DuPont Innovations Enhance Sustainable Construction for Beijing Landmark in Time for the Olympics

DuPont™ Tyvek® Products Enhance Energy Efficiency of Beichen National Convention Center

BEIJING, China and WILMINGTON, Del., August 27, 2007 -- In preparation for the athletes competing in Beijing next year, DuPont innovations play a critical role in the sustainable construction of the Beichen National Convention Center, which will be the hub of the international broadcast media covering the athletic competition in 2008.

DuPont innovations will help protect the building envelope and improve indoor comfort, as well as save significantly on the building’s energy-costs by reducing heat transfer. DuPont™ Tyvek® ThermaWrap™ and Tyvek® SD2 Vapor Control Layer offer superior strength and durability, a further benefit in the drive toward reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.

“We are very excited to see our products being used in this project, not only for the energy efficiency benefits of our offering to this remarkable building, but more importantly, for as its one way to contribute to the city’s and China’s sustainability efforts,” Douglas Muzyka , president of DuPont Greater China, said.

In a major and prestigious construction project, the materials will work together with an interlayer of glasswool insulation to create a thermal and moisture control solution. Designed by RMJM Architects and engineered by Ove Arup, the Convention Center is a 270,000 square meter steel structure with a roofing area exceeding 50,000 square meters. In addition to serving as the main press center during the athletic competition in 2008, the building will also serve as the stadium for the Fencing and Modern Pentathlon competitions.

The roof will be constructed of two layers of profiled steel, between which the membranes and insulation will create an air-tight, water-tight, yet vapor-permeable seal to protect the building envelope and improve interior comfort – a key function for a building that will house thousands of people and lots of electronic equipment.

DuPont™ Tyvek® ThermaWrap™ is a metalized breather membrane which combines high reflectivity and low emissivity surfaces to reduce radiant heat transfer with superior moisture diffusion capacity. The membrane also blocks radiant heat gains in the summer, which will be a significant benefit considering the timing of the games. DuPont™ Tyvek® SD2, is an ultra-strong vapor control layer and air-leakage barrier.

“It is clear that China is committed to finding ways not only to continue to evolve economically, but also to address the many environmental challenges we face here,” Muzyka continued. “We believe that DuPont is uniquely positioned to be a strategic partner in achieving this goal, as the company is a global industrial leader committed to and has proven managerial knowledge and technology for sustainable growth.”

DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 16 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment like Tyvek®. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets, including products that help increase energy efficiency, such as Tyvek®.

DuPont Building Innovations is a strategic business unit of DuPont that manufactures and markets DuPont™ Corian® solid surfaces, as well as DuPont™ Zodiaq® quartz surfaces and Granite Certified by DuPont™. Corian® is a well-known global brand in the solid surface category. DuPont also manufactures and markets DuPont™ Tyvek® Weatherization Systems , DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® and DuPont™ SentryGlas® .

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, The miracles of science™, Tyvek®, ThermaWrap™, Corian®, Zodiaq®, StormRoom™, Kevlar® and SentryGlas® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.

Source: DuPont

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