#Product Trends
CopperPlus - Innovative roof made of CopperPlus Cladding
Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport
CopperPlus, copper-clad stainless steel roofing material ASTM B 506-09, was chosen in a major project in 2014 to replace the historic copper roof in Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to replace.
CopperPlus consists of two outer layers of copper, metallurgically bonded to a Type 430 stainless steel core. On the one hand, the cladding compound increases the strength, reduces the thermal properties of stainless steel and on the other hand it has the same appearance and patina behavior as pure copper.
CopperPlus has been installed in four-arched vaults covering 102,000 square meters in phases of over 10 months.
"The new skin will be just as beautiful as it was in the mid-'50s when the terminal was built," said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay in a press release from the airport. "Over time, the roof will slowly turn green again, as this airport will serve new generations in this region."
Jerry Beckmann, deputy airport director for planning and development, said the 60-year-old roof suffered severe damage during an 2011 EF4 tornado (estimated at between 267 and 322 km / h). It was more economical to replace the aging roof instead of repairing it.
"As an engineer, I wanted to make sure that the replacement material is waterproof and holds well in storm events," Beckmann said. "The airport directors were concerned about maintaining the historic architectural integrity of the roof, and I've done some research and am delighted with the properties of the CopperPlus clad material, which looks identical to solid copper, but does not expand as much, contracts in the heat and has better soldering properties. "
Introduced in the 1960s, CopperPlus is used in a wide range of commercial and residential roofing and architectural metal applications requiring high strength, durability and cost-effectiveness. Its lower weight facilitates handling and installation while its low thermal conductivity allows easy soldering. CopperPlus can be cut to any desired length and made into almost any shape. In the United States, it is often used in tornado-endangered areas.
"CopperPlus will provide a significant strength advantage for St. Louis Airport," said Richard Petty, product manager at Heyco. "In Miami-Dade County, wind uplift tests have been carried out, showing that the strength of CopperPlus is equal to that of steel, making it the perfect material for wind events like St. Louis."
