Composites in Construction

Former ACMA president Bill Kreysler presented a session Thursday afternoon titled Composites in Construction with a Vision of the Future Today–Case History on All Composites Residential Structure. Though the title of the presentation was lengthy, the premise was quite simple: Composites can lend more to construction than many people think.

Kreysler explained the reasons why composites are not seen as a viable alternative in the construction market. Much of it had to do with the fact that the concept prevails against common wisdom: Composites are too conservative and traditional materials are too enmeshed into the culture as it is. He argued that countless advances have been made with the development of materials such as reinforced concrete. The main issue, he said, is recognizing that manufacturers need to spark innovation.

The focal point of the presentation was a residence in San Francisco. A local woman hired Kreysler’s company to build a house made entirely of composite materials. The company immediately went to work on creating the unique structure from FRP panels. The company faced some challenges, having to transport the house in six parts and needing to add stucco to the roof for the house to meet California fire standards. The house was small, only about 40 square feet, and bore a shape resembling a beehive. Nevertheless, Kreysler points to the finished product as a harbinger of things to come and as proof that utilizing composite materials in this way is a legitimate course of action.