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The Skinny: Stark's impervious structural glazed facing tile (SGFT) is ideally suited for prison settings. However, Stark often faced sales obstacles in this market because its initial construction cost is higher than the competition. The goal of this article, featured in the official publication of the American Correctional Association, was to demonstrate Stark's long-term value.

Style: Case-study format

Excerpt:

Glazed Facing Tiles Keep Life-Cycle Costs Low

State prison systems spent more than $6.7 billion on prison construction in 1989 and 1990, according to a study by Corrections Compendium. Billions more have been earmarked for building and renovating prisons in the next five years.

In a move toward greater cost management, budget-conscious prison administrators have begun looking at life-cycle costs, or costs over time, when choosing building and renovation materials. Prison systems require building materials that withstand the test of time and abuse. In the long run, costs associated with replacement and maintenance can be far more damaging to budgets than the initial construction costs.

Wall materials are a case in point. Many types of materials are used in security applications, including prefaced concrete block, epoxy-painted concrete block, ceramic tile over concrete block and structural glazed facing tile. All meet the Federal Bureau of Prisons' secure masonry wall construction requirements and are competitively prices. This doesn't mean that the material with the lowest price should immediately be selected; variations in the products can significantly affect life-cycle costs.

Copyright Corrections Today magazine

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