a basis for using or approving Home Slicker in construction projects under the International Building and International Residential Codes.


ICC-ES President Mark Johnson explains why ICC-ES Evaluation Reports are so important. “Benjamin Obdyke can now reference the evaluation report to ensure building officials and the building industry that the product meets I-Code requirements,” Johnson said. “Building departments have a long history of using evaluation reports, and ICC-ES operates as a technical resource for the building department. Final approval of building products is always in the hands of the local regulatory agency.”


ICC-ES thoroughly examined Benjamin Obdyke’s product information, test reports, calculations, quality control methods and other factors to ensure the product is code-compliant.


View the evaluation report here: ESR 2890

Home Slicker rainscreen by Benjamin Obdyke was highlighted in the feature article of the Fall issue of Building Products magazine titled, “Wrapped Tight”. The article explores the latest weatherization products and how remodelers use them to prevent damage from moisture intrusion.


Read the digital version of the article here.


For more information on the Home Slicker family of rainscreen products, visit www.homeslicker.com.

How2Media announces that Benjamin Obdyke will be part of its World’s Greatest! TV series

Delray Beach, FL – How2Media, the producers of the television show World’s Greatest! announced on August 19, 2011 that they have recently selected Benjamin Obdyke to be a part of the popular television series.

“We think their story will be very interesting and meaningful to our viewers” said Gordon Freeman, Executive Producer of the show. Benjamin Obdyke was selected as the best company in its category because of its longevity, innovation, and dedication to its vision, mission, and values.

As part of the show, How2Media will be sending a film crew to spend time at the Horsham, Pennsylvania facilities, to find out what the story behind the story is with the continually innovating , 143 year old company. How2Media will show the World’s Greatest! viewers why Benjamin Obdyke was selected as the best in their category and chosen to be featured on the show.
World’s Greatest! is a thirty minute show dedicated to highlighting the world’s greatest companies, products, places, and people. Each show is a fast paced tour around the world featuring behind the scenes footage, informative interviews, and exciting visuals.

Stay Tuned! More details about airing dates will be published as they are determined.

“Weaving a Cedar Roof Valley”
Larry Perrault, owner of Perrault Builders in Sandwich, MA, mentions Cedar Breather as an integral part of a cedar roof installation in his article featured in the August 2011 issue of Journal of Light Construction magazine entitled “Weaving a Cedar Roof Valley.

The article details how to install a leak-proof woven valley in a cedar roofing application. Larry uses Cedar Breather to ensure the wood roof will last “up to 50 years”.

View the full article on the JLC website: jlconline.com

A Message from Benjamin Obdyke, Inc.

To Building & Construction Professionals and Media Representatives,

A video has been posted on YouTube and is making the rounds on the Internet that concerns the surface burning characteristics of a couple of manufactured rainscreen products on the market today. The video purports to show the extreme differences in flammability characteristics between one manufacturer's product as compared with another. The narrator concludes that one rainscreen product readily burns when exposed to flame, but is being represented as a Class A product.

We at Benjamin Obdyke are concerned that confusion about rainscreens and fire-ratings may be a result of the dissemination of this video. A product's fire rating is a fundamental issue for design/application decisions made by the architect, specifier, builder, and contractor. Benjamin Obdyke's Home Slicker®, the industry's first rolled rainscreen product to provide drainage and air flow in rainscreen wall assemblies, meets the ASTM E 84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials and received a Class A rating. This is the most highly respected fire-test-response standard for the comparative surface burning behavior of building materials applicable to exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings.

We urge building professionals to compare the different product and manufacturer choices available and make wise decisions based on the information they find - and which can be backed up by testing. We also suggest considering the reputation and history of the company providing the product as part of the decision. How long they have been in the industry and their track record in testing and certification are important to consider. Benjamin Obdyke has supplied tried and tested roof and wall products to the industry since 1868. It is a trusted brand with a long history of innovation and quality.

We at Benjamin Obdyke would like to be part of an industry conversation on this important topic. We want to make sure building professionals and the trade media are fully educated on the fire ratings and other features of our rainscreen products, which have performed successfully in homes and buildings for architects, specifiers, builders, and contractors for more than 20 years.

If you would like to discuss this further, please call me directly at 215-672-7200 or e-mail me at mcoulton@benjaminobdyke.com.

Sincerely,

Michael Coulton

General Manager

Benjamin Obdyke, Inc.
400 Babylon Road, Suite A
Horsham, PA 19044

www.benjaminobdyke.com

Benjamin Obdyke Rainscreen System Plays Integral Role in Groundbreaking LEED Platinum Home

HORSHAM, PA ─ The team of building professionals who created Vermont’s first LEED for Homes Platinum-certified home agreed from the design stage that a rainscreen system would play an integral role in extending the life of the residence’s exterior siding.

The home’s design included the incorporation of a nylon matrix rolled rainscreen product called Home Slicker® that was applied behind the cedar clapboard that covered much of the home’s exterior. It provides a space for continuous airflow between the clapboard and the water resistive barrier that covered the tightly sealed super-insulated building envelope.

David Pill, AIA, an architect with Pill-Maharam Architects in Shelburne, VT, was intent on designing a home for his family that would have as little environmental impact as possible, while incorporating construction details that he could use in other projects. “This was actually one of the first opportunities I had to use a rainscreen system in one of my projects,” Pill said. “I wanted a product that would allow us to create a drainage plane behind the siding that promoted air circulation.”

He said he chose Benjamin Obdyke’s Home Slicker – rather than installing a more labor-intensive series of furring strips behind the siding – because the product could create the necessary space without adding additional thickness to the siding assembly. The airspace reduces the forces that might draw water into the wall assembly, while any water that does reach the back of the cladding can more easily drain. It also helps accelerate the drying of moisture-laden air that can accumulate in the interior wall assembly by moving air throughout the cavity.

“I think it’s really important to have that space behind any wood product, such as the wood clapboard I have on my home,” Pill noted. In addition to the LEED award, his 2,800-sq.-ft. home earned the Energy Star 5+ star rating and the AIA Vermont Honor Award in the House/Sustainable category, among many other awards. In the cold climate of Vermont, the net zero-energy home – with a renewable energy source of a wind turbine – produces as much energy as it uses.

Pill made the decision to include rainscreen technology in his home while collaborating with custom builder Jim Huntington of New England Housewrights and Andy Shapiro, an energy consultant with Energy Balance Inc. “Every decision we made would have implications later in the process. I knew a rainscreen system would definitely improve the durability of the siding in the years ahead,” Pill said. Shapiro noted that he is an advocate of adding an airspace behind siding. “I incorporate venting behind siding where I can,” he said. “It extends the life of the finish on the siding and extends the life of the siding itself.”

Builder Huntington was fully supportive when the rainscreen system was specified by Pill and Shapiro. “It was a great experience for me as a builder to have an owner who was willing to incorporate so many energy-efficient methods and products into their home. We took our time to make sure every detail was right,” he said. Pill made it clear from the beginning that he wanted to put as much of his efforts on the home’s shell as possible. The sidewall system includes studs insulated with closed-cell polyurethane spray foam, polyisocyanurate foam board over exterior sheathing, housewrap, Home Slicker, and painted cedar clapboard combined with corrugated metal exterior cladding.

“When it came time to add a rainscreen space behind the cedar clapboard, the Home Slicker was the way to go,” Huntington said. “It gives the siding a chance to dry out if any wind-driven moisture should get behind it.” The builder thinks the minimal additional expense of including a rainscreen component can be well worth it in the long-term. He noted that he routinely specifies Benjamin Obdyke’s Cedar Breather®, a moisture-management product similar to Home Slicker, with cedar shake and shingle roofs. “I know the roofs have to breathe. It’s a must for me.”

Since the Pill-Maharam home was completed, it has delivered on everyone’s expectations. The turbine has produced enough energy for the home’s needs and the high-efficiency design has kept the family comfortable in the cold winters and the warm summers. “I also made the right decision to include the rainscreen system in our home and I’ve incorporated the technology into the recommendations of other homes I’ve designed. The process has been a fantastic learning experience for me,” Pill said.

For more information on Home Slicker or other roof or wall products, contact a local Benjamin Obdyke dealer, visit www.benjaminobdyke.com, or call Benjamin Obdyke Customer Service at 800-346-7655.

HORSHAM, PA ─ Tara Murray has been appointed Marketing Manager of Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated, a leading provider of roof and wall products to the residential and commercial construction markets. She reports directly to Michael Coulton, General Manager.

In her new position, she is responsible for the development and implementation of marketing plans supporting all Benjamin Obdyke existing and new products.

Murray comes to the company from CertainTeed Corporation’s Ceilings Division, where she held posts of increasing responsibility in product marketing and marketing communications. She began her career with the print and digital design services agency Warkulwiz Design Associates.

Murray earned a bachelor of science degree in graphic design communications from Philadelphia University. She is nearing completion of her Masters of Business Administration degree from Villanova University. She is a resident of Collegeville, PA.

Benjamin Obdyke Provides Expert Insight into Attic Ventilation and Upcoming Code Changes

In an article featured in Roofing Contractor magazine, George Caruso, product development manager for Benjamin Obdyke, provides a detailed tutorial of ridge ventilation and the importance of attic ventilation in a home. The article explains key topics in ridge ventilation including: why ventilation is necessary, how to identify a home’s ridge vent needs, IRC and IBC code changes, and types of ridge vent products.

The complete article is available on the Roofing Contractor website and in the February 2011 issue.

For more information on ridge ventilation, visit the Benjamin Obdyke website to download helpful education, training, and tools.

Benjamin Obdyke’s Home Slicker® Rainscreen Featured in Award-Winning “Green Home” Project

Home Slicker moisture-eliminating rainscreen for exterior walls from Benjamin Obdyke received a nod from GreenBuilder® magazine in the article “The Green Design Guide” featured in its December 2010 issue.

Using projects of the 2009 GreenBuilder Green Home of the Year awards program, the article showcases category winners using the best sustainable design ideas in residential building. As part of the home awarded “Best Traditional Neighborhood Design”, Home Slicker moisture-eliminating rainscreen is highlighted as a “continuous space for drainage and drying” behind the cedar siding. Also mentioned are the thermal break and pressure equalization-eliminating characteristics of Home Slicker that protect against the threat of trapped moisture and premature deterioration of exterior walls.

The complete article, including the “Best Traditional Neighborhood Design” winner, is available on the GreenBuilder website. Home Slicker is also featured in the GreenBuilder online database of Green Products.

More information on Home Slicker moisture-eliminating rainscreen can also be found at www.homeslicker.com.

Ratio Balancing Ridge Vent and Soffit Vent Corrected
Several other changes to code language in the IRC and IBC recently approved at the Final Action Hearings

Attic ventilation requirements had some improvements made to the IRC and IBC language at the Final Action Hearings in Dallas, TX that will improve the performance of ventilated attics.

The ratio of ridge vent to soffit vent will finally be corrected. Code used to allow up to 80% of the attic ventilation to be installed at the upper portion of the attic. Installing this way led to unbalanced systems that could cause moisture problems. It will now require at least 40% and not more than 50% of the ventilation to be installed in the upper portion of the attic. This balance is something Benjamin Obdyke has preached for years on our installation instructions and training materials. The ARMA Roof Assembly Ventilation Coalition (www.ravcoalition.org), of which Benjamin Obdyke is an active member, is responsible for proposing and getting this through the approval process. This is a significant improvement to the code language.

In addition, you will need to use a vapor barrier on the warm-in-winter side of ceiling in climate zones 5, 6, 7, and 8. These zones are more or less north of the Mason-Dixon line and include the Mountain states. This should also improve moisture performance within ventilated attic spaces. The codes had this as optional in all climate zones in the past.

In addition, the 1/300 ratio of attic ventilation net free area to attic floor area will now be the only ratio used. A 1/150 ratio is a current alternative but can confuse the issue when trying to determine in which cases to use each ratio.

These changes will make it easier to plan and install attic ventilation to improve roof and attic performance for architects, builders, and contractors.

These code changes go into effect January 1, 2012.

Michael Coulton, a veteran of the building products industry for more than two decades, has been appointed General Manager of Benjamin Obdyke, a leading roof and wall products provider of ridge vents, rainscreen components, roofing underlayments, and masonry products.

HORSHAM, PA ─ Michael Coulton, a building products professional with more than two decades experience in product development, marketing, and operations, has been appointed General Manager of Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated, a leading provider of roof and wall products. He reports directly to David Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer.
In his new position, he is responsible for all departments within the 142-year-old company, whose product offerings include the Rapid Ridge®, Roll Vent®, Xtractor Vent®, and Cougar ridge vent lines; Cedar Breather® roofing underlayment; the Home Slicker® family of rainscreen products; and Blockade™ masonry products. He previously served as Director of Product Development and Marketing for Benjamin Obdyke.
“Mike’s focus will be to oversee all departments within the company, while handling the operational aspects of the business,” said Campbell. “We are confident that Mike is the right person to lead and manage the Benjamin Obdyke team.”
A holder or co-holder of 11 U.S. and Canadian patents, Coulton has focused his career on developing innovative products that meet the needs of the builder and professional contractor community. He also currently serves as President of the Building Enclosure Moisture Management Institute, an organization that promotes the growth of the engineered rainscreen products industry to improve moisture management in building enclosures through technical advocacy.
He is also active within ASHRAE Technical Committees 4.4 (Building Materials and Building Envelope Performance) and 1.12 (Moisture Management in Buildings); ASTM Committees C15 (Manufactured Masonry Units), E06 (Performance of Buildings), and D08 (Roofing and Waterproofing); as well as the Roof Assembly Ventilation Coalition and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association.
Coulton has a degree in engineering from Drexel University. He is a resident of North Wales, PA.

Typar® Partners with leading rainscreen manufacturer, Benjamin Obdyke, to co-market combination rainscreen-weather resistant barrier products.

Fiberweb, manufacturer of Typar® HouseWrap, has begun selling Benjamin Obdyke’s Home Slicker® Plus Typar® and Home Slicker® 10 Plus Typar® -- two combination rainscreen-weather resistant barrier products for the residential construction market – to select distributors throughout North America.

HORSHAM, PA ─ Benjamin Obdyke Incorporated, a leading rainscreen manufacturer, has entered into a distribution agreement with Fiberweb, Inc., manufacturer of Typar® HouseWrap. Per the terms of the agreement which took effect July 15, Fiberweb now markets and sells two Benjamin Obdyke products that feature the patented Home Slicker® matrix technology bonded to Typar HouseWrap. Recognized Typar distributors are able to order these products along with the other Typar products from Typar’s Old Hickory, TN facility. The strategic move further enhances Typar’s “weatherization” products offering to the construction market.
Home Slicker® Plus Typar® is a cost-effective, labor-saving, moisture-eliminating rainscreen-weather resistant barrier. Each roll contains the patented Home Slicker three-dimensional matrix bonded to Typar, the premium residential and commercial grade housewrap. This simple design allows users to install the combination rainscreen-weather resistant barrier in half the time and promotes best practice for managing moisture in the sidewall. Each roll of Home Slicker Plus Typar is 39 in. wide x 61 ½ ft. long and covers 200 sq. ft.. Home Slicker 10 Plus Typar, which is specifically designed to meet the Canadian code requirements of a 10mm drainage and air space, comes in rolls measuring 39 in. wide x 38 ½ ft. long and covers 125 sq. ft.
While this agreement is a new development between the two companies, Typar manufacturer Fiberweb and Benjamin Obdyke have a longstanding relationship that dates back to 2004. In that year, the companies entered into their first strategic partnership when Benjamin Obdyke began marketing Home Slicker Plus Typar to its existing distribution base. As the acceptance of rainscreen construction throughout North America increased amidst growing code language aimed at preventing moisture damage in low-rise construction, Benjamin Obdyke added a second offering under the “Plus Typar” family in 2007. This product, Home Slicker 10 Plus Typar, featured the patented entangled matrix of Home Slicker in a wider width (10mm) in order to meet the emerging rainscreen code requirements of the National Building Code of Canada.
“With the increased acceptance of rainscreen construction over the past decade in both the United States and Canada, this agreement will be a win-win situation for Fiberweb, Benjamin Obdyke, and the customers of both companies,” said Typar Business Director, Bob Dahl. “We have a great working relationship with Benjamin Obdyke and we’re excited at the prospects of expanding that relationship to benefit Typar customers throughout North America with an increased breadth of product offerings.”
For more information on this agreement, contact Geoff Ehrman with Benjamin Obdyke at 215-672-7200 x224.

Benjamin Obdyke Joins The Building Enclosure Moisture Management Institute (BEMMI)
The Building Enclosure Moisture Management Institute (BEMMI) was recently formed and officially began operation January 1, 2010.

BEMMI is organized to represent manufacturers and suppliers of drainage space materials used in exterior walls in commercial building construction markets. The mission of the organization is to promote the growth of the engineered rain screen products industry to improve moisture management in building enclosures through technical advocacy.

The BEMMI members have already formed a Technical Committee which is working on several industry issues, and have identified several national and state code issues as top priorities for the Institute. John Woestman, a member of the BEMMI staff with extensive experience in the codes and standards and building products arena, will serve as BEMMI’s Technical Director.

“The formation of the BEMMI in January will assist manufacturers with representation in the major code and standards organizations,” commented Executive Director, Michael D. Fischer. “As an industry, rain screen producers will be able to speak with one voice to the regulators, code officials, and in the standards bodies to promote this rapidly growing building product used to provide both drainage and ventilation in high performance building enclosure systems.”

The BEMMI membership recently elected Michael Coulton, the director of marketing and product development for Benjamin Obdyke as president of the Board. Others named to officer positions include vice president Marcus Jablonka of Cosella-Dörken and Steve Samec of Masonry Technology, who was tabbed to serve as secretary/treasurer. “I am proud to be asked to lead this new initiative,” said Coulton, adding, “BEMMI will be poised to advance consensus standards for new technologies and products that will provide a means for producers of rain screen products and systems to promote sound building science and construction methods.”

Richard Lolley, CEO of Advanced Building Products, applauded efforts by industry members to collaborate on technical issues, saying “working together in a consensus process will allow the industry to succeed at a level we could never do by going it alone.” Lolley added that this collaboration will accelerate acceptance of rain screen science into mainstream building practice.

BEMMI is the North American trade association that represents the rainscreen industry’s manufacturing and marketing companies and their material suppliers. BEMMI is headquartered in New York, NY. The founding member companies of BEMMI include: Benjamin Obdyke, Cosella-Dörken Products, Masonry Technology, and Advanced Building Products.

White Paper on Moisture Management Solutions for Low-Rise Construction Now Available
Exterior building products manufacturer Benjamin Obdyke is actively looking for new ways to expand its business through the acquisition of new product ideas, patents, expanded product lines, and even new companies. The goal is to leverage the company’s strengths as the economy begins its rebound, according to its Director of Business Development. The company has a 142-year track record of releasing innovative products that enable builders to “build better.”

Benjamin Obdyke Inc. has issued a White Paper for building professionals on proper moisture management solutions for low-rise building enclosures. The White Paper can be downloaded from the company website. The White Paper gives architects, builders, and contractors the facts on how to control mold and mildew in exterior walls while also increasing the efficiency of the building envelope. It also provides research, charts, and maps that help professionals choose the right product and system for each exterior cladding and climate.

“Product names like housewraps, building paper, water- or weather-resistive barriers, and rainscreens are often used interchangeably,” said Michael Coulton, Benjamin Obdyke’s director of product development. “The fact is that they each can play distinctively different roles according to how they are used. This White Paper, which is prescriptive in nature and devoid of product brand names, will clear up many of the misconceptions and confusion regarding proper moisture management in low-rise construction.”

The compelling need for moisture management solutions has been driven by a number of developments. These include the need to comply with growing federal requirements, such as the International Residential Code and the International Building Code, which require a means of draining water that enters a building assembly to the exterior. In Canada, the National Building Code now requires the use of “…a drained and vented air space not less than 10 mm deep behind the cladding over the full height of the wall…” in areas that exceed a certain annual rainfall threshold.

Other concerns to building professionals include the need to preserve the life of the exterior cladding, manage moisture infiltration, and avert the potential for callbacks, remediation and/or litigation costs when moisture management is handled improperly.

“The independent research collected by Benjamin Obdyke helps bring clarity to the water-resistive barrier and rainscreen system category,” said Coulton. “The paper provides the basic guidelines to assist in determining when, where, and how to make the best selection for each application.”

Benjamin Obdyke Initiates Acquisition Strategy as Construction Industry Heads Towards Rebound
Exterior building products manufacturer Benjamin Obdyke is actively looking for new ways to expand its business through the acquisition of new product ideas, patents, expanded product lines, and even new companies. The goal is to leverage the company’s strengths as the economy begins its rebound, according to its Director of Business Development. The company has a 142-year track record of releasing innovative products that enable builders to “build better.”

At a time when the construction industry seems to have little positive to report, one building products manufacturer is looking to grow its business with a strategy to acquire new product ideas, patents, product lines, and/or companies.

Benjamin Obdyke, a leading provider of residential and light commercial roof and wall products in the U.S. and Canada, is actively searching for new opportunities that will position it for maximum growth as the construction sector recovers from its current downturn. “In order for us to achieve the company’s growth objectives, we will need to look outside the organization for new product ideas that we can synergize with our internal product development processes,” said Geoff Ehrman, Director of Business Development.

Specifically, the company is placing renewed emphasis on acquiring intellectual property, manufacturing capabilities, information technology, and new ideas that will allow it to leverage its core competencies. “Our products have consistently provided a superior level of performance that extends the life of the building system. We like to say our products help builders ‘build better,’’” Ehrman explained. “By moving into an acquisition mode, we see it as a way to improve our current products, introduce new products, or expand our market reach so we can continue to provide our customers the specific products they need. We are fortunate right now to be in the position to take advantage of a variety of opportunities,” Ehrman said.

He pointed out several reasons why a company or inventor might want to partner with Benjamin Obdyke. “First, we have a well-established and respected brand of products for the building’s exterior envelope. Second, we have established channels to access the market that is built upon our reputation for quality. And third, we have the technical expertise to help the contractor/builder build better. We have spent a great amount of time working with code officials and building scientists to make sure our products align with current building science practices,” Ehrman said.

To discuss a prospective alliance partnership, contact Geoff Ehrman at 215-672-7200.