Big Ass Fans

Okay, any manufacturer that has the words "big" and "ass" together in its name proves to be an interesting company to specify. That being said, Big Ass Fans is a great vendor for fan specifications. Contrary to their fans, they have more characteristics than just a "big ass" size.

Element, is designed for sound sensitive areas, with its motor's acoustic output no louder than a whisper. In addition to this feature, the complex electrical wiring monitors electrical consumption, the balance of the fan, and the temperature of the room. They are specified with industrial grade bearings that they claim will withstand the test of time.

The patented airfoil and wingtip aerodynamic design help stabilize air control to assist in a more cost efficient heating and cooling expenses.

This fan system allows for some cool and innovative extras such as speaker systems, surveillance cameras, smoke detectors, and more. All features can be easily controlled by an LCD remote installed into the wall.

Standard sizes are 12', 14', 16', 18', and 20' foot in diameter. Nine colors are able to be specified, with custom colorization available at an upcharge.

Ten year non-prorated warranty covers the LCD remote, onboard electric, and prime mover, with certain exclusions. Standard warranty for Element fan is 5 years with a factory installation.

It received a Green Product Award in 2009. However, there was no further information on how it received this award - I speculate that it is because of the cost efficiency. However, I could not find any information on the installation or its testing procedures.

Technical specs found here.

Liri America

Liri America is a laminate manufacturer line that has some great selections.

The sheet sizes come 51" x 120" with a thickness of .035". In addition to many solid colors and natural patterns, they also offer the option to print customers' graphics. One's choice in pattern affects the application (vertical or horizontal) as well as the finish. With a wide selection of finishes, giving a textural look, wood grain, metallic aesthetic, mosaic design, and more, clients have plenty of options.

Construction consists of a core of variable thickness obtained with kraft paper treated with phenolic thermoplastic resins. One or two decorative sides made with cellulose paper impregnated with thermoset melamine resins, which give the surface resistance typical of laminates. They are pressed for over an hour at a 100 kg/cm2 pressure and at a temperature on the paper above 130°C. Then, the surface finish is embossed in the laminate through patterned steel press-plates.

Furthermore, these high pressure laminates can be divided into two main families: Thin laminates with a sanded back, which can be glued onto a variety of surfaces: particleboard, plywood, MDF, hardboard and laminates with two decorative faces, thicker and self-supporting.

Liri has issued an Environmental statement claiming to be making strides towards a greener environment. They have been diligently working with the Environmental Management System to develop products and finishes that reduce the thermal power from waste, along with purchasing local materials for construction.

Liri recommends are clients and installers practice safety procedures when handling their product, and they have taken extra measurements to outline them here.

These products have undergone many tests, and here are the results.

Cleaning and maintenance instructions are here. The website also has quite extensive information on shipping, storage, handling, and installation here.

Surface Works

I've seen folding tables and folding chairs, but at last year's Neocon Surface Works introduced a new take on this concept with chairs and tables that fold together cutting the space required in half!

The Zii/Drive won a Best of Neocon 2009 Gold award for this novel furniture combination. Both the Drive flip top table and Zii chair come separate and as a set. It also comes in a Mini Zii/Drive pair to allow for easily arranged classroom settings. The great characteristic of this set is that they are detachable as well.

The Drive tables come standard with casters (with brakes) to allow for easy movement and space planning. They have the capability to be wired for data and electricity (with an optional wire management brackets), providing your clients with many uses for these tables.

Not only are they folding tables, but they also have the ability to nest within one another cutting down space even more. They feature joining hardware to string rows of tables together at once. Average 6 chairs fit for 60" - 72" tables.

Fabric or laminate modesty panels are available for function and design purposes, and its arched chrome legs offer a unique aesthetic to the typical chair/table construction.

Standard finishes are specified through the graded-in programs offered on the website or COM pricing with a testing approval. They come with various edge types as well. Zii chairs come standard with polypropylene seat and back making maintenance very easy. A leather upgrade is available as well. Table top cleaning is determined by the laminate manufacturer.

The chairs and tables come separately, yet when they are put away - one folds the table, folds the chair, hooks the chair on the rail on the table, and nests the batch together to conserve space.

All SurfaceWorks tables are available for specifications in GreenWorks materials in ABS, bamboo, wood, urethane edges, linoleum tops, and NAUF (No Added Urea-Formaldehyde) substrate.

It has received awards and certifications from the following alliances: FSC, EPP, CHPS School Member, and USGBC Member.

Kova Textiles

Kova Textiles is a manufacturer that offers fabrics and window coverings. They have also paired with Veritas to provide a line of ResinArt translucent fabric weaved panels (of 9 patterns) to be sandwiched in between two pieces of resin for architectural applications.

Since the website has little to no information about anything specific, I was planning to just talk about the whole vendor's collection, offerings, etc.

Their fabrics are thin weaved sheers for window coverings, roman shades, panel tracks, as well as room dividers. Despite the entire collection being very dense in its composition, the manufacturer does recommend upholstery application in commercial and residential areas.

The new Krystal Weave SatinFR collection, slightly thicker in construction and resembling a crystalline basket weave with organic curves in the 8 patterns, is new to the manufacturer designed by Libby Kowalski. This is an ideal collection for scrims, panel track systems, upholstery and window applications.

Krystal Sheer with 5 patterns offers a weaving technique with colored threads giving the pattern an interesting dynamic.

Krystal Weave is similar to its successor, yet it has a thinner construction, offering for a brilliant sheer design in 6 patterns with an incredibly complex threading. Perhaps, the SatinFR is recommended for upholstery because it is thicker, the original Weave is dense and appears to be used for architectural and window applications.

They have won awards through Neocon and ADEX. No sustainable information or installation/technical specs were available on the website.

Contact information:
Kova Textiles - NY
212.254.7591
info@kovatextiles.com

Skyline Design

Skyline Design is an architectural glass manufacturer with some beautiful patterns. In addition to the glass panels, they also have a wide selection of mirrors to choose from.

VitraColor is a new innovative glass paint coating system. This product is low-VOC enamel with a tough durable surface and an unlimited color selection (including metallic finishes and color customization). The PPG Starphire finish allows for color consistency and control, this color matching formula also results in identical colored glass panels regardless of the quantity.

Within the collection, Vitracolor H20 offers an environmentally friendly glass coating application. Applications include interior wall cladding, backsplashes, surface installations, and many more.

It can be used as a marker surface to serve as a decorative and functional backdrop for meetings, study groups, and programming. It is also quite easy to clean. In addition to this function, it can be specified with a magnetic surface to hold notes, pictures, and many more while functioning as a drawing board too.

By default, Vitracolor is manufactured with 100% tempered safety glass unless otherwise specified. Because of safety requirements, Skyline Design glass panels are able to have holes and notches drilled upon request.

Even though the color options are plenty and the color consistency is impeccable, Skyline recommends for the truest color representation to specify on low iron glass.

The thicknesses are 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" gauges. The limits on sheet size end at 72" x 144". VitraColor is available for specification with plate, laminated, and safety tempered glass.

VitraColor meets all standard safety requirements, and the manufacturer offers a 4 year warranty for interior applications and 2 year warranty for exterior applications.

Although it is available for indoor and outdoor applications, no installation documents could be found on the website. Since it is glass, it can be speculated to have a high cost, but no pricing was revealed either. Lastly, no testing or maintenance information can be found on the website as well.

Carnegie

Carnegie Fabrics highlighted their wallcovering collection with "Xorel" previewed in the April issue of Interiors and Sources. This collection features 100% Xorel, which is 100% sustainable, high performance, PVC Free material.

Katagami Graphic 6739W pictured above in W109, has 3 other colorways (custom colors are also available). It costs $54/yard. They require a 50 yard minimum for orders, anything less will result in a $3/yard upcharge.

It comes in a width of 52", with a repeat of 25.25" long.

It has been fire rated by the NFPA 260 test and qualifies for use in Class A and Class 1 Areas under the ASTM E84. It also passed the NFPA 265 Room Corner Test.

This pattern has great durability, which allows it to qualify for heavy duty contract use after passing the Wyzenbeek Abrasion Test ASTM D4157 with no wear after 200,000 double rubs.

It also has a ton of Earth-friendly extras (which contribute to LEED points), such as an Anti-Bacterial finish and extremely low VOCs; it is free of PVC, Chlorine, Plasticizers, Heavy Metals, Ozone-Depleting Chemicals, Topical Finishes, and Dioxin. It is safely disposable, preventing lifetime in a landfill.

In addition to LEED points, the pattern is Cradle 2 Cradle certified by MBDC as well as SCS Indoor Advantage Gold Certified.

The cleaning methods are not on the website, and the simple installation method revealed is that the pattern's backing is paperbacked for direct application wallcovering.

Bentley Prince Street

Bentley Prince Street is a carpet manufacturer that has some pretty cool patterns. One interesting thing that I saw on the website, was that they have a new creation called Modloom™, which is a combination of modular tile and broadloom carpet. They come in rectangular planks, 50 centimeter by 1 meter, which offers more options like patterns such as herringbone, parquet or ashlar.

The pattern (style number 4LR220620R) above is called Lake Street 4LR22, in the color No Seatbelts 400950. It comes in 12 colorways total.

In addition to the modloom tile size 19.69 in x 39.38 in, it comes in a 12' broadloom format.

It has a fiber content of Aquafil Alto Chroma® solution dyed nylon. Its backing options are High PerformancePC™, Prestige PlusRC™, Optimum Barrier™ II, Optimum BarrierRC™ II Cushion, and NexStep® Cushion Tile.

Its construction is made of tufted textured loop. It has many finishes: a soil/stain protection and an antimicrobial Intersept® layer, and it also has a secondary backing of High PerformancePC™.

Its yarn weight is 22 oz/yd² and with a machine gauge of 1/12 in. It has three pile heights: high: .2 in, medium .14 in, and low .08 in. The stitches appear ever 8.7". The pile density is 6514 with a thickness of .28. It has a size of 12'. Its pattern repeats every 24" w x 43 11/16" l.

The pattern has passed a Radiant Panel Class 1 test (ASTM E648) for Critical Radiant Flux. It is DM Corrected for Smoke Density. It passed the static test (AATCC - 134) < 3.5 KV. It also passed the Methenamine Pill Test (DOC-FF1-70) for flammability.

I could not find any environmental information on the site, but there are plenty of documents regarding installation, warranties, and maintenance. Installation information can be found here. Warranty information can be found here. Cleaning instructions can be found here. The website also allows you to access the factory's inventory for a specific pattern and colorway.