Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce PLAEX?
Play-X
What is disruptive or revolutionary about this composite material or about the form/shape that you have designed for the blocks?
PLAEX produces the world’s first and most durable FULLY interlocking building system, allowing for simple assembly, and disassembly at end of use for a truly circular construction solution. With our unique recycled composite PLAEX-crete™ you can offset CO2 and help to keep waste out of landfills and oceans. Lab testing has shown PLAEX-crete™ outperforms traditional materials on many metrics, most significantly in impact and water resistance. Additional products and features will continually be released which can include many advancements in plug-and-play technology such as integrated solar and more. Our technology has also be designed to be able to easily integrate with automation. With simple XYZ coordinates our blocks radically simplify the construction process.
Is the material cheaper than a conventional stick or brick building?
There are significant cost savings due to the elimination of wasted materials and a massive reduction of labour requirements and time. Due to our No-Cut system there are also significant savings from errors and waste. Our products are typically 15-30% cheaper on project pricing, plus we have a lifetime guarantee on all products.
Is it stronger, longer-lasting, quicker to build with, or require less skill to build?
YES to all! PLAEX-crete™ is more impact-resistant, water-resistant, and crack resistant than conventional brick or concrete. With no cutting or motor and only a few tools required, contractors love it and any hobby D-I-Y can build confidently. Over 3X faster to assemble + NO curing times! Check out our YouTube for some video demonstrations.
Can PLAEX™ structures withstand extreme winds?
Yes! We will be doing hurricane testing in the labs very soon, but based on our in-house testing, the engineers we have been working with have no doubt we will pass with flying colors.
Our standard Brick&Panel™️ bricks connect on all sides with a specially engineered tight tolerance connection. This allows for all connections to be secure. When the panels are added, all joints become cross-locked, and the entire wall acts as one unit. In addition to this, the impact resistance of PLAEX-crete™️ is unmatched.
PLAEX Bricks™ are volumetric load-bearing blocks and are not just plastic. They are a concrete-like composite. While being around 35% lighter than concrete, our A1 Brick (8x16x4) is about 25lb. They are dense and durable.
For more secure installations, PLAEX™ products can be tied down to the foundation or footing with a rod system, which can be loaded for the inside, outside, or center to meet the required specifications for different applications.
Additionally, in a high Shear application, the large center holes could be poured with rebar and cement to give added rigidity, though this would negatively impact the ability to easily disassemble the structure at the end of use and is not necessary for the majority of applications.
What is the “R” value, is there space in the material for insulation or would you add that to the walls?
The R-value is 0.5 for every inch of PLAEX-crete™ . Further insulation can be integrated as a laminate part of the exterior panel system to meet any environmental requirements.
Are PLAEX™ products fire-resistant?
Our composite (PLAEX-crete™ ) is created with specialty select polymer sources that are known to be generally safer. During development we have consulted with many experts in fire suppression and we have worked with the novel chemistry of our products to reduce flammability and spread as much as possible. We have made a lot of progress so far and we are looking forward to sharing the results as soon as they are verified by third party lab tests. We have achieved this without the use of some of the traditional flame retardants, which are beginning to be banned around the world. They are Fire Resistant, they inhibit flammability of the material, limit flame spread and limit smoke. As they do contain a significant amount of polymer they are not intend for use near open flame, they are NOT TO BE USED FOR FIRE PITS!!!
Also, by laminating fireproof materials into the panels of our brick and panel system, our full system will achieve extremely high fire resistance. PLAEX™ products will undergo extensive fire testing in the coming months and we are looking forward to sharing the results.
How and where will these be manufactured?
We are currently beginning production in our pilot facility located in Dieppe, New Brunswick. In the near future, the PLAEX process will be licensed globally through a network of production partners. We are committed to providing local solutions to waste, buy turning it into sustainable building materials that can be used to build locally. True circular economy construction!
Are there specific types of structures this would be more suited to?
The LinX™ product line is suitable for a wide-range of landscaping projects such as sheds, fences, flower beds, edging, dog houses, and more! The Brick&Panel™ system is for full wall structures and is currently still in development and is undergoing ASTM testing for CSA and ICC certifications. We are currently selling our products for “Non-occupied” structures in the North American market, targeting DIY landscaping and storage. We are anticipating broader use certification in 2025. Lots of time and money goes into certifying products and we are undergoing rigorous 3rd party testing to ensure quality and safety. We will continue to expand our product lines and we anticipate our products being used for a wide range of low rise construction applications.
Can you make other things out of your material such as patio stones?
We can use our PLAEX™ composite in other forms but we are focused on environmental responsibility thus, we will not be putting our material in high-traffic areas where it is bound to wear and could create microplastics. Yes, our material is stronger than many other materials but it will, like anything, still slowly wear in a high abrasion situation. Walls are a fantastic application for our products. We will be continually expanding our product line in the future to help create more sustainable solutions for construction.
What is the strength of the products, do you have more data?
Please follow click HERE to learn more about our material and see a table comparing some of the calculations, data points and test results