Owens Corning Helps World Cup Soccer Stadium Get Greener with Cem-FIL® Alkali-Resistant Glass Fibers

TOLEDO, Ohio, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) Cem-FIL® alkali-resistant (AR) glass fibers will take the field at the opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 11. The newly redesigned stadium features fibreC® concrete panels from Rieder Smart Elements, reinforced with Cem-FIL® AR fibers, which reduce the weight and thickness of the concrete by up to 10 times compared to conventional panels. They are 100 percent recyclable; and enhance building life and durability with resistance to corrosion, fire, UV light and temperature variations.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100609/CL18358 )

"The world continues to raise the bar on sustainability in building materials," said Owens Corning Chief Sustainability Officer Frank O'Brien-Bernini. "Demand is increasing for resource-efficient, lighter, stronger, more durable and more recyclable materials. Products such as Owens Corning Cem-FIL® glass fibers are quickly becoming must-haves in order to meet evolving building standards."

O'Brien-Bernini added that despite slower construction growth in many markets around the world, demand for fiber additives in cement and concrete is forecast to increase 6.6 percent per year through 2012.* "The use of Cem-FIL® in buildings like Soccer City Stadium is certainly helping drive that momentum," he said.

The Rieder fibreC® panels featuring Owens Corning Cem-FIL® AR glass fibers provide these advantages:

• Cem-FIL® fibers deliver significantly higher tensile strength than steel at much lighter weight and lower mass.
• Cem-FIL® fibers provide excellent weatherability, fire resistance (class A1 according to the DIN standard) and durability to reduce maintenance and extend useful life.
• After grinding, old panels are recyclable with up to 15 percent regrind utilized for the fabrication of new fibreC® panels, while 100 percent regrind can be added to concrete mixes. The composition of fibreC® panels allows the material to be recycled, so it is listed in the GreenSpec® directory as an environmentally preferable product and evaluated for U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED® credits.

Design freedom is another advantage of the glass-fiber-reinforced fibreC® panels. The façade of the stadium evokes a traditional African calabash cooking pot, requiring markedly curved panels. By enabling thinner and lighter panels, Owens Corning Cem-FIL® glass fibers help make it possible to create these sculpted forms without compromising strength and resilience. The fibreC® panels are available in standard and custom colors; a palette of earth tones was chosen for the stadium cladding.

"Products like Cem-FIL® are indispensable in changing the way building materials can perform," said Rieder Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Rieder. "The world is changing and the solutions we deliver must change along with it. This is a revolutionary time for the construction industry."

Chosen as one of 10 venues that will host 2010 World Cup matches, Soccer City Stadium began renovations in January 2007 and was completed in October 2009. The three-tier stadium soars 60 meters (197 feet) into the air, stretches across 300 meters (984 feet) and can accommodate 95,000 fans.

About Owens Corning Alkali-Resistant Glass Fibers

Owens Corning AR glass fibers have the same density as cement and therefore do not float or sink, providing excellent dispersion in the matrix. They do not corrode and are resistant to the acids and alkalis present in concrete. The fibers provide strong, durable performance in a wide variety of cement- and mortar-based applications, including such primary structural elements as flooring, renders, top screeds, tunnels and utility poles.  Cem-FIL® AR glass fiber reinforcements are available worldwide in rovings, chopped strands, meshes and mats. For more information, visit www.ocvreinforcements.com/solutions/Cem_FIL.asp.

About Rieder

Rieder is a family-owned company with headquarters in Maishofen, Austria. For almost 50 years, the company has been known as a leading specialist innovating solutions for concrete as a building material. Additional information is available at www.rieder.cc.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements and engineered materials for composite systems and residential and commercial building materials. A Fortune 500 company for 56 consecutive years, Owens Corning is committed to driving sustainability through delivering solutions, transforming markets and enhancing lives. Founded in 1938, Owens Corning had sales of $4.8 billion in 2009 and about 16,000 employees in 28 countries on five continents. OCV™ Reinforcements, OCV™ Technical Fabrics and OCV™ Non-Woven Technologies are the three main business units that make up the Owens Corning Composite Solutions Business. The business delivers a broad range of reinforcement products that provide lightweight alternatives to steel, wood and aluminum, thereby reducing weight and improving energy efficiency. Additional information is available at www.owenscorning.com.

® Cem-FIL is a registered trademark of Owens Corning.

® fibreC is a registered trademark of Rieder Smart Elements GmbH.

® GreenSpec is registered trademark of BuildingGreen, Inc.

® LEED is a registered trademark of U.S. Green Building Council.

*Freedonia study, Concrete Additive Industry study and forecast for 2012 and 2017

SOURCE Owens Corning