MKT20301 ESDReport

Durra Panel
ESD Report
ESD REPORT
Unit 18, 1 -7 Canterbury Road

Braeside, Victoria, Australia 3195
P: +61 3 9580 7766
F: +61 3 9587 1628
Toll Free: 1800 805 919 Australia Only
www.ortech.com.au
[email protected]
Durra Panel - ESD Report
Ortech Industries is committed to environmental responsibility within
the construction industry. The responsibility for ensuring Environmental
Sustainable Design in building construction rests with us all as we move
forward in the new millennium and Ortech Industries is an integral part of this
process.
The environmental benefits of specifying the use of Durra Panel in your project are well documented. Durra Panel is
a clean, green, environmentally friendly product with a proven track record throughout Australia and around the world,
suitable for commercial, industrial and residential applications.
Materials
Durra Panels consist of the following materials:
Wheat or Rice straw fibres
Kraft paper liner
PVA Glue (water based)
The wheat and rice straw fibre, a renewable resource, is a waste by-product
of farming that is in plentiful supply but usually burned after grain harvest
which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Our unique dry-extrusion
process locks this carbon away in the form of a highly fire-resistant building
material with exceptionally low embodied energy.
Production
Durra Panel is produced by a unique dry-extrusion process which uses a
combination of heat and pressure to form the product. During this manufacturing
process, a natural plant polymer extruded from the straw fuses the fibres together to
form the dense core of the panels. The panels are finished with recycled Kraft paper
liner which is bonded to the core with water based PVA glue. The result is zero toxic
waste.
Transport
In order to minimize transport energy and costs, Ortech Industries manufacturing
facilities are located in Bendigo which is located close to Victorias Mallee and
Wimmera regions from which the raw material is sourced.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

A major issue in the building industry is the impact that emissions of Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs) have on indoor air quality. VOCs are emitted from glues, paints,
binders (eg formaldehyde) and plastics. Durra Panel contains no formaldehyde or
additional chemical binders and instead uses water based glue to bond the Kraft
paper liner to the panel core. The use of water based glue eliminates potential VOC
emissions.
Re-Use and Waste Disposal
Waste off-cuts from Durra Panels will biodegrade rapidly and can be safely
disposed of to landfill. It may also be used as mulch.
Depending on design and installation, these robust and durable panels can be
reused.
Embodied Energy Embodied Energy Comparison
By virtue if the natural fibre content and efficient manufacturing process, 180
153.0
160
Durra Panels have low embodied energy in comparison to alternative building
140
materials. Embodied Energy is the energy consumed by all of the processes 120
associated with the manufacture and delivery of the product to site. The result 100
of an analysis of embodied energy shows that a wall constructed from Durra 80
Panel has an embodied energy content of 12.6MJ/m2 which is only one twelfth 60
40
(or 8%) that of the typical plasterboard stud wall alternative. 12.6
20
This is illustrated in Chart A.
Durra Panel Typical Stud Wall
Chart B shows the distribution of embodied energy for the different components
Chart A
of the manufacturing process.
Embodied Energy, Excluding Transport
Glue
Embodied Energy Data 2%
Electricity
The following data (p.a.) was used to calculate the embodied energy: 14%
Actual billing data for Electricity and Water

Actual materials used (Straw, Glue, Paper)
Total m2 of board produced
Greenhouse Gas coefficients for Victoria (AGO 2004)
Embodied energy values for raw materials (Straw, Glue, Paper)
Paper
84%
Chart B
Green Star Credits

The Green Star environmental rating system, developed by the Green Building
Council, has been recognised by the property industry as a key measure of
sustainability and is now becoming widely adopted as a performance standard
for commercial buildings. The use of Durra Panels may assist in meeting Office
Interior Design Green Star credits MAT-3 and INN-3. Further information on
Green Star may be obtained from the Green Building Council website.
www.gbcaus.org.au
References
AGO Factors and Methods Workbook, Australian Greenhouse Office, Australian Government, August 2004
Embodied Energy, Measures for Sustainability, Canadian Architect, Online:

http://www.cdnarchitect.com/asf/perspectives_sustainability/measures_of_sustainability/measures_of_sustainability_embodied.htm, sighted June 05
Embodied Energy Coefficients, Victoria University Wellington, Online:

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/cbpr/documents/pdfs/ee-coefficients.pdf, sighted June 05
Green Building Council Green Star

www.gbcaus.org.au
ABN: 29 006 401 234 April 2008 - MKT20301
Durra Panel ESD Report
Rabobank - Office Fitout - Darling Park, Sydney
Our analysis indicates that Durra Panels have an

embodied energy of 12.6MJ/m2.
This is significantly lower than conventional building

materials and is equivalent to only one twelfth (or 8%)
the embodied energy of a typical plasterboard and
timber stud wall.
Jan Talacko ESD Consultant, Ark Resouces
w w w . o r t e c h . c o m . a u

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Durra Panel

Unit 18, 1 -7 Canterbury Road

Toll Free: 1800 805 919 Australia Only

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Embodied Energy Embodied Energy Comparison

Actual billing data for Electricity and Water

Green Star Credits

Embodied Energy, Measures for Sustainability, Canadian Architect, Online:

Embodied Energy Coefficients, Victoria University Wellington, Online:

Green Building Council Green Star

Our analysis indicates that Durra Panels have an

This is significantly lower than conventional building

Jan Talacko ESD Consultant, Ark Resouces

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