GreenGirt & SMARTci FAQs: products, installation, & more
Find answers to common questions about GreenGirt CMH and GreenGirt Steel continuous insulation and SMARTci building enclosure systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a continuous insulation system and a building enclosure system?
A continuous insulation system, like the family of GreenGirt CMH™ systems, provide the structural sub-framing that supports insulation and eliminates thermal bridging across a wall or roof assembly. A building enclosure system, like SMARTci®, is a complete, integrated system built on that continuous insulation sub-framing, adding custom-profiled rigid insulation panels and required accessories to deliver a fully air- and water-tight enclosure. Every SMARTci® system uses GreenGirt CMH™ as its structural sub-framing component.
Does A2P offer design/engineering assistance?
Yes. A2P’s product experts and engineering team can help you select the right GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, or SMARTci® system to fit your project’s specific requirements, then perform an internal engineering and application review on every project that uses one, helping with design questions earlier in a project’s life. Shop drawings, stamped calculations, and stamped shop drawings are also available.
How do I purchase a GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, or SMARTci® system?
Call our office, fill out our Request a Quote form, or Contact Us to discuss your project. We’ll connect you with your local sales representative to find the system that best fits your specific needs. Material is shipped direct from our manufacturing plant or one of our warehouses.
Does A2P offer installation support or training?
Yes. A2P provides comprehensive installation support and training for all GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems, including on-site training for project teams, with a wide range of training materials including installation guides and installation videos.
Where can I find technical documents and information for GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems?
You can find technical documents and information, including installation manuals, specifications, details, certifications, data sheets, and performance data, in our Technical Library.
Where are GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems manufactured?
GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems are manufactured at A2P’s facility in Hamilton, Michigan.
What types of buildings have used GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, or SMARTci® systems?
GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems have been installed on a wide range of buildings, including airports, schools, office buildings, multi-family residences, healthcare facilities, resorts, stadiums, and natatoriums, among other structures. See real-world installations in our project gallery.
Can cladding attach directly to GreenGirt CMH™ or GreenGirt Steel™ sub-framing?
It depends on the product. GreenGirt Max CMH™, GreenGirt Optima CMH™, and GreenGirt Steel™ Z-girts accept cladding fasteners directly, with steel fastener retention plates on both flanges for secure fastening and maximum pull-out strength. GreenGirt CMH Clips™ is a clip-and-rail system, so cladding attaches to hat channel spanning across the clips rather than to the clips themselves. GreenGirt CMH Delta™ Adjustable is direct-attach in vertical applications, where cladding fastens to its rails or clips, but horizontal applications also require a hat channel across those rails or clips. SMARTci® systems inherit their cladding attachment method from whichever GreenGirt CMH™ sub-framing they’re built on.
What fastener types are recommended for use with GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems?
Recommended fasteners include self-drilling fasteners with a minimum #3 drill point, due to the steel inserts in both flanges. Avoid using nails, actuated fasteners, or impact hammers/drills for installation.
Do GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, or SMARTci® systems only apply to cold climates?
No. GreenGirt CMH™, GreenGirt Steel™, and SMARTci® systems perform well across a range of climate conditions. In hot regions, they help maintain cool indoor temperatures and reduce cooling costs, in addition to their cold-climate benefits.
Are stainless steel options available across the GreenGirt and SMARTci® product line?
Yes, every system in the lineup offers a stainless steel option for coastal, high-humidity, or otherwise corrosive environments, though what specifically is available in stainless varies by product. GreenGirt Steel™ offers stainless across the whole Z-girt, as one of three finish options alongside standard G90 galvanized steel and ZM40. GreenGirt CMH Clips™, GreenGirt Max CMH™, GreenGirt Optima CMH™, GreenGirt CMH Roof™, and SMARTci® (on closed or open framing) offer stainless on the steel-reinforced flange of their composite metal hybrid components. GreenGirt CMH Delta™ Adjustable offers stainless specifically on its CMH rail/clip option (its aluminum and galvanized-steel rail/clip options don’t have a stainless variant). GreenGirt XO™ offers stainless on its dead load clips.
What's the difference between galvanized and stainless steel finish options for continuous insulation sub-framing?
Galvanized steel finishes, like standard G90, get their corrosion resistance from a zinc coating that sacrificially protects the steel underneath. It’s a proven, cost-effective option for most standard environments. Stainless steel resists corrosion throughout the material itself, since its chromium content forms a self-healing passive oxide layer, so it holds up longer in coastal, high-humidity, or otherwise corrosive environments where a zinc coating would break down faster. ZM40 (a material option for GreenGirt Steel™) sits in between: a zinc-aluminum-magnesium coating with meaningfully higher corrosion resistance than standard G90 galvanizing, but still a coating rather than a corrosion-resistant base material like stainless.