As the concept of "green" building continues to grow within the AEC industry, more material manufacturers are offering sustainable products that include features such as recycled content, Forest Stewardship Council certification, and even the reduction of energy used to create the materials. Due to increased demand, the list of sustainable product manufacturers is expanding almost as quickly as the green building movement itself.

In response to a request from Structural Engineer, a number of manufacturers provided the following information about their products. Some companies declined to participate by failing to return the questionnaire by our deadline. We apologize for inadvertent omissions. To be added to our contact list, please contact Jennifer Goupil, P.E., at jgoupil@gostructural.com.

For a decade, Cascadia Forest Goods, LLC, has supplied a wide range of wood products from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified forests, as well as from recycled and salvaged sources. The company offers softwoods, hardwoods, and FSC hardwoods from Central and South America. Cascadia Forest Goods’ product line includes lumber, timber and beams, plywood, flooring, stairs and risers, paneling, trim, siding, decking and fencing, roof decking, and veneers.

CMC Joist manufactures steel joists and joist girders in six strategically located manufacturing facilities in the United States and Mexico. According to the company, knowing a material is "green" or sustainable means having a full picture of its lifecycle, from the resources used to make it to how it is manufactured, used, and even discarded. Parent company Commercial Metals is one of the largest recyclers of steel in the country, with more than 44 recycling centers. Capitalizing on the internal vertical integration of CMC, CMC Joist utilizes 100-percent recycled steel in its products. CMC and CMC Joist are committed to providing sustainable steel products for the commercial construction industry.

CMC Steel Products is the manufacturer of the SmartBeam, the intelligent alternative for long-span composite floor and long-span roof construction. With positive economic and environmental attributes, steel is the most sustainable construction material available, according to the company. The raw material used to manufacture SmartBeam includes more than 80-percent "post-consumer" scrap and 15-percent "pre-consumer scrap." The castellation process improves the efficiency of standard WF shapes and opens new possibilities for design innovations that are environmentally friendly. CMC Steel Products is a subsidiary of Commercial Metals Company, headquartered in Irving, Texas. Since 1915, CMC has recycled, manufactured, and marketed steel and metal products around the world.

The Euclid Chemical Company is dedicated to supplying the concrete industry with products that support environmentally responsible construction. Euclid products support sustainable "green" building initiatives and provide solutions based on water savings, energy efficiency, green materials, and indoor environmental quality. From grouts and mortars formulated with recycled material and low VOC sealers and coatings to synthetic fibers and admixtures that help produce sustainable, durable, water-resistant and energy-efficient concrete, the Euclid Chemical Company manufactures a full line of products that can contribute to the LEED points of your next "green" building project.

Hanson Brick & Tile manufactures clay and limestone bricks and concrete roof tiles. Hanson’s bricks carry a Century-Plus limited warranty and meet or exceed ASTM
standards. Hanson concrete roof tiles, which carry a limited lifetime warranty, come with a Class-A fire rating, and are able to withstand wind speeds in excess of 125 miles per hour. Both are ideal for the creation of durable passive-solar structures and LEED projects. Hanson is committed to supporting customers throughout the design process—from selecting a brick or roof tile style and providing technical solutions to on-time delivery and installation tips.

Hayward Corporation’s EnviroSmart product offerings are environmentally preferable building materials certified by the FSC. According to the company, its products offer the usability and performance you expect while protecting the health of the forest, and the people and communities it supports. Sustainable product features include low VOC content, low- or no added formaldehyde content, reduced consumption, recycled content, longevity, energy efficiency, less toxins, reduced material output, indoor environmental quality, and rapid renewability.

Nicholas J. Bouras, Inc., is the sales, engineering, and detailing subsidiary of Bouras Industries, Inc., an integrated manufacturer of steel construction products with plants and sales offices in 16 states. The New Columbia Joist Company, a joist manufacturing affiliate located in Central Pennsylvania, fabricates Steel Joist Institute-specified K-, LH-, and DLH-series joists, joist girders, and specialty trusses of 100-percent recycled steel. With production capacity of more than 60,000 tons a year, the company can handle projects of all sizes throughout the United States. Combined with its deck manufacturing affiliate, United Steel Deck, Inc., and transportation affiliate, ABA Trucking Corp., Nicholas J. Bouras, Inc., has been providing construction products, engineering, and customer service for more than 40 years.

NuconSteel, a Nucor Company, is a fully integrated designer and manufacturer of total framing solutions featuring its innovative NUSolutions framing systems, which include NUTruss and NUPanel. NUCONSteel provides load-bearing, light-gauge steel roof, floor, and wall framing systems for commercial and residential building projects across the country. According to the company, to date, NuconSteel’s framing systems have been used as all or part of the primary framing in more than 1,000 assisted living centers, schools, hotels, office buildings, apartments, churches, and in virtually every other commercial building segment.

Nucor shipped 20.6 million tons of steel to outside customers, nearly all of it made from nearly 100-percent recycled scrap, making Nucor one of the world’s largest recyclers, according to the company. Nucor’s Vulcraft Group, whose joist and deck are made from nearly 100-percent recycled steel, creates custom configurations to support green buildings, such as roofs that direct rainwater for use in air conditioning. Nucor has launched several joint ventures to increase sustainability in its raw materials chain, such as a pig iron factory fueled by re-plantable eucalyptus trees in Brazil, and reducing the energy required to make sheet steel.

Sonotube concrete forms offer an economical way to create columns for entrances, light posts, and other commercial and residential structures. Sonotube forms are designed to stand strong, prevent blowouts, and resist water damage. Product varieties include round, square, finish-free, void, commercial, and a retail product, the Builder’s Tube. In keeping with manufacturer Sonoco Products Company’s commitment to sustainability, its forms are made primarily from post-consumer paper. The finish-free form produces a smooth column with no manual finishing. According to the company, the form is easy to remove and requires less equipment and cleanup than other forms, helping contractors operate economically and efficiently.

In order to further serve its customers’ needs, Superior Wood Systems has expanded its insulated header product line. The company’s line now includes the SWIII Insulated header. The SWIII is intended to be used as a replacement for a double, 2-foot-by-12-foot built-up window and door header in 2-foot-by-6-foot walls. It’s 11-7/8-inch-deep, 16-foot-long SWIII 2-foot-by-6-foot insulated header is a lightweight, engineered, energy-efficient alternative to the standard 2-foot-by-12-foot or solid sawn header.

To obtain more information about any of the products featured in this Specifiers’ Guide, click www.gostructural.com/infodirect and enter the number listed below.

Company Name (InfoDirect number)
Cascadia Forest Goods, LLC (620)
CMC Joist (621)
CMC Steel Products (622)
The Euclid Chemical Company (623)
Hanson Brick & Tile (624)
Hayward Corporation (625)
Nicholas J. Bouras, Inc. (626)
NuconSteel (627)
Nucor (628)
Sonoco Products Company (629)
Superior Wood Systems (630)