The structural strength and integrity of ProPanel Fence System greatly exceeds that of conventional wood, clay (red) brick, block homes and fences and is best described by Lawrence W. Hook, President of Vali Associates, consulting engineers.  In reference to the type of construction which utilizes steel wire mesh, plaster and polystyrene foam, on 4 September 1990 Mr. Hook wrote:

"The walls are made of light gauge lath or metal attached to a 9-gauge Warren Truss ladder horizontal reinforcing at 12 inches on center maximum.  The back-to-back studs are in turn placed into a concrete caisson-type footing.  After the walls are constructed, each face then has one inch thick machine-applied plaster sprayed on in a scratch, brown and finish sequence.

"The materials used to construct these walls have been prepared from approved materials which meet the latest A.S.T.M. standards for each material in the wall.  The structural design has also been performed using the latest structural requirements and specifications from the Uniform Building Code, American Concrete Institute, American Institute of Steel Construction.  The design of these walls is substantially the same as the design of a concrete wall or a masonry wall.  The Uniform Building Code maintains the requirement and the loading criteria is the same for all walls whether seismic or for wind rating.

"This type of wall has been constructed for over 19 years (that we are aware of) and in several types and variations of construction.  This type of construction, with variations, also has been used for residential buildings, commercial curtain walls, commercial buildings and fences and garden walls.

"We, therefore," believe, from the aforementioned information, that the ProPanel Fence System is equivalent to the concrete block fence and the reinforced concrete fence and in one case may be better because they are much lighter in weight.  The weight of the finished wall is level or less than the conventional block wall or concrete wall.

"After being coated with plaster, damage to the expanded polystyrene foam insulation and galvanized steel reinforcing members by dry-rot, termites, insects or mildew is eliminated and the structures have superior soundproofing qualities."

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