Architectural Products Update

 
Vented Sidelites

Therma-Tru Doors offers Vented Sidelites for hinged patio and entry doors, allowing daylight transmission and ventilation without the inconvenience of storm doors and sliding screens. Available for the Fiber-Classic Oak Collection and Smooth-Star product line, these continuous systems consist of either one-hinged doors with two-hinged sidelites, or two-hinged French patio doors with two-hinged sidelites. Door stile edges and a wide patio mullion provide additional strength when doors are open. Decorative glass options available.

thermatru.com

 
Vacuum Elevator

Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators LLC designs and manufactures the vacuum elevator, which combines a smooth vertical cylinder with a coaxial car that moves up and down through air suction. The product line ranges from a single-passenger model to a three-passenger, wheelchair-accessible model. All of the lift systems are capable of up to a 35-foot (10.5-meter) vertical rise over as many as four stops. The footprint is smaller than that of a traditional residential elevator, and no pit excavation, hoistway, or machine room is required. Appropriate for both retrofits and new construction projects.

vacuumelevators.com

 
Pest-Control Insulation

Pest Control Insulation Systems Inc. manufacturers a patented blown-in cellulose insulation treated with a borate-based pesticide. TAP® (Thermal Acoustical Pest Control) insulation can be installed on top of existing home attic insulation or in the attics and walls of new homes. Over 85 percent of this Energy Star-labeled loose-fill insulation consists of recycled newspaper. Also an EPA-labeled insecticide product, the insulation contains boric acid, a naturally occurring, low-toxicity compound that helps control cockroaches, ants, termites, silverfish, and other crawling insects. The borate treatment is permanent; no reapplication is necessary. The insulation can be installed by Orkin and Terminix.

tapinsulation.com

 
Wooden Bathtub

The new Ofurò wooden bathtub from Rapsel has a clean design inspired by traditional Japanese soaking tubs. Deep enough for complete submersion, the bathtub is made of knot-free Siberian larch, with a natural finish to show off the wood grain. The larch is dried in several steps, then cut, shaped, and joined in a special procedure. Designed by Italian architect and designer Matteo Thun and his head of product design, Antonio Rodriguez, the tub has won several awards, including a 2010 Interior Design Best of Year Award, a 2010 Green Good Design Award, and a 2010 Wallpaper Design Award.

matteothun.com

 
Conditioned Airspace HVAC Framing

Boise Cascade announces the availability of Conditioned Airspace HVAC framing, in which a single duct line can be efficiently run through second-floor joists to feed both the first and second floors of a home. By placing the home's heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system in the conditioned air space inside the insulated, air-sealed shell of the home, rather than in the attic, garage, or crawlspace, the system may enable considerable savings on heating and cooling bills. It relies on the ability to cut holes and run ductwork through BCI® Joist and AllJoist® engineered wood floor systems, which are available with FSC Chain-of-Custody certification.

bc.com