Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 Insulated Floating Cover — 50 lb/ft² Maximum Buoyancy, 90+ MPH Wind Resistance, 99% Coverage
Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 is the highest-buoyancy modular floating cover in the AWTT product line, with 50 lb/ft² buoyancy, R-8 insulation, and up to 98% evaporation reduction. Part of the DOE award-winning Rhombo series — which saved 55 million gallons/year at the Savannah River Site — the 189 combines 90+ MPH wind resistance with high thermal insulation in a single modular system designed for the most demanding industrial applications.
50
lb/ft² Buoyancy
90+
MPH Wind Rated
99%
Surface Coverage
80%
Heating Savings
The Challenge: Sites That Need Everything Simultaneously
The most demanding industrial liquid containment environments — large chemical plant impoundments, high-wind mine tailings ponds, heavy-industry process basins — don't allow trade-offs. These sites need maximum wind resistance to prevent cover displacement, sufficient buoyancy for equipment and personnel access, thermal insulation to reduce heating costs, and 99% coverage to eliminate evaporation and algae — all at once.
Standard floating covers optimize for one or two of these requirements. Heavy snow loads, ice formation, accumulated process solids, and direct equipment movement require buoyancy capacities that most modular covers cannot provide.
The Solution: 50 lb/ft² — Engineered for Extreme Demands
The Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 is AWTT's answer to no-compromise industrial applications. Its 50 lb/ft² buoyancy rating — double that of the standard Rhombo Hexoshield® — provides structural capacity for direct equipment and personnel access, heavy snow loads up to 4+ feet, and accumulated process solids without cover deformation or submersion.
The integrated insulation core adds high-R thermal performance that reduces heating operating costs by up to 80%, while the hybrid Rhombo panel geometry maintains maximum wind resistance. This is the only floating cover in the AWTT range that simultaneously achieves the top rating in wind resistance, buoyancy, and thermal performance.
Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 Technical Specifications
Full specification data for maximum-demand industrial floating cover procurement and engineering review.
| Surface Coverage | 99% |
| Panel Designation | Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 — maximum buoyancy insulated series |
| Buoyancy | 50 lb/ft² (244 kg/m²) — highest in AWTT range |
| Wind Resistance | 90+ MPH (water-ballasted) |
| Insulation (R-Factor) | R-8 |
| Evaporation Reduction | Up to 98% |
| Heating Cost Reduction | Up to 80% |
| Load-Bearing Capacity | 50 lb/ft² — personnel access, equipment loads, heavy snow |
| Operating Temperature | −70°F to +160°F (−57°C to +71°C) |
| Material | UV-stabilized HDPE with insulating core |
| Life Expectancy | 25+ years |
| Warranty | 10 years (manufacturer) |
| Maintenance | None required |
| Installation | Modular panel system — tool-free deployment |
| Cost Indicator | $$$ (premium — for maximum-demand applications) |
Why Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 Is AWTT's Maximum-Performance Cover
Six engineered advantages making it the only choice for sites where standard covers cannot meet structural, wind, and thermal requirements simultaneously.
50 lb/ft² — Highest Buoyancy in AWTT Range
The Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 provides 50 lb/ft² buoyancy — double the Rhombo Hexoshield® and the highest in the entire AWTT product range. Engineered for industrial sites requiring personnel access, heavy equipment loads, or significant snow accumulation capacity.
90+ MPH Wind Resistance
Water-ballasted panels provide strong wind resistance rated at 90+ MPH, with additional structural resistance provided by the high-buoyancy insulated panel mass. Suitable for exposed industrial sites.
R-8 Thermal Insulation Core
The 189 series incorporates an insulating core that provides R-8 thermal performance — reducing heating costs for elevated-temperature process ponds by up to 80%, while maintaining the maximum structural and wind performance of the Rhombo series.
Up to 98% Evaporation Reduction
99% surface coverage combined with the Rhombo sealed panel geometry and insulation core delivers up to 98% evaporation reduction — maximizing water savings in the most challenging environments.
Supports Direct Equipment Access
The 50 lb/ft² buoyancy rating allows operators to access in-pond equipment — pumps, aerators, instrumentation — by walking directly on the cover surface without pontoons or specialized access equipment.
Modular — No Pond Modification
Despite its extreme structural performance, the Rhombo 189 deploys as modular panels that connect without tools. No anchors, no liner penetrations, no heavy equipment required. Phased deployment available for large pond footprints.
Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 Applications
Specified for the most extreme industrial liquid containment applications where maximum performance is non-negotiable.
Large Mine Tailings & Heap Leach
Maximum-buoyancy performance for the largest and most demanding mining impoundments.
Heavy Industrial Process Basins
Chemical plant and refinery liquid containment with frequent equipment access requirements.
High-Wind Elevated Site Ponds
Mountain, plateau, and coastal sites with hurricane-force wind exposure and heavy snow loads.
Large Heated Anaerobic Digesters
Biogas production lagoons requiring maximum thermal retention and wind resistance.
Steel & Metal Processing Ponds
Heavy-industry wastewater ponds with accumulated solids and structural access needs.
Large Dam & Reservoir Covers
Maximum wind resistance for large surface area reservoirs requiring structural capacity.
Verification & documentation
AWTT keeps lab reports and project certificates request-gated, while making technical documentation for Rhombo Hexoshield 189 available to qualified specifiers.
Public proof
2017 DOE Sustainability Award
The Energy.gov public record verifies federal recognition for the Rhombo project at Savannah River Site.
Request-gated
Certificates, SDS, and test reports
Request material certificates, SDS sheets, wind/UV/R-value reports, and third-party documentation for submittal packages.
Public data
Technical data and comparisons
Review HTML tables, JSON/CSV data, and public specifications for coverage, wind, buoyancy, R-value, and design life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers for engineering, procurement, and compliance teams evaluating AWTT floating covers.
What is Rhombo Hexoshield 189 best for?
How does Rhombo Hexoshield 189 compare with Rhombo Hexoshield 66?
Can Rhombo Hexoshield 189 support snow or light equipment loads?
Do AWTT floating covers leach PFAS, BPA, BPS, or BPF into drinking water?
Can AWTT provide lab reports, SDS sheets, and material certifications for submittals?
Engineering Tools & Resources
Evaporation & ROI Calculators
Calculate evaporation losses, estimate surface area, and compare cost savings across cover systems.
Not Sure Which Cover?
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Technical Specifications
View full engineering specs, wind resistance data, R-values, and material compliance details.
Ready to Specify the Most Capable Cover in the AWTT Range?
Contact AWTT's engineering team to discuss your site's structural requirements, wind loading, and thermal performance needs. We'll confirm Rhombo Hexoshield® 189 is the right specification and provide a detailed project quote.