Convergent Water Technologies launches HALO Tree Protection System

Convergent Water Technologies has introduced HALO, a three-part tree protection system for construction sites built around CoreCrush Technology. The company says the new system is designed to protect tree trunks, roots and protected zones more measurably than standard lumber wraps.

Why it matters: - Construction sites can damage trees without obvious immediate signs, and decline may not show up for one to three growing seasons. - HALO is aimed at developers, contractors and municipalities trying to preserve heritage and high-value trees during active construction. - The system is designed to replace 2×4 lumber wraps, which have long been the default trunk protection method.

What happened: - Convergent Water Technologies announced the launch of the HALO Tree Protection System™ on Nov. 2, 2026. - HALO is a three-part system built around CoreCrush Technology™, an impact-absorbing honeycomb core. - The company says the system is available now for projects nationwide. - Convergent Water Technologies is offering technical specifications, a white paper comparing CoreCrush panels with conventional lumber, and project-specific quantity takeoffs for engineers, arborists, landscape architects and contractors. - More information is available in the company's announcement.

The details: - HALO combines CoreCrush trunk panels, a root-zone ground mat and a high-visibility perimeter fence. - The trunk panels are designed to protect the living tissue beneath a tree’s bark, including the vascular cambium. - The company says impacts as small as roughly 21 kN can damage the cambium. - Standard rigid lumber does not absorb energy and can pass impact force through the bark into the cambium. - CoreCrush panels are designed to absorb and dissipate energy through controlled cellular collapse. - Compared with standard 2×4 lumber, CoreCrush panels transmit 5× less peak force to the tree and weigh 60% less. - Tapered CoreCrush panels follow the shape of the trunk and connect with UV-resistant bungee cords. - HDPE interlocking hexagonal mats spread equipment loads across the Critical Root Zone to limit soil compaction. - The mats are meant to replace wood-chip mulch, which spreads loads poorly in wet conditions. - Safety-yellow polypropylene perimeter panels mark and defend the Critical Root Zone boundary. - The perimeter panels are engineered for wind loading per ASCE 7-22. - HALO is UV- and moisture-resistant, reusable from project to project, and compact to ship and stage. - The system was developed with demanding municipal tree-protection requirements in mind, including criteria established by the City of Austin.

Between the lines: - The launch shifts the conversation from material compliance to measured performance. - Scott Gorneau, PE, said tree-protection specs often list materials but do not show how much force reaches the tree. - Gorneau said HALO was designed from the performance side first, starting with cambium damage thresholds and impact mechanics. - David Batts said the system is designed to absorb impact instead of transferring it and to give customers a protection system they can measure. - The pitch to arborists, design engineers and plan reviewers is documentation, not just another wrap.

What's next: - Convergent Water Technologies is targeting nationwide adoption for construction projects. - The company plans to support sales with technical documentation, comparison materials and quantity takeoffs. - HALO’s commercial traction will likely depend on whether municipalities and design teams accept performance-based tree protection over traditional lumber wraps.

The bottom line: - HALO is Convergent Water Technologies’ bid to make construction-site tree protection more measurable, reusable and engineering-driven.