After posting yesterday, I received a call from Bruce Keller, VP for Kalwall. We had an enlightening discussion, especially in regard to ICC-ES. Apparently, it has taken several years--and it's still ongoing--to work with ICC-ES to get a new report. It is to the point they're thinking of dropping them and going with a third party. He followed up our conversation with an email, which included the following:
"Thanks for listening…I hope this will help set the record straight….we do manufacture a very broad list of options, all called Kalwall, but with huge performance differences related to everything from fire performance (we even have a panel FM Global approved in fully noncombustible construction) to structural to thermal and solar optical properties.
"I personally have been involved in the development of the Light Transmitting Chapter, beginning with the rudiments of the chapter as an exception to the UBC, SSC and BOCA we developed at the then very active Society of the Plastics Industry (1963 onward). The current LT Code section is virtually unchanged, because the chapter has provided for the safe use of “combustible” materials when used as directed for decades…there is an important exception in the Scope for advanced products like Kalwall that allows the further use in certain cases where the material is engineered to pass the requirements for “conventional” materials. So, in many projects,when Kalwall with a UL listing as a Class A Built-up Roof assembly is provided, Kalwall is permitted to cover greater areas of that roof.
"As for the recent (5 years now) experience with the ICC-ES, we are still strugging to get their care and attention. If you know any of the powers in charge….we could use some help in moving the current ES application along!"
