PCM Southern, LLC - 4900 Lower Jersey Rd. - Oxford, Georgia 30054 - PCMSouthern@comcast.net - 770-856-2246
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Why is zinc an environmentally sound decision for building?
First, zinc is all natural, VM ZINC® has no paint or coatings that will wear off over time and adversely affect surrounding materials. It has incredible longevity; a properly installed zinc roof or wall system can last up to 100 years, reducing the need for rebuilding. Unlike lead-coated metals, there is no worry of lead contamination when using VM ZINC®.
Where does zinc come from?
Most rocks and many minerals contain zinc in varying degrees. It also exists naturally in air, water and soil. Zinc is most commonly found in the earth’s crust. One third of the zinc used by Umicore Building Products comes from North America, another one third from Central and South America, and the remaining one-third from other sources.
Is zinc poisonous?
No. Zinc is an essential element for all life, from man to the smallest microorganism. For plants and animals, zinc is obtained from their environment and used for specific functions in their metabolism. For humans, zinc plays an essential role in metabolism. For example, zinc is vital for the proper functioning of more than 200 enzymes, for the stabilization of DNA and the expression of genes, and for the transfer of nervous signals. Zinc is a trace element, as important as iron, magnesium or calcium. In fact, the lack of zinc is a much greater concern than excess. Zinc deficiency can result in several health problems including: skin changes, stunted growth, loss of taste and smell, mental lethargy, loss of appetite, and interference with the functions of the spleen and liver.
"There is considerable evidence that zinc deficiency in humans is a
serious worldwide problem…"
-Boston University School of Medicine 1995
"…normal, healthy, non-occupationally exposed individuals are at
potentially greater risk from the adverse effects associated with zinc
deficiency than from adverse effects associated with normal
environmental exposure to zinc."
-U.N. Environment Program Health Criteria for zinc 1996
Is zinc a heavy metal?
Yes. However it is not a toxic heavy metal. Many people link heavy metals such as lead with poisonous materials. Let's first examine what a heavy metal is.
What is a heavy metal?
A metal is classified as a heavy metal when its density is greater that 5 g/cm2. Hence it is simply a physical property of the metal that puts it in that category of heavy metals, not its toxicity. Zinc has a specific gravity of 7.14 g/ cm2. Thus, zinc is a heavy metal.
There are many types of heavy metals, some that are toxic and some that are not. For instance gold is one of the heaviest of the heavy metals with a weight of 19.32 g/cm2 and is emphatically non-toxic (it is used in orthodontics). Zinc is also non-toxic (it is given as nutritional supplements). It is important to differentiate zinc and toxic heavy metals.
Life Span of Zinc Products
Zinc has an exceptionally long life span. As a rule of thumb you may consider about 100 years for roofs and even longer for wall applications. During its life time zinc, unlike coated or painted metals, does not change its look much. It may darken depending on the pollutants and local environmental conditions. The application of zinc in roofing and wall cladding began in the 19th century. Some of these roofs are still in service. Since then there have been considerable breakthroughs in metallurgy and alloy. The installed roofs and walls are testimony of the longevity of an installed system. The reason why there is a limit to the lifespan of any metal is the removal of material. A certain amount of zinc is removed from the surface of the material during rainfall. The protective patina reforms and the process starts all over again. Airborne pollutants, in particular sulfur dioxide, accelerates this process. Looking at a worst case scenario, the air quality in a heavily industrialized metropolitan area such as Pittsburgh in the 1950's, approximately 7 microns of zinc would be removed each year. It is generally recommended to replace the roof when 40% of the material has been removed. Assuming the minimum recommended thickness for roofing applications is 0.7mm, 40% of this thickness equals 280 microns. Mathematically, a removal rate of 7 microns a year would indicate a 40 year lifespan. Currently, through environmental clean up activities, the removal rates are 1 to 2 microns per year resulting in longer life spans. Now that you have understood how long zinc can last, you will underst and better why we request details that last just as long. We refuse any caulking and riveting of our material, because caulks and rivets under the best of circumstances have a lifespan of maybe 20 years. Then a 100 year roof fails because of rivets and caulks? Hence we require very traditional sheet metal details that cause the sometimes high cost for a zinc roof. If you requested/designed those sheet metal details for any other painted metal the installed price would be very similar to the one for VM ZINC®, but in painted, your roof still would not have a 100 year life span.
Is VM ZINC ® environmentally sound?
Yes. Zinc is a nonpoisonous and an environmentally sound product. It does not contain impurities that could be set free under atmospheric conditions or produce toxic fumes in case of fire. Zinc is an element essential for life and most organisms need it to survive.
What are the environmental aspects of VM ZINC ® production?
Zinc is far more environmentally friendly to make than other metals. For instance it takes much less energy to refine zinc then say aluminum, copper, or stainless steal. For instance, the energy required to produce zinc from ore is 1/4 that of aluminum and 1/2 that of copper and steel. Zinc is also beneficial at the end of its useful life. Scrap of VM ZINC® has a high metal content and is practically 100% recyclable. New zinc products are created from recycled zinc such as zinc oxides used in paint, rubber production, and pharmaceutical products.
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