The accel-E Steel Thermal Efficient Panel wall system has been GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality Certified by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute.  The certification represents a significant achievement for the wall system, according to Al Alayon, president of Accelerated Building Technologies, which manufactures the S.T.E.P. wall system.  

“Numerous global, federal, state and local authorities recognize the value and specify GreenGuard Certified products in their green building codes and purchase specifications,” said Alayon.   

The energy-efficient wall system is manufactured by fusing cold formed steel framing components and expandable polystyrene insulating panels together into a single continuous system. In order to be GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality Certified, the EPS insulating material in the S.T.E.P. panels was screened for more than 10,000 different volatile organic compounds, and found to emit the fewest possible chemicals into the indoor environment.   

The GEI, a not-for-profit American National Standards Institute Authorized Standards Developer, oversees the GreenGuard Certification Program.   

By fusing steel framing components and EPS insulation into a single system, the system eliminates air infiltration and provides a continuous energy envelope that outperforms conventional framing and insulation, Alayon noted. In addition to helping to reduce energy costs for heating and cooling, the S.T.E.P. system also reduces the construction build time by providing a one step installation.   

The steel framing members are made of recycled steel and are themselves recyclable. Moreover, replacing conventional framing and insulation with pre-engineered accel-E panels virtually eliminates job site waste and disposal issues—all of which further add to the system’s LEED points.   

The materials used in the panels also resist mold and mildew while minimizing the building’s long-term environmental impact. The system fully complies with both the 2006 International Building Code and the 2006 International Residential Code.