Laval, Quebec (original release: Deerfield Beach, Florida, October 11, 2022) – MAPEI Corporation, a leading manufacturer of construction materials for the building industry, proudly announces that its Planitop® 3D construction ink/mortar, produced in strategic partnership with Black Buffalo 3D Corporation, a leading provider of large-scale 3D construction printers, has been granted official AC509 certification by the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES).
Code officials rely on reports from the ICC as a resource for ensuring that innovative building products comply with code requirements. This certification was granted after thorough and rigorous testing of the concrete-based ink/mortar. Both Planitop 3D and the Black Buffalo 3D printing technology were found to meet AC509 code requirements for “bearing, nonbearing, and shear walls up to 40' in height.” AC509 is the ICC code relating to “3D Automated Construction Technology for Concrete Walls.”
“We are very proud of this ICC-ES AC509 certification,” said Luigi Di Geso, President and CEO of MAPEI Corporation. “It underscores the fact that our team, along with Black Buffalo 3D, was able to create the best 3D ink/mortar in the world. MAPEI is known globally as the leading manufacturer of building materials for the construction industry. Now, we are proud to be the leaders in material innovation for 3D construction.”
“Black Buffalo 3D’s goal has always been to make 3D construction printing a coded alternative to traditional construction,” said Black Buffalo 3D Founder and Interim CEO, Derek Chung. “Our AC509 certification is the result of years of hard work and dedication and marks a milestone, not just for us, but for the whole 3D construction printing industry.”
Planitop 3D is available for sale to all printing manufacturers in North America through MAPEI. The proprietary AC509 cement-based construction ink/mortar has been developed through years of research, testing and evaluation by independent and in-house material scientists at MAPEI, Black Buffalo 3D and various third-party labs, including Intertek, which is based in York, PA.
Achieving AC509 certification represents the final step in a lengthy approvals process for MAPEI’s Planitop 3D. Milestones in that product approval process include several 16+ hour print sessions on NEXCON™ printers performed by the Black Buffalo 3D team, which have been verified by members of the ICC-ES-approved lab, Intertek. The verification process used stringent testing to the criteria of the ICC-ES AC509 standard for 3D printed walls and included testing and verifications at the material, machine and printed wall levels.
Large-scale 3D construction printers and ink/mortar are poised to improve the way that the world faces challenges related to affordable housing, emergency shelters and resilient infrastructure. This innovation provides a faster, more efficient approach to residential and commercial custom construction. With Planitop 3D’s ICC-ES AC509 code approval, on-demand and on-site 3D printing is now a legitimate coded technology.
“Planitop 3D will unlock the true potential of 3D construction printing by providing contractors and builders with internationally accepted certification that their projects will be strong and durable,” added Di Geso. “And the resulting structures will be built quickly and at a fraction of the cost of traditional construction, which means that affordable housing can be within reach for more people.”
Additional details about Planitop 3D and the international certification can be found in ESR-4623 hosted on the Black Buffalo 3D’s website, on MAPEI’s USA Website and through the ICC.
About MAPEI
MAPEI is a leading manufacturer of installation materials for concrete restoration solutions (CRS), including the maintenance of cast-in-place concrete. MAPEI also produces other concrete solutions including systems for moisture mitigation, structural strengthening and concrete repair products.
Founded in 1937 in Milan, MAPEI is now one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry and has contributed to the construction of some of the most important architectural and infrastructure works worldwide. With 91 subsidiaries operating in 57 countries and 84 manufacturing plants in 35 nations, MAPEI Group employs about 11,000 staff worldwide. The foundation for the success of the company is specialization, internationalization, research & development, and sustainability.
Headquartered in Deerfield Beach (Florida), MAPEI North America consists of the subsidiaries MAPEI Corporation (for the USA), MAPEI Inc. (for Canada) and MAPEI Caribe (for Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands), whose 28 facilities collectively have a workforce of about 1,800 employees. MAPEI facilities have been certified to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality standards. An environmentally conscious manufacturer that reinvests 5% of its revenue into R&D, MAPEI offers training for architects, contractors, installers and distributors through the MAPEI Technical Institute. For more about MAPEI, visit www.mapei.com or call 1-800-42-MAPEI (1-800-426-2734).
About Black Buffalo 3D Corporation
Black Buffalo 3D Corporation (https://www.bb3d.io) is the PA-based subsidiary of Big Sun Holdings Group, Inc. – with locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Black Buffalo 3D is poised to revolutionize construction and become the leading global provider of smart 3D construction printers (3DCP) from one to three stories, proprietary construction ink/mortar (Planitop 3D) and 3D-print construction consulting services. NEXCON printers are now available for rent and purchase globally. Print smart and sustainable infrastructure on demand with Black Buffalo 3D NEXCON printers.
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