Astra-Glaze-SW+® Offers Sustainable Solutions for Safe, Clean Correctional Facilities

7/19/2007

An innovative leader of architectural concrete masonry units, Trenwyth Industries offers a safe, clean environment for your high-performance correctional facility … inside and out.

Understanding that safety is the number one concern for correctional facilities, Trenwyth introduced Astra-Glaze-SW+® glazed concrete masonry units (CMU) to correctional facility managers and the correctional AEC community.  Astra-Glaze-SW+ possesses the aesthetics of ceramic tile and the structural integrity and durability of concrete masonry, providing a safe alterative to ceramic tile and structural glazed facing tile (SGFT). 

Astra-Glaze-SW+ glazed concrete masonry units are lightweight or medium-weight concrete blocks with a thermoset glazing compound permanently molded to one or more faces. The glazed compound is cured and heat treated in a gas-fired tunnel kiln, becoming

an integral part of the block. The result is a hard glazed “tile-like” surface permanently molded onto one or more faces of the concrete blocks.  The face of the unit is inseparable from the block unless damage occurs to the block itself. 

Similar in appearance, Astra-Glaze-SW+ glazed concrete masonry units, ceramic tile and SGFT faces are dissimilar in composition.  Unlike glazed concrete masonry units, both ceramic tile and SGFT possess ceramic glaze faces that can be more easily marred, scratched, cracked or shattered.

Available with recycled content, Astra-Glaze-SW+ is available in colors, shapes and sizes you won’t find anywhere else.  In addition to the extraordinary pallet of colors, Trenwyth offers custom color capabilities to enhance design flexibility.  Astra-Glaze-SW+ units provide outstanding colorfastness and built-in ductility to reduce the possibility of cracking and crazing in adverse conditions.

Astra-Glaze-SW+ also promotes cleanliness.  Mold and moisture resistant, Astra-Glaze-SW+ glazed units are USDA-approved for sanitary environments.  The tight impervious surface is the optimal solution for foodservice areas, cells, showers, restrooms or anywhere bacteria tends to breed.  These easy-to-clean units are exceptionally resistant to staining, abrasion, impact and chemicals and the graffiti resistant satin finish is virtually impenetrable to grease, spray paint and permanent markers.

The economies inherent to Astra-Glaze-SW+, as well as to all Trenwyth concrete masonry units, are quite clear.  One-step, single-trade installation of finished load-bearing or non-load-bearing walls saves both time and money.  The masonry unit is the finished wall.  The maintenance-free finish eliminates the need to paint or re-finish and will last the life of the building. 

Astra-Glaze-SW+ is the logical choice for high-performance, sustainable buildings.  Fire-rated Astra-Glaze-SW+ concrete masonry walls exhibit a high thermal mass that has a significant impact on the reduction of energy consumption.  Trenwyth walls remain warm or cool long after the heat or air-conditioning has been turned off, effectively reducing heating and cooling loads and shifting them to off-peak hours. 

Trenwyth masonry units are mold and moisture resistant and emit low or no VOC’s, avoiding potentially hazardous pollutants that may adversely affect the air quality of building occupants.

Many Trenwyth masonry units contain a significant amount of pre-consumer recycled content that may earn LEED® points for your building.  Recycled content can be found in Astra-Glaze-SW+ glazed (upon request), Verastone® ground face, Verastone® Plus filled and polished, as well as Acousta-Wal® sound-absorbing units with either a glazed or ground face texture.

Whether you prefer the beauty of ceramic tile, traditional ground face, the timeless look of terrazzo or a more textured look to complement your design, Trenwyth offers a full line of inspiring architectural concrete masonry units.  Visit us at www.trenwyth.com or call 1-800-233-1924 for a representative or manufacturing facility nearest you.

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