Common Uses for FRP, Done Better by PVC Panels

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

The development of FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic) panels brought with it a level of utility and performance that had been previously unavailable for a host of use cases. But today, a new generation of building materials – PVC-based products like Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard – is outclassing FRP, delivering more upside and better value.

Here are five use cases that would benefit from deploying PVC panels instead of FRP. 

Fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) first emerged in the 1950s, and has been a staple of the building trades now for several decades. The product, which grew from the development of synthetic resins in the early 1900s, has become ubiquitous in commercial settings that require easily cleanable and fairly durable walls and ceilings. 

It’s easy to see why FRP gained traction over other wall and ceiling options. It comes in a bright finish. It withstands moisture in a way that drywall never will. And, most importantly, it can be cleaned easily with water and detergents. 

The product, however, has a critical drawback. One which can impact the operation of the venue within which it’s installed – namely, over time, heat and moisture can cause FRP panels themselves and the entire installation to degrade. Most commonly, the glue that holds the plastic sheet to its cellulose-based backing panel begins to let go, allowing the plastic to separate from the stiffening layer. The separation allows moisture to creep between adjacent panels – and then between the sheet and backing – trapping the moisture and creating a vector for mold and mildew growth, as well good, old fashioned, rot. 

Sounds like a big issue, right? It is. 

PVC Paneling: The New Standard Over FRP

“I’ve seen kitchens done in FRP fall right off the wall,” says a contractor who is frequently called upon to remediate the damage caused by the product. 

FRP can also be difficult to handle and cut. It requires a multi-step installation process and typically calls for multiple installers. 

There are better solutions than FRP available today, and you don’t need to look very far. PVC-based panels, like those made by Trusscore, have all the upside of FRP and none of the down.  

Take Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard panels, for example. They shed water. They won’t support mold or mildew growth. They’re strong and yet lightweight. And they’re manufactured with a unified extrusion process, meaning there are no layers that can separate and panels come pre-finished. They’re also easy to install, typically doing so twice as fast as FRP and with half the labor.  

Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard panels are known to last longer than the buildings within which they’re installed. The same cannot be said for FRP.

5 Common Use-Cases Where PVC Panels Outperform FRP

  • 1. Commercial Kitchens

    Commercial kitchens are hectic, fast-paced environments where stoves and cooking generate plenty of heat and there’s a need for constant cleaning. Heat, steam, and moisture in a commercial kitchen can cause food-grade FRP to degrade and mold to develop. Remediation creates downtime, lost revenue, and drives up maintenance costs. 

    This is where Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard shines as the ideal replacement for FRP in commercial kitchens. Panels entirely waterproof, sheds moisture, and provides no purchase for mold or mildew growth. It can be cleaned and sanitized with water and common commercial cleansers. 

    Commercial Kitchens

  • 2. Food Processing Facilities

    Cleanliness and hygiene in a food processing facility is paramount. Walls and ceilings must be spotless, and there’s zero tolerance for the presence of mold and mildew. Cleaning and disinfecting are a constant.  

    No product stands up to repeated cleaning like Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard. And Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is strong and impact resistant, meaning it will stand up to bangs and bruises from heavy food-processing equipment or food carts. Bottom line? Downtime is reduced. Maintenance costs fall. Headaches are avoided. 

    Food Processing Facilities

  • 3. Indoor Grow Rooms

    Indoor grow facilities experience high humidity and higher-than-normal temperatures on a 24/7 basis, 365 days of the year. Humidity, moisture, and warmth take a toll on FRP and create ideal conditions for mold and mildew growth – an issue that is considered inexcusable in an indoor grow room setting. 

    Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard is an industry leader in wall and ceiling solutions for indoor grow rooms. Panels easily wipe clean, feature hidden fasteners and tight seams between panels, and excellent water-resistance means panels won’t support mold growth. 

    Plus, the bright, white finish of Trusscore products enhance and reflect available light, reducing grow room energy costs and maximizing yield. 

    Indoor Grow Rooms

  • 4. Healthcare Facilities

    Hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices commit enormous resources – time, staff, and money – to keep their facilities clean and free of pathogens. 

    PVC-based Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard wipes clean with a simple cloth. It’s resistant to most chemicals and is unharmed harmed by cleaning products or bleach. 

    Unlike FRP, Wall&CeilingBoard will never delaminate because it engineered to be a single, unified product. Its internal truss design gives each panel enormous strength and impact resistance, meaning it’s able to withstand the heavy traffic of a busy public facility. 

    Healthcare Facilities

  • 5. Car & Truck Washes

    Commercial car wash facilities are constantly wet and constantly in use, placing enormous stress on walls lined with FRP. 

    And when the inevitable time comes that FRP fails and begins to delaminate, a car wash is looking at substantial downtime along with loss of revenue and expensive repairs. 

    PVC panels are the simply the better answer. They can handle constant soaking with no leakage behind the panels. Bottom line? No downtime. No repairs. No mold. No mildew. 

    The unique design of Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard, ideal PVC car wash wall panels, produces a product with proven rigidity and a high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning installation is fast and costs remain low.

    Car & Truck Washes

Talk to a Trusscore Expert

Have questions about Trusscore? A Trusscore Product Specialist is on hand with answers — ask us about product specifications, applications, where to buy, and more. 

Ask an Expert

 PVC, With an Organizational Bonus

Not only does Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard offer a money-saving performance upgrade over FRP in each of the above use cases, but it also comes with a feature that FRP does not: Wall&CeilingBoard blends seamlessly with Trusscore SlatWall to create wall-based storage; hooks, baskets and shelves snap into place, generating custom functionality and utility, no matter your use case. 

And Trusscore SlatWall has the same water-shedding qualities as Wall&CeilingBoard and won’t, therefore, support mold or mildew growth. 

FRP has had its day. But today, PVC-based panels like those made by Trusscore are becoming the standard of performance in applications previously dominated by FRP. Trusscore PVC products offer superior performance and better long-term value; performance that’s certain to make your operation perform, too. 

FRP Simply Can't Compete With These Products

Wall&CeilingBoard

Wall&CeilingBoard


Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard are interlocking, interior PVC wall and ceiling panels that are lightweight, low maintenance, and outperform products like drywall and FRP.

Learn More
SlatWall

SlatWall


Trusscore SlatWall is a high-strength, on-the-wall organization system that’s easy to install and seamlessly integrates with Trusscore Wall&CeilingBoard.

Learn More