(from the May 2008 Issue)
DuPont Launches Test Facility for Next
Generation Storm Protection
DuPont today opened its first storm shelter testing center at its Chestnut
Run site here. The multi-million dollar facility will allow the company
to test different materials for its DuPont™ StormRoom™ with
Kevlar®. DuPont also will use the site to develop new technologies
that will further help protect people and property during dangerous storms.
“Historically, April kicks off tornado season in the United States,
but already this year we’ve seen the incredible destruction these
storms can cause, including a hit on a major urban area, Atlanta, which
dispels the myth that tornadoes don’t target big cities,”
said Thomas F. Schuler, vice president and general manager -- DuPont Building
Innovations. “This test facility, our first at a DuPont site, will
allow us to test new materials for storm protection and to make the StormRoom™
stronger and more cost-effective for consumers and building owners.”
Yesterday DuPont announced an agreement with national builder Epcon Communities
to offer the DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® to its 138
builder franchisees – the first agreement to offer a storm shelter
nationally.
DuPont estimates that 90 percent of its patent-pending storm shelters
are now in use in rural and suburban communities, with 10 percent installed
in cities. Initially, sales for the StormRoom™ with Kevlar®
were focused on Tornado Alley, the eight states where most tornadoes strike
during the year. DuPont has found, however, that many other parts of the
United States, including coastal areas where hurricanes and other wind-based
storms can wreak havoc, need the safety and security provided by the StormRoom™.
DuPont has seen a 300 percent increase in sales in states outside Tornado
Alley.
The DuPont™ StormRoom™, the only storm shelter with the strength
of DuPont™ Kevlar®, provides protection from tornadoes and hurricanes.
Flying debris continues to be the No. 1 cause of injury in severe storms
and can turn branches into deadly projectiles. Tornadoes can provide consistent
winds up to 250 miles per hour (mph) – much higher than some hurricanes.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), most of the
country is exposed to winds that can range from 130 mph to 250 mph.
According to DuPont research, consumers are increasingly focused on home
safety and the need for functionality in a storm shelter. The DuPont™
StormRoom™ allows for electricity and plumbing installation, as
well as cell phone and radio reception, so its occupants can monitor news
and weather information. When not in use, the StormRoom™ can double
as an extra room, storage space or powder room, providing year-round utility.
The DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® is the only shelter
that can be installed in existing as well as new homes, above ground or
in basements, and is completely transportable using authorized installers.
It is designed to withstand the impact of a 2' x 4' timber propelled at
100 mph – the speed at which the timber would travel in the strongest
tornado, which generates wind gusts of up to 250 mph. The StormRoom™
also is crush-resistant and engineered to support a uniformly distributed
weight of more than 70,000 pounds, the weight of a fully loaded tractor
trailer. Based on DuPont comparison data, the company believes the StormRoom™
to be the strongest and most durable of all the storm shelters available
today.
DuPont manufactures and markets multiple products for residential and
commercial construction that provide
high-performance weather and climate protection for buildings and their
occupants, and sustainable energy management systems. In addition to the
DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar®, these products include:
DuPont™ SentryGlas®; DuPont™ Corian® and Zodiaq®
solid surfaces and Granite Certified by DuPont™; DuPont™ RoofLiner
with Elvaloy®; DuPont™ Tyvek® Weather Barrier Systems including
Tyvek® AtticWrap™, the first breathable roofing membrane to
create an airtight attic, and Tyvek® ThermaWrap™, which helps
reduce energy costs and increase comfort by improving the reflection of
radiant energy in wall systems. DuPont also manufactures Tyvek® Weatherization
Systems, including DuPont™ Tyvek® Commercial Wrap™ and
DuPont™ Tyvek® DrainWrap™.
The StormRoom™ with Kevlar® is offered by DuPont Building Innovations,
one of five business units in the DuPont Safety & Protection segment.
The other businesses are DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems, DuPont Nonwovens,
DuPont Chemical Solutions Enterprise and DuPont Safety Resources. The
segment provides innovative products and services that protect people,
buildings, critical processes and the environment. In 2007, the segment’s
revenues totaled $5.6 billion.
DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work
by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier
life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including
agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection,
home and construction, transportation and apparel.
Copyright 2008 Stone Industry News. All rights reserved.