August 10, 2005—Royal Group Technologies Limited, Toronto, Canada, announced that recent testing of its Royal Building Systems (RBS) suggests that RBS does not consistently meet the smoke generation requirements of applicable US building codes for interior unfinished surfaces in non-utility buildings. Non-utility RBS structures include car washes, office buildings, factories, and houses, and more than 550 have been built in the US in the last 8 years. About 350 of these structures are car washes, which principally have limited human occupancy, according to the Royal Group announcement.
Management has decided to immediately cease production and shipment of non-utility structures using RBS components in the US and global locations. Furthermore, with assistance of appropriate consultants, the Company is presently evaluating buildings previously constructed or are under construction with the System to determine any additional appropriate steps to address the concerns raised by the recent testing. Royal Group will then assess the applications of the System appropriate for future production and shipment. The Company advised that its RBS components comply with applicable Canadian building codes that it is presently reviewing RBS’s smoke generation performance vis–vis other applicable international building codes.
RBS is a modular, component-based concrete forming system involving hollow panels that interconnect to create walls. Concrete is poured into these vertically assembled panels to construct a durable, low-maintenance structure. RBS also includes a car wash interior refinishing product line, known as the Royal Renew Paneling System, which involves unfilled panels that are fastened to the walls of an existing car wash. Approximately 950 car washes have been retrofitted with Royal Renew, which are also subject to the smoke generation requirements of applicable US building codes.
Commenting on the recent findings, Royal Group’s President and CEO, Lawrence J. Blanford stated that management “will be guided in this situation by best practices in product stewardship” and “is committed to meeting customers’ expectations for safe, durable, low-maintenance building products, which Royal Group has cultivated as a core strategy.”
For more information, see the Royal Group Web site.
