The
product is ideal for a range of applications, including thermally insulating
plasters, screeds, pizza oven liners, bricks, boards and much more. It is best
described as a modern solution for energy-efficient building.
Billed
as Africa’s ‘must-attend’ construction event, organised by dmg events, and now
in its 7th year, African Construction Expo 2019 provides a platform
for over 9 500 construction professionals from over 45 countries to engage with
key industry stakeholders and access valuable network opportunities.
The
construction industry is an important market for Pratley, Marketing Director
Eldon Kruger notes, especially when considering the ‘green’ aspects of
Pratliperl®. “Energy-saving is, and will continue to be, an issue for the world
at large.” In South Africa especially, Pratliperl® assists architects and
construction professionals to comply with energy-saving regulations such as
SANS 204.
The
sustainability features of Pratliperl® translate into significant growth
opportunities, Kruger highlights. “In South Africa, with a constrained power grid
and the ever-increasing cost of energy, this is readily apparent. For example,
you can literally double the thermal insulation of a two-leaf brick wall by
plastering the inside and outside of that wall with Pratliperl®. One can also
imagine the benefits Pratliperl® brings to low-cost housing.”
Visitors
to Pratley’s stand at the African Construction Expo 2019 will get to see examples
of Pratliperl® applications, including plastering and screeding. Demonstrations
of Pratliperl®’s extraordinary fireproofing and thermal insulation features
will also amaze our guests, adds Kruger.
Pratliperl®
is derived from a volcanic glass called Perlite, which is mined in northern
KwaZulu Natal. The raw material is then expanded in special furnaces to create
millions of small, well-sealed Pratliperl beads. Each bead has a small vacuum
inside, giving the product its unique thermal insulation properties.
“It’s
like having millions of tiny thermos flasks,” Eldon highlights. The expansion furnaces
are highly specialised, with much proprietary technology in their design and
construction. South African Perlite, unlike Perlite in other parts of the
world, is also very hard once it has expanded. This makes the mineral ideal for
producing high-strength materials for the construction industry.
In
terms of energy-saving and thermal insulation products, Kruger stresses that
all claims by manufacturers should be verified. “There’s no doubt that these
types of products are essential in ensuring compliance, but do ensure that what
the manufacturer tells you makes sense. Consider the fireproofing aspect as
well. Remember that many products may have exceptional thermal insulation
properties, but what happens in fire conditions when they burn? Toxic fumes and
smoke can be deadly. Ensure that the products you choose address this concern,”
he concludes.
Visit Pratley at Booth
309 at the African Construction Expo from 11 to 13 June at the Gallagher
Convention Centre. More information, https://www.africanconstructionexpo.com/
More information from Pratley, Tel: 011 955 2190 / Email: sales@pratley.co.za
/
www.pratleyminerals.com
