Leading Edge Earth Products (fka LEEP)

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LEEP Hires RADCO to Perform Final Structural Tests on LEEPCORE Panel Product
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Results Expected to Exceed Requirements to Obtain Building Code Certifications

CHICAGO, March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Edge Earth Products, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LEEP) has signed a contract with RADCO to perform a battery of structural tests on its proprietary structural building panel, known as LEEPCORE. RADCO, founded in 1967, is a widely known and highly respected independent third-party testing, listing, certification and inspection agency that operates nationally from its headquarters in Long Beach, California. The firm is approved by the National Evaluation Service (NES) as both a Quality Assurance Agency (ICBO-ES-AA204) and as a Testing Laboratory (ICBO-ES-TL209), and complies with ISO 25. In addition, RADCO is approved as a testing laboratory by NIST under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) thermal insulation program.

"This is another major milestone in the commercialization of LEEPCORE," according to Grant Record, CEO, "and while the time span required for obtaining code authority certifications cannot be defined with precision, we anticipate that our customers' tasks of applying and receiving building construction permits will be greatly simplified over the next six months."

Preliminary tests were conducted earlier at the University of Washington (UW) and Clemson University. The UW test results give the company confidence that LEEPCORE panels are capable of meeting or exceeding U.S. building code requirements for construction of commercial floors, walls and roofs. The LEEPCORE panels tested earlier were manufactured with .016"-gauge interior and exterior steel skins. The LEEPCORE panels to be tested by RADCO are manufactured with .019"-gauge steel skins because the .019" steel is a more commonly available product, and thus provides cost and delivery efficiencies over the .016" skin material. The thicker skins also provide an increased strength benefit, so the company believes the test results are likely to be even better than the earlier tests with the .016" clad panels. In recent wind tests at Clemson University, for example, a .019" clad panel withstood wall penetration at 2.34 times the projectile speed required to obtain building permits in Dade County, Florida. The test requires that a nine-pound length of two-by-four lumber be fired, end on, at wall products at a speed of 50 feet per second. If penetration occurs, the wall product fails. Conversely, the higher the speeds at penetration, the stronger the wall. LEEPCORE withstood projectile speeds up to 117 feet per second (80 miles an hour) without penetration, compared to concrete block which shatters in the range of 50 to 80 feet per second.

The company has also engaged the Structural Engineering firm of Grossman & Speer, Pasadena, California, to provide third-party overview of the testing process and recommend product applications. Grossman & Speer is well known for its work in engineering solutions for buildings in earthquake-prone areas, and has worked extensively with Jet Propulsion Laboratories in this area.

Leading Edge Earth Products, Inc. is a publicly-held manufacturer of the patented LEEPCORE building system. The product has exceptional performance characteristics including cost effectiveness, a rapid design and construction cycle, very high structural integrity, thermal insulation properties beyond industry norms and fire, moisture, wind and insect resistance. More information is available on the company's website at www.leepinc.com .

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the results expected from certain structural tests being performed on the company's products. Actual results may differ materially from the company's expectations. Factors which may cause such a difference include tests which have not previously been performed on the product, as well as other matters discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2000.

SOURCE Leading Edge Earth Products, Inc.

/CONTACT: Leading Edge Earth Products, Inc., 800-788-3599, or Richard
Keating for Leading Edge Earth Products, Inc., 206-780-9458/

/Web site: http://www.leepinc.com /