downloadable - ICF Builder Magazine

July/August 2015
The Insulating Concrete Forms Magazine
Intro to ICFs
Product Directory
Beauty for Any
Budget
$4.95
2 ICF BUILDER
July/August 2015 3
Inside This Issue
10 14 24
Features
10 Advantages of EPS
This introduction to Insulated Concrete Forms explains the science behind ICFs and
how the combination of foam and concrete is key to their remarkable attributes.
14 Project Profile: Beauty For Any Budget
These three winning projects—an affordable housing complex, a high-end custom home,
and a small Texas residence—show how ICFs can be used successfully with virtually any
architectural style and budget.
14 Lakeside Residences
18 Simon/Harris Home
22 Robertson Home
24
ICF Product Directory
This special advertorial section, a directory of ICFs and accessory products, is organized
by category and contains company contact information.
Advertising
Craig Shorts
craig@icfmag.com
Editorial Director
Clark Ricks
editor@icfmag.com
Circulation Manager
Monica Hall
subscribe@icfmag.com
Art Director
Jason Robinson
Webmaster
Brad Moulton
Contributing Editors
Robert Klob
Ian Giesler
Pieter Vanderwerf
Cameron Ware
Contributors
Josh Harris
Mike Kennaw
Tim Rainwater
Edward Sandelin
Ken Williams
Departments
6As I See It: The Power of Collaboration
8From the Mailbag
8ICF News Roundup
Summit Publishing
884 East 700 North
Mapleton, UT, 84664-3761
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International: 801-207-1971
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Fax: 801-207-1971
www.icfmag.com
@ICFBuilderMag
Volume 11 Number 4
On the Cover: This six-story, 97-unit public housing project in
Keswick, Ontario, qualifies for LEED-Silver, with the ICF portion
complete two months ahead of schedule. See story on page 14.
Photo Courtesy Ken Williams
4 ICF BUILDER
ICF Builder magazine is published bi-monthly: January,
March, May, July, September, and November by Summit
Publishing, LLC, 884 East 700 North, Mapleton, UT, 846643761. Subscription price: $30 per year.
Copyright© 2015 by Summit Publishing. All rights reserved.
Printed in the USA. ICF Builder is a trademark of Summit
Publishing.
July/August 2015 5
As I See It
by Clark Ricks
The Power of Collaboration
With the summer construction season
in full swing, it appears that building is
booming. Lumber yards and material suppliers are reporting the best sales of the decade, and within the ICF industry, reps are
reporting double digit growth in the U.S.
It's true that construction isn't the
same as it was in '07. And that's okay. In
many respects, today's environment is more
favorable to ICFs, with the emphasis on
green certifications, disaster resistance, and
continuous insulation.
Now is the time to collaborate with
each other to maximize our potential.
I was thinking about this the other day
when I was checking up on the half-dozen
beehives I keep in my back yard. Each
bee's individual contribution to the hive
is tiny. Experts calculate the lifetime work
of a honeybee is no more than a teaspoon
6 ICF BUILDER
of honey. Yet each of my hives, on a good
year, will produce 50 pounds of honey
to harvest; every drop was brought back
one bee-load at a time from the nearby
wildflower meadows.
This industry is capable of extraordinary accomplishments, too. But it requires
collaboration. Fortunately, the structure is
in place. In May, the ICF Builder Group
launched, which allows ICF professionals to take advantage of opportunities that
companies lack the resources to capitalize
on individually. It serves as an information resource, driving demand and raising
awareness. It also provides valuable tools to
association members, allowing them to take
their businesses to the next level. Response
has been overwhelming. In the first few
weeks, dozens of the best installers, distributors, and manufacturer reps have signed
up to collaborate.
This issue of
the magazine is also
a great collaboration, It's intended to be shared with those
who are new to ICFs. Articles provide a
concise overview of Insulated Concrete
Forms (starting on p.12). Case studies
(beginning on p.16) provide real world examples of how they can successfully solve
construction challenges in both residential
and commercial sectors. And the product
directory (p.24) has a full range of forms,
bracing, and ancillary products for an ICF
contractor to be successful.
Success is possible to the degree we
harness the power of collaboration.
July/August 2015 7
In The News
ICF Builder Awards Deadline Approaches
Technically Speaking
This is an interesting
column with very little
facts in it (March 2015
"Decline of the ESR").
We do not know of
several brands that
have dropped.
Two clients
dropped their
reports before the inspection
program was even instituted, and
the claim that "an increasing number of ICF
brands have allowed their ICC-ES ESRs to expire" is not
factual based upon our internal information.
[Additionally]the purpose of conducting the follow up
inspections through ICC-ES is to enhance the quality of such
inspections. As a matter of fact, we have reduced the frequency
of inspections from four per year to two since the quality has
been enhanced tremendously. For most manufacturers, the cost
of the inspections have reduce while for some it has increased.
That depends on the inspection agency manufacturers have
selected to use.
I do not know of a single client’s inspection fees that have
doubled. Clients come to ICC-ES for the quality of the reports
and the acceptance throughout the US. There are jurisdictions
that do not accept the reports of other entities for a variety of
reasons, not least of which is that ICC-ES is the only entity
to evaluate products to ICC-ES acceptance criteria and the
only entity that has institutional knowledge to conduct
such evaluation.
Shahin Moinian,
President of ICC-ES
Email the editor with your comments at editor@icfmag.com, or
write to us at: ICF Builder Magazine • 884 East 700 North
Mapleton, UT, 84664
Be sure to include your name, address, and a daytime telephone number.
Letters may be edited for publication. Unsolicited manuscripts will not
be returned unless they include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
8 ICF BUILDER
The deadline for the
ICF Builder Awards is rapidly approaching. Contractors, distributors, and ICF
manufacturers are encouraged to submit projects for
consideration.
The annual projectof-the-year competition
is being held for the 12th
consecutive year.
Clark Ricks, organizer of the competition, says, "We recognize
that submitting projects can sometimes be a time-consuming
process, and encourage those who are considering entering to get
an early start on the process."
Categories and judging criteria are unchanged from last year,
with three residential and three commercial divisions. The entry
materials, judging criteria, sample score sheet and explanatory
video, will be online at www.builderawards.com beginning July 1. To
request hard copy of the entry materials, call 877-229-9174.
Entry Deadline is October 16, 2015.
Rastra Under New Ownership in U.S.
Rastra, the original EPS-and-concrete composite ICF, has
new owners. In the U.S., day-to-day management will be handled
by Rastra Inc. of Orlando, Fla. Russell Ferry is now serving as president of the company, with Kim Connor as national sales director.
Karl Holik, who originally developed the technology and founded the company in 1972, is retiring and returning to his native Austria,
although he will still be involved with the U.S. company as an advisor.
U.S. Residential Construction Highest Since '05
The U.S. Commerce Department reported in May that new
home construction is the highest since 2005, before the recession
officially began. Multifamily construction is especially strong, and
some builders are beginning to report labor shortages.
U.S. housing starts rose 9.2% in April (compared to a year
earlier) to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.135 million.
Applications for new building permits increased 10%. When
compared to the month previous, single-family units climbed 16.7%,
and multifamily units, including apartments and condominiums,
rose 27%.
“I don’t think I have ever seen multifamily construction at this
pace,” says Mitch Permuy, CEO of Power Design, Inc., one of the
largest full-service electrical contractors in the United States.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the first quarter of the
year, taken as a whole, represents a "steady but not spectacular start
to 2015."
Hurricane Conference Features
Concrete Houses
In 2014, the National Hurricane Conference included an in-depth seminar on
insulated concrete homes. Based on the
success of that experience, a revised version
of the presentation was offered at the 2015
NHC. The class focused on the ease with
which insulated disaster-resistant concrete
single-family dwellings can be built, and was
presented by Kenneth Luttrell, a licensed
professional engineer, and Joe Warnes, who
pioneered the reinforced concrete shell design in Guam. The presentation also was
set to include a discussion of the structural
design requirements for elevated structures
recommended by FEMA.
Monsour, director of marketing at RMCAO.
The response from the industry has
been enthusiastic, and within weeks, Builder Group already had more than two dozen
members. In addition to supporting the
industry, the association also provides valuable tools to members.
A few of the benefits available immediately include: a members-only forum;
marketing tools such as downloadable brochures; and discounted access to various
expos, including World of Concrete.
"If you have a passion for ICFs and a
commitment to build for the future, this is
where you need to be," says Ricks. "This is
an opportunity for the industry to come together as a group of proven, competent ICF
professionals with a unified industry voice
to share our message effectively."
www.icfbuildergroup.com
Follow us @ICFBuilderGroup.
ICF Builder Group Operational In May, a professional trade association was formed to meet the needs of the
ICF professional. Called the ICF Builder
Group, it is set to become the leading voice
for the insulated concrete form industry,
serving as an information resource, driving
demand and raising awareness.
A pre-launch announcement took
place several months ago at the World of
Concrete trade show, and now ICF-BG is
accepting members.
“The formation of ICF-BG is long overdue," says Clark Ricks, who is currently acting as executive director. "This is an organization that will advocate for the industry, allow
ICF professionals to differentiate themselves
from the amateur, and take advantage of opportunities that individual contractors lack
the resources to capitalize on."
ICF-BG has the support and encouragement of the corresponding manufacturer
association, the Council of ICF Industries
(CICFI). "The CICFI thinks we can have
great synergy working together," says Ross
July/August 2015 9
ICF 101
An Introduction to the Advantages of EPS and Concrete Construction
Photo courtesy Michael Duerinckx
Due to the unique combination of foam and concrete, ICFs homes can create significant energy savings, remarkable durability, and quieter
interiors while still providing a cost-effective, beautiful building. Photo courtesy Logix ICF
Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are gaining popularity as an
alternative building material. They offer a host of benefits, such
as faster construction times, lower insurance rates, and quieter
interiors, but the two primary reasons behind their growth is their
remarkable durability and energy efficiency.
In short, ICFs allow owners to create a building that is more
comfortable to be in while only using half the energy to heat and
cool as regular construction. ICF walls protect occupants and their
belongings from tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, car wrecks and
disasters. From a design standpoint, ICF technology is extremely
flexible; the architecture can match virtually any style, and ICFs
are compatible with all popular interior and exterior finishes. And
yet, in most areas of the country, the cost of ICF construction is
typically less than 10% more than wood. With careful planning and
considering the utility savings, the monthly expense of living in an
ICF house can actually be less expensive. The same holds true for
commercial buildings. Many churches, schools, stores, and hotels
have found that ICFs allowed them to build a better structure for
far less than expected.
The key to all these remarkable attributes is the combination of
foam and concrete. Regardless of the brand of ICF chosen, all consist
of two rigid EPS foam panels which sandwich a core of reinforced
concrete. The concrete provides exceptional strength and thermal
mass; the foam provides a continuous layer of the world's best insulation, and is an ideal substrate for many finishes.
Energy Efficiency
ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels which are filled with steelreinforced concrete. They can be finished with conventional interior
and exterior finishes.
10 ICF BUILDER
Let's talk about energy efficiency first.
For many years, ICF experts talked about "performance
R-Value." These figures were impossible to verify, and the term has
average frame wall is 25% wood, so even
though the fiberglass or cellulose may
be rated at R-13 (for 2x4) or R-19 (for
2x6), the "whole wall" insulation value is
significantly less.
With ICFs, the owner is assured of
continuous insulation without gaps or
installation mistakes.
Airtight Construction: Anyone who
has lived in a drafty house when a winter
storm howls outside knows how signifi-
cantly air infiltration can affect insulation
value. For the past decade or so, homebuilders have tried to address this by covering exterior walls in a layer of paper-like
“homewrap." However, frame walls are
made from dozens of individual components which guarantee that outside air will
be able to infiltrate the living space.
ICF walls, though, are virtually
airtight. Even hurricane-force winds can’t
force their way through four to six inches
thankfully disappeared. But the concept
remains true: The actual, real-world
performance of an ICF wall far exceeds
its nominal insulation value. This is due
to a combination of three factors: more
insulation, less air infiltration, and highmass walls.
Higher Rated, Continuous R-Values:
EPS foam, from which ICFs are made, is
one of the best insulating materials yet invented. The R in “R-Value” stands for thermal resistance, and the higher the R-Value,
the better the wall is at stopping the flow
of heat.
Homes built using wood frame
construction typically have exterior walls
rated between R-13 and R-19. ICF walls,
on the other hand, have foam with tested
insulation values of R-22 or R-26. (A frame
wall would need to be a full 12 inches thick
to achieve a similar rating!) Some ICF
manufacturers offer foam inserts for even
thicker sidewalls, with tested values of
R-32 or even R-40.
Additionally, ICFs offer continuous
insulation. With frame construction, the
July/August 2015 11
Photo courtesy Nudura
Richardsville Elementary in Bowling Green, Ky. is America's first net-zero school. Built with
ICF walls, it generates more electricity than it uses, and it was built at a cost comparable to
any other new school project.
12 ICF BUILDER
erly-sized high-efficiency HVAC system.
Disaster Resistance
With a solid, monolithic core of
steel-reinforced concrete, it should be
obvious that ICF homes, schools, and
other buildings perform well when disaster
strikes. What is more remarkable is the
number of real-world examples. ICF
homes have survived arson attempts and
wildfires, hurricanes and tornadoes, storm
surge, drunken drivers, even explosions at
close range from TNT.
A few years ago, tired of absorbing
massive losses from natural disasters, the
insurance industry set up a program to
encourage homeowners to build more
The three ICF homes on this street in San Bernardino, Ca. are easily identified, after
a 2007 wildfire reduced the neighboring wood-frame homes to ashes.
Photo courtesy San Diego Union Tribune
of solid concrete.
Thermal Mass: Many historic buildings in the American Southwest have
pleasantly cool interiors even when the hot
summer sun has been beating down on
them for hours. The secret is in their adobe
walls—usually several feet thick—that
take hours to heat up. And when the sun
sets and temperatures drop, the stored-up
heat keeps the interior pleasant through
much of the night. This phenomena, called
thermal lag or temperature damping, is due
to the mass of the walls.
Like adobe, ICF walls take advantage
of thermal mass. Even a modest ICF
home uses dozens of yards of concrete,
and that weight creates thermal lag in ICF
structures, moderating temperature swings.
A few years ago, the Portland Cement
Association (PCA), conducted a study of
58 single-family houses across the U.S. and
Canada. All were less than six years old.
Half had exterior walls constructed with
ICFs; the other half were traditional frame
homes of a similar size built nearby. The
study found that the ICF homes used 44%
less energy to heat and 32% less energy to
cool than comparable frame houses.
That means a typical 2,000-sq.-ft. ICF
home in the central U.S. would save $200
in heating costs and $65 in cooling costs
each year.
There are other factors in play as well.
Maximizing energy-efficiency in an ICF
structure requires some other important
steps, such as the use of adequate attic insulation, quality windows and doors, and a prop-
durably. The Fortified…For Safer Living
program specifically encourages ICF use.
Chuck Vance, IBHS "Fortified"
program administrator, says, "We're
impressed with the superior wind-load
capacity of an ICF wall. It also has other
benefits as well, including resistance to fire
and fewer problems with water damage.”
Vance notes that the program is designed to prevent damage from all types of
natural disasters in all areas of the country.
Because of this, the criteria for a “Fortified”
home varies regionally, based on the natural
disasters most likely for that area, such as
hurricanes in the southeast or tornadoes in
the Midwest. Regardless, ICFs will stand
up to whatever threat is greatest in that region better than any other technology.
In some areas of the country, insurance
companies will give discounts for “Fortified”
When a drunken driver lost control and slammed into this home at an estimated 90 mph,
the ICF wall kept the owner safe, and damage to a minimum.
homes, or for ICF homes in general.
While hard figures are hard to come
by, anecdotal evidence indicates that the
savings are real. “I have an ICF builder in
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that builds
to our guidelines” says Vance. “Every home
he builds gets a discount from the local
Farm Bureau affiliate and South Carolina’s
Wind and Hail Pool. Those two discounts
add up to significant savings.”
The owners of a 4,800-sq.-ft. ICF
home in Florida report an $18,000 annual
savings as a result of credits attributed to
the ICF construction. His annual wind and
general liability insurance is “$2,200/year
plus some change,” less than he pays for the
wood frame guest home across the street
that’s less than half the size.
“The insurance industry understands
value of a reinforced concrete ICF structure
in a hurricane prone area,” says Sandy
Esterle, owner of the design/build firm
that constructed the home.
As one might suspect, building a
hurricane-proof home requires more than
just ICF walls. Windows and doors are the
Photo courtesy Safe Harbor Design/Build
The owners of this ICF home in Lighthouse
Point, Fla. Report that the disaster-resistant forms have reduced their insurance
premium by $18,000 annually.
most vulnerable, and tests at Texas Tech
University show that 2x4 wood studs easily
penetrate wood frame and even brickveneer walls. (See the video on our website.)
The boards were shot at speeds up to 80
miles per hour—barely hurricane force.
Tornadoes frequently have windspeeds in
excess of 200 miles per hour, and currently,
concrete is the only material that can stand
up to such severe winds.
Many experts believe ICFs are the
most cost-effective—and aesthetically
pleasing—way to protect occupants and
their belongings from wind-related natural
disasters, building all exterior walls from
ICFs, using impact-resistant windows or
metal storm shutters on all openings, and
a disaster-proof roof.
As noted above, ICFs stand up to
other disasters equally well. When a raging
wildfire swept through the suburbs of San
Diego in the fall of 2007, it forced more
than half a million people from their homes
and destroyed more than 2,000 residences.
On one suburban street in San Bernardino,
every home on the block was burned to the
ground, with the exception of three ICF
homes, which a newspaper photographer
captured standing virtually unscathed amid
the charred wreckage surrounding it.
Insulating concrete forms resist fires
in several ways. The most obvious is their
structural concrete core that will not
weaken, warp, twist, or burn regardless of
the fire's heat. In so-called “fire-wall” tests,
ICF walls withstood temperatures of up
to 2000°F for as long as 4 hours without
any sign of weakening. In contrast, wood
frame walls typically collapse in an hour
or less. The concrete core also prevents fire
by slowing the conduction of heat from
one side of the wall to the other. Contrary
to popular belief, the foam used in ICFs
will not burn. It will melt if exposed to
high heat, but it will not contribute any
fuel to the fire. In fact, it is virtually "selfextinguishing," thanks to a flame retardant
all of the leading ICF manufacturers add to
the EPS foam.
Other notable examples of ICF homes
that have withstood disaster include a
beachfront home in New Jersey that withstood Superstorm Sandy, despite having it's
siding scrubbed off by the pounding waves,
and a Gulf Coast ICF house that withstood
a 20-foot storm surge generated by Hurricane Katrina that swept the rest of the
neighborhood down to bare foundations.
ICFs are so disaster resistant that the
U.S. military conducted blast-resistance
tests using 50-lb. charges of TNT. The
results were impressive enough that they
now frequently specify ICF construction
for "force protection" requirements.
Sound Absorption
About 10 years ago, 75 ICF homeowners were surveyed about the features
they appreciated most in their ICF homes.
It’s no surprise that energy efficiency and
disaster resistance topped the list. But benefits numbers three and four were comfort
and quiet.
In fact, more than 60% of ICF homeowners mentioned the quietness of their
homes, versus only 2% of their wood frame
counterparts. This is due, once again, to the
sound absorbing qualities of EPS foam.
Pieter Vanderwerf, who conducted
the study, says, “Many homeowners said
their biggest surprise in moving into an ICF
house was the noise difference… The ICF
owners told two common stories over and
over again: ‘I looked out the window and
saw the traffic on the road, but I couldn’t
hear it.’ And ‘While talking with my neighbor one morning, he asked if the thunderstorm the night before woke me up, too.
But until that moment I never even realized
we’d had one.’"
Continued on pg. 30.
July/August 2015 13
Additional photos can be viewed at www.icfmag.com
or by scanning this code:
This 97-unit affordable housing complex
is turning heads with its striking
brick façade, reasonable budget,
and remarkable efficiency.
It's certified LEED-Silver.
MULTIFAMILY
1ST RUNNER-UP
Photos courtesy Ken Williams
LAKESIDE RESIDENCES
The town of Keswick,
Ontario, about forty miles north
of Toronto, was facing a shortage of
affordable housing. The waiting list of singles, seniors and families
needing housing assistance in this town was years-long, reportedly
topping 1,500 individuals a few years ago.
So when a developer suggested building a beautiful, energyefficient, low-maintenance apartment complex for some of them on
a prominent site that had sat vacant for decades, the city council
took notice. Ken Williams, territory manager for Fox Blocks, which
provided the ICFs for this project,
says, "The building site was on the
main street in Keswick surrounded
by turn-of-the-century shops and
houses. The design of the building
had to blend with the area as well as
be soundproofed from the road traffic
and meet LEED-Silver requirements."
During the design stages, Elite
Building Group, an installer with
extensive experience in mid-rise ICF
construction, was brought in as a
consultant. They, in turn, brought Fox
14 ICF BUILDER
Blocks' LEED consultant
and technical team to the table.
They resolved the developer's and general
contractor's concerns regarding construction timelines, building
code acceptance, quality standards, potentials for cost overruns, and
LEED compliance.
Funding was secured through a variety of grants, subsidies, and
government programs, and in mid-2012, the project got underway.
Williams says, "Construction of the ICF scope of work was
scheduled for spring but started in October, so this was now a
complete winter build."
The project's design is fairly complex when compared to typical low-income housing. The architecture features
an all-brick exterior, radius-topped
windows and doors on all sides of the
building, and a free standing 14-foothigh bell tower over the front entrance.
Fortunately, the ICF installation
crew from Elite was experienced, and
worked though all of these issues
without delay. They also innovated
a few developments. For instance,
the two levels of underground parking required exposed concrete
walls, but with the rear of the building right on the lot line, the
use of conventional forms was impossible. Instead, this was formed
with ICFs, and the EPS stripped off the inside face afterwards and
painted. This technique was also used for the elevator shafts and
stairwells. In another innovation, they used brickledge blocks to
create the corbels that support the stairwell landings.
By December, the York regional newspaper, which was
following the project closely, reported that "the $19.2-million
Lakeside Residences facility is moving forward without any
significant delay or setback, despite being a complicated site with
excavations going into the hill."
Each of the six above-ground floors used 1,200 lineal feet of
wall and had fifty 90º corners, four 45º corners and 17 T-walls
intersections. Williams reports that the number of ICF window
and door blockouts exceeds 450. Giraffe bracing, used to hold the
walls perfectly plumb while the concrete cured, was easily crated
and moved from floor to floor as work progressed.
The exterior façade is supported on corbel blocks installed at
the base of the first floor.
Even with the winter conditions, Elite crews wrapped up the
ICF scope of work in 112 days—two months ahead of schedule.
No winter heating was needed to keep the concrete from freezing.
Nearly all interior walls
are ICF, which reduces
sound transmission but also
required the installer to
stack and brace more than
50 corners on every floor.
The project included more than
450 window and
door openings,
including several
massive arches.
The floors are precast concrete planks, a popular choice for ICF midrise construction.
July/August 2015 15
The 97-unit low income housing development was completed
in May 2014, and was filled immediately with qualified residents.
Heather Piggott moved in to her fifth-floor unit in June. “It’s
fabulous. I love it,” she says, adding the attention to accessibility in
everything from parking to laundry facilities is a key factor. She says
daily life in her wheelchair is much easier and convenient thanks
to the state-of-the-art modified facilities at the complex. A choice
view of the lake makes her apartment even more of a slice of heaven.
The $19.2 million facility used more than 111,000 sq. ft. of
ICF (72,500 sq. ft. in the exterior walls and nearly 40,000 more in
the interior walls between units). Floors are precast concrete.
The project easily met its goal of LEED Silver certification and
may possibly achieve gold level when the final points are awarded.
"This project has set a new bench mark for this type of housing,"
Williams says. "This is the first large-scale ICF public housing
project in the area, and it was built to LEED-Silver standards. This
was also the developer's, engineers', architects', site foreman and City
of Keswick's first experience with ICFs but it won’t be their last.
Much educating was needed at all levels with all parties during the
projects development, but the result is that the City of Keswick has
a beautiful new downtown building that will be the standard that
other buildings will need to meet going forward."
16 ICF BUILDER
Project Statistics
Location: Keswick, Ontario
Type: 97-Unit Low Income Housing
Size: 83,000 sq. ft. (floor)
ICF Use: 111,000 sq. ft.
Cost: $19.2 million
Total Construction: 15 months
ICF Installation time: 112 days
Construction Team
Owner + General Contractor: Fusioncorp Developments
ICF Installer: Elite Building Group
Architect: ADG Architecture
Form Distributor: North River Distributing
ICF System: Fox Blocks
Fast Facts
•
•
•
•
•
•
Six-story, 97-unit public housing project
Qualifies for LEED-Silver
More than 450 window and door bucks
Each floor had 50 corners and 17 T-Walls
ICF portion complete two months ahead of schedule
ICFs used to form underground parking structure
®
IntegraSpec
“The User Friendly ICF”
Click on thumbnails above for a full slide show
Visit www.integraspec.com/downloads.htm to view all slide shows
Numerous International Patents
1-800-382-9102 | www.integraspec.com
July/August 2015 17
Additional photos can be viewed at www.icfmag.com
or by scanning this code:
UNLIMITED RESIDENTIAL
2ND RUNNER-UP
SIMON & HARRIS HOME
homeowner requesting a bid
on the ICF portion, he presented
a case for building the entire shell with
ICFs, citing structural strength, sustainability, cost, and insulation
benefits. Simon & Harris specialize in ICF construction, and have
built nearly 50 ICF homes in the region. After several discussions,
Harris took the owner on a tour of a completed ICF home. He says
that before the tour was concluded, the owner was on the phone
with his architect, directing him to rework his plans for ICF. The
project team elected to use Nudura products, based on the builder's
familiarity with the brand.
Sickmeier, an experienced architect but unfamiliar with the
finer points of ICF design, faced the challenge taking the existing
blueprints (drawn by him) and adapting them for ICF construction.
All photos courtesy Simon & Harris
The design of this beautiful
Indiana home was inspired by
the stately Victorian summer homes on
the Northeastern coast of the U.S. The multiple wrap-around
porches—oriented for optimum lake views—turrets, and bay
windows provide visual interest while reflecting the proportions
and aesthetics of the owner.
It's much more spacious than it appears—11,500 sq. ft.
spread over three levels—and careful consideration to the design,
structure, create a distinctive, family-friendly home.
Plans were drawn up by Ron Sickmeier of Henry-Sickmeier
Architects, over the course of three years. The original version
called for a 2x6 frame home on an ICF foundation, but when Josh
Harris, co-owner of Simon & Harris, received a phone call from the
18 ICF BUILDER
This involved allowing for thicker exterior ICF walls, adjusting the
installation of the bay windows, and reworking some of the door
and window placements. The roof connections and internal steel
beam supports also needed to be revised.
In the end, the decision not only led to a stronger, more
energy-efficient home, but was also more economical. Harris says,
"Our price for ICF construction was below the price quoted by a
competitor to build with stick frame construction with spray foam."
Constructing a home of this size on a heavily wooded hillside
lot was challenging, to say the least. The footprint has nineteen
90º and ten 45º degree corners, as well a radius wall that sweeps
across the front porch of the home. The surveyor used GPS satellite
coordinates to locate these corners precisely.
Work began in July of 2012, and proceeded smoothly. Two
second floor ICF walls have no supporting wall on the first floor.
Seen in these before-and after photos is the second-story
turret, cantilevered out over the front porch, which generated
considerable attention.
July/August 2015 19
Project Statistics
Location: Spencer County, Ind.
Type: Custom Home
Size: 11,500 sq. ft. (floor)
ICF Use: 8,000 sq. ft.
Total Construction: 23 months
ICF Installation time: 50 days
Construction Team
Owner + General Contractor: Undisclosed
ICF Installer: Simon & Harris Home Builders
Architect: Henry-Sickmeier
Form Distributor: Holdfast Technologies
ICF System: Nudura
Fast Facts
•
•
•
•
•
•
Modeled after coastal Victorian homes
Architect's first ICF project
Non-stacked ICF walls sit on steel beams
30 corners, ten at 45 degrees, plus radius walls
Generated significant local publicity
Developed LP siding ICF installation standards
A sweeping spiral staircase in the rotunda
separates the entertainment areas on the main
floor from the family's private quarters upstairs.
20 ICF BUILDER
These were poured on steel beams. The complex roof has multiple
gables, hips, and valleys, made even more difficult by the steep
(12:12) pitch. A second-floor turret, now the homeowner’s office,
is supported by steel beams that cantilever over the porch. Harris
says, "Until the final porch posts were installed, this cantilevered
section of the home was quite a topic of conversation. It appeared
to be floating in space."
The homeowner confirms, “Our house did raise a few eyebrows
during the 18+ months of construction, and apparently became the
talk of the town”. The attention led to at least one favorable story in
the local newspaper.
The homeowner continued to investigate other energy-saving
strategies. High efficiency doors and low-e argon-filled windows
were installed. The home has a geothermal heat pump for the
HVAC system, with separate units on each floor for independent
control of the heating, air conditioning, and hot water. The owner
calls it "practically free air conditioning" in the humid summers of
southern Indiana.
Just as much attention was spent on the interior. A sweeping
“Gone with the Wind” formal staircase leads from a central rotunda
to the second level. Wide baseboards and trim were used balance
the 10-foot ceilings and match the deep window sills inherent with
ICF construction.
Timeless, unique, one-of-a-kind details are tastefully placed
throughout; imported marble fireplaces, mosaic tile floors, bronze
staircase banisters, stained glass windows, and antique furniture
pieces allow the owner to enjoy the very best of the past, now and
in the future.
The exterior finishes were chosen with Victorian influences in
mind. Louisiana Pacific and Nudura collaborated with the installer
on this home to work out "best practice" installation techniques for
installing LP's Smartside engineered wood shingles on ICF. Harris
says, "It's sometimes been a challenge in the building industry to
be assured that [a certain] product will be compatible with ICFs.
This is changing slowly as more ICF projects (residential and
commercial) are developed and successful."
Harris summarizes, "This home was completed in May 2014,
and meets or exceeds the standards for a graceful, attractive and
energy-efficient home. Its design is classic with loads of architectural
details and design elements, both inside and out. Challenges of
terrain, elevation, plan revision, and structural concerns all were
addressed in a professional and timely manner, culminating in a
home that draws positive attention from all who see it."
Sickmeier, the architect, now considers himself a “convert" to
the benefits of ICF, and now makes an effort to encourage other
builders that “ICF is a good consideration”.
Most importantly, the homeowner is thrilled with his home.
He says, “I cannot express how happy I am that I chose ICF for the
construction of this house. Although we have only lived here a little
less than four months, the benefits of ICF are becoming quite clear.
We feel exceptionally safe staying in this house regardless of the
weather conditions, and the insulation provided by these walls has
proven to be exceptional, as witnessed by our electric bills." He goes
on to add that the walls nearly eliminate the noise from the nearby
road, and that “there is no movement or creaking” of the walls that
would occur in a traditionally framed home.
He concludes, “When an ICF house is properly built, I see no
comparison to the benefits provided by ICF as compared with any
other type of home construction.”
July/August 2015 21
SMALL RESIDENTIAL
FINALIST
ROBERTSON HOME
the top of the gables. Edward
Sandelin, of Sandelin Custom
Homes, the general contractor, notes, "This
created an extremely attractive high gabled ceiling through the
living room and off the kitchen."
Tim Rainwater, the ICF installer, carefully coordinated
the window and door openings, as well as the placement of the
propriety heavy joist hangars which supported the gluelam beams.
To increase the homeowner's safety in a worst-case-scenario
tornado, Rainwater and his crew installed an all-concrete safe room
that doubles as a walk-in closet. It has ICF walls on all four sides, a
steel door and a 6” thick concrete roof cap.
Nudura ICFs were selected for this job. Sandelin says,
"The accessibility of the manufacturer's representative and the
professional engineered schematics made the decision." He reports
that the distributor provided "just great support." "In fact," he says,
"the manufacturer's representative actually visited the site three
times during the build."
Soils in North Texas can be difficult, and this home site was no
exception. The engineering required 70 piers to support the foundation. To save costs and save the valuable topsoil, the owner "harvested" this with his dozer and backhoe. This resulted in large hole,
All photos courtesy Edward Sandelin
When Guy and Heather
Robertson discussed building
their dream home in rural Texas, two
priorities consistently rose to the top: energy efficiency and
tornado resistance. These factors are understandable, considering
the extreme Texas heat and the fact that North Texas in recent
years has become a part of “tornado alley." But aesthetics were also
important. Fortunately, ICFs can easily meet all three criteria.
The finished home is light, airy, and open, with extensive
glazing in back. This was carefully calculated and based on the
home's orientation. For instance, the west side of the home has
minimal windows, since this is exposed to the hot afternoon sun.
Large roof overhangs further reduce direct light into the home.
The roof is insulated with 5 ½ inches of open cell spray foam and
topped with Galvalum standing seam metal roofing, which can reduce
radiant heat by approximately 30-40%. The HVAC system was high
efficiency 20 SEER all-electric with a heat pump and motorized dampening. Combined, this means that in the heat of the Texas summer,
utility bills average $80 a month. (On an annual basis, they average
$60 per month, very reasonable for a home of just under 3,000 sq. ft.)
The open floor plan is made possible by the use of massive
gluelam beams, which are supported by ICF walls that extend to
22 ICF BUILDER
Project Statistics
Location: Stephenville, Texas
Type: Custom Home
Size: 2,888 sq. ft.(floor)
ICF Use: 2,500 sq. ft.
Cost: $348,000
Total Construction: 6 months
ICF Installation time: 10 days
Construction Team
Owner: G. & H. Robertson
General Contractor: Sandelin Custom Homes
ICF Installer: Insulated Concrete Buildings
Architect: Designs by Marcy
Form Distributor: FutureStone, LLC
ICF System: Nudura
Fast Facts
• Intended as a green and tornado-resistant home
• Closet doubles as safe room with concrete roof and
steel door
• Roof uses 6 inches of polyurethane insulation
• Rainwater collected for landscape use
• Led directly to three new ICF projects in the area
which was repurposed as a cistern and connected to the home’s guttering system for rainwater storage. In addition, the client planted
only southern latitude, drought-tolerant plants, further reducing
the project’s need for using limited well water for irrigation.
Sandelin says, "This home was instrumental in spawning three
new ICF projects in the North Texas area because the owners are so
very open to allowing prospective ICF clients into their home and
by their willingness to discuss and share their thought processes
in the design of their own home. We have gone from an occasional
ICF home as requested by an educated homeowner to determining
that the technology is the best that we can offer our customers and
we have begun marketing and building ICF homes as the principle
offering in our line of homes.”
He concludes, "This home serves as an excellent example that
a smaller ICF home can be built economically and provide longlasting comfort for a young couple for years to come."
July/August 2015 23
Paid Advertising
ICF Product Directory
Manufacturers of ICFs and related products constantly updated their lines with newer, better products that
help the contractor become more efficient and profitable.
This annual ICF product directory showcases the latest technology from exterior finishes and waterproofing,
to bracing, bucking, forms and foams. It’s all organized by category and includes company contact information.
Don’t hesitate to call for more information. Tell them you saw the product in ICF Builder magazine.
Accessories
The One Minute Engineer App By Logix ICF
LogixICF.com
1.888.415.6449
Tired of paying engineers and waiting for answers?
Would on-demand engineering
make your take-offs faster and
more accurate?
Need to confirm lintels on the
job site?
The Logix One Minute Engineer
does it all.
When you build with Logix ICF,
the interactive Logix One Minute Engineer app provides stamped engineering reports for most residential projects, FEMA-compliant shelters and
many other types of buildings. No
other ICF brand offers this level of
engineering support.
Logix - The ICF Solutions Company
Masonry Ties from Nudura
www.nudura.com
866.468.6299
Nudura has developed two unique masonry tie options. The
new line of ties offer a cast-in-place and a surface mount option for
pre- and post installation.
The cast-in-place tie option has been designed to easily be
pressed through the exterior EPS foam panel under normal hand
pressure. This eliminates the need to cut the foam for installation,
resulting in faster installation times. The cast-in-place tie offers full
24 ICF BUILDER
height adjustment for all common masonry veneer sizes for North
America and Europe.
The surface mount tie is designed to be fastened anywhere on
the Nudura fastening strip and is manufactured with stops that
penetrate the foam but prevent the tie from being over tightened
and compressing into the form. The surface mount tie will accept
Nudura pintels and other smaller dimension pintels offering full
height for all common masonry veneer.
For more information on our complete line of accessory
products visit www.nudura.com.
xLerator Brickledge Reinforcement
www.foxblocks.com
1.877-369-2562
The xLerator is a patented one-piece wire reinforcement for
Fox Blocks’ ledge and taper top forms. It simply drops into the preformed slots, reinforcing every corbel. There is no need to bend
stirrups, and no tying or lapping is required, reducing labor costs
and time-consuming delays.
The xLerator is fully engineered to properly address ledge
loads and galvanized to protect against corrosion (which can lead to
reduced concrete strength).
Available exclusively from Fox Blocks, the xLerator is the only
ICF ledge reinforcement system to meet ACI 318 guidelines.
Paid Advertising
Air Filters and Exchangers
EZ Breathe Healthy Home Solutions
www.ezbreathe.com
1.866.822.7328
EZ Breathe Healthy Home Solutions now offers specific models for crawlspaces, basements and garages to provide the fresh air
requirements for ICF homes by creating air exchanges 6-10 times
daily and monitoring humidity levels to maintain a healthy home.
EZ Breathe Healthy Home Solutions has earned the EPA’s
Indoor airPLUS Ally status by providing systems that improve a
home’s indoor air quality.
EZ Breathe products eliminate airborne contaminants such
as moisture, allergens, particulates,
mold and mildew. These units are
easy to install, energy efficient at
only $2-$4 a month, and a fraction
of the cost of ERVs and HRVs.
EZ Breathe lowers humidity
levels, eliminates up to 85% of
airborne particles, reduces mold
spores and removes contaminants
and allergens.
An EZ Breathe ventilation
system will ensure your energy
efficient home maintains a healthy
indoor environment and will
protect the health and safety of the
structure as well as all those who
live there.
Bracing
Giraffe Bracing
www.giraffebracing.com
1.888.778.2285
Giraffe Bracing continues to lead
the ICF industry with its versatile,
user-friendly, low-maintenance ICF
bracing systems. Often copied but
never duplicated, Giraffe's unique
storage crate has proven time and
time again to be the best in the
industry. Our carefully designed rack holds 20 sets of bracing; just
a quick glance ensures that every component is accounted for.
The internal zinc-plated turnbuckles means no thread clean up
is required, ever.
Giraffe’s 14-ga. 10’ strongbacks and 13-ga. 12’ strongbacks
have the highest wind load ratings in the industry ensuring a
safe quality built job every time. Don’t ask us, ask our customers.
Giraffe Bracing is the highest quality bracing on the market and
can also be used for vertical shoring applications with most ICF
floor forming systems.
Try our bracing before you buy by renting from one of the rental
locations listed on our website, or call us to arrange for leasing. You’ll
soon discover why Giraffe is, “Standing Tall In A Concrete Jungle.”
Improved PlumWall All-in-One System
www.plumwall.com
1.888.928.6676
New for 2015 is the redesigned Plumwall All-in-One ICF
brace, improving worker safety and
user-friendly operation. Plumwall
is still the only ICF bracing system
that offers contractors alignment
control at platform level and an allin-one folding design – giving you
unmatched one-man productivity.
New on the All-in-One is a wider platform, measuring 22 inches
of available plank width. Also available, Plumwall now offers metal
safety posts that easily pin into place, ready for railings. Outriggers
and platform angles are now powder coated in high-visibility safety
orange, keeping the jobsite safer.
Tall Wall: For contractors looking for engineered tall wall
bracing, Plumwall’s 24-foot height can’t be beat. The same bracing
system can be configured for 10’, 12’, 14’, 16’, and through to 24 feet.
Storage and Transport Crate: Moving and storing Plumwall
bracing is simple with the Plumwall crate, stacking safely and
transporting using forks or a crane.
Zont Bracing
www.fab-form.com
1.888.303.3278
Zont bracing is a lightweight system where the primary contact with the wall is a horizontal 2x4 waler. This differs from conventional ICF bracing where the primary contact is the vertical
brace itself.
The system consists of two elements:
1. Zont brackets are screw attached to the ICF block to hold
2x4 walers and strongbacks in position. A polycarbonate cam
shaft locks the lumber together for a quick setup and strip.
2. Zuckle wall aligner adjusts the plumb of the wall. Drill
adjustable for quick and accurate adjustment.
As Zont bracing uses readily available site lumber, the system
weighs 8% of conventional bracing and is easily carried in the back
of a pickup.
Any wall height can easily be achieved by simply adding
another course of Zont brackets.
www.zontbracing.com
July/August 2015 25
Paid Advertising
Bucking
Fox Buck
www.foxblocks.com
1.877-369-2562
Fox Buck is a fully integrated, continuous
insulation window and door buck for residential
and commercial applications. The 1” x 1” notches
create a dual barrier against drafts or moisture
penetration. When installed properly, the concrete barrier protection is continuous around the
entire opening. These barriers also anchor the
Fox Buck to the wall with enough strength to
hold in most weather conditions.
The buck is exactly 2” thick for easy
measurements, and measures 48” high to
match the height of three blocks. It can be used
in conjunction with the internal “Energy Sticks” as well.
The buck features a 1 ½” wide “fastening zone” for door and
window attachments that runs the full height of the buck every 8”
on center. Notches ensure proper alignment between the buck and
the wall form. On the inside, Dual full-length 1” x 1” grooves create a solid concrete barrier against drafts and moisture. Circles are
marked at 16” centers for sill cutouts and vibrator access.
The 2015 Fox Buck product line has been expanded and is
now available in the 4”, 6”, 8”, 10”, and 12” sizes.
Gorilla Buck / Vbuck
www.GorillaBuck.com / www.Vbuck.com
1.218.863.1708
Gorilla Buck Inc., a Minnesota-based company, offers two different window and door buck system. Both ensure a fast and trouble-free installation while providing unparalleled performance and
design flexibility.
The Gorilla Buck system is preferred for insulated ICF window
and door bucks, and has been used on thousands of openings. The
heart of the system is an insulated design. EPS foam with a heavy
duty "ladder truss" which provides stiffness, strength and a continuous plastic edge for solid mounting of windows and other trim elements. The rebar holders mechanically fasten the buck and flashing
all the way back to concrete core.
Vbuck is an all-vinyl window and door buck system trusted by
ICF installers for more than 17 years. It is especially suitable for arched,
round, and curved openings, and is available in widths to match every
major ICF on the market. Vbuck's STM and TAS approvals include
cyclic wind pressure loading, missile impact, as
well as smoke, fire and toxicity tests.
With two complementary product lines
in Vbuck and Gorilla Buck, we are your complete window and door buck solution provider
for every ICF customer. Both buck systems ensure a rot-free, warp-free opening with a buck
that is lighter and faster to install than wood.
26 ICF BUILDER
Choose a window and door buck that matches your expectations
for your ICF wall. Don’t settle for less! Get the wood out!
Patent #’s 8,931,220 & 9,016,011 & 5,996,293 & 6,070,375
& 2,255,256
NoricF4 Custom Metal Frames
www.foxblocks.com
1.877.369.2562
Save time, labor, and construction steps
with the industry’s most innovative fully integrated steel door and window frames created
specifically for ICF construction: NoricF4 from
Fox Blocks, a division of Airlite Plastics.
The pre-welded, pre-assembled, two-inone NoricF4 acts as both the “blockout” buck
and the frame for window and door openings,
reducing construction time by eliminating the
buck assembly, squaring and stripping and reducing bracing and support, and providing the
framing that can come ready to receive doors and
windows of any manufacturer and of any size.
The NoricF4 features manufactured drywall
returns on one or both sides of the frame for faster finishing, can accommodate any door hardware type and comes ready to hang doors,
and is shipped fully assembled directly to the construction site. A continuous concrete anchor surrounds the frame, eliminating the need for
anchor bolts.
The NoricF4 is constructed of 14-gauge steel and is custom
designed to fit any ICF form and concrete core size. Developed specifically for structures that demand durability and sustainability, and
where construction cost savings are critical, the NoricF4 is the most
versatile, stable, and durable custom metal ICF frame on the market. Built to last, the NoricF4 is ideal for use in schools, hotels, theaters, churches, commercial buildings, and government facilities and
meets the DoD Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for buildings.
Densifiers
Bright Technologies
www.brightbeltpress.com
1.800.253.0532
Bright Technologies offers solutions for recycling EPS foam. The
company, which is a specialty equipment division of Sebright Products,
Inc. sells a comprehensive line of EPS Densifiers with capacities ranging
from 100 lbs. per hour to 1,200 lbs. per hour. The machinery converts
waste EPS into a product weighing 16-20 lbs per cubic foot. Densifying waste foam offers numerous advantages, including reduced storage requirements and reduced
hauling/handling costs. After processing, up to
40,000 lbs. of foam can fit into a
single truckload. Densification
also eliminates the danger of
pentane gas buildup.
Paid Advertising
Bright machinery has a reputation for quality. All equipment
is designed, manufactured, installed and serviced right here in the
United States. The original EPS Densifier, installed in 1995, is still
in use today, processing more than a million lbs. of product per year
with minimal downtime.
A video of the densifier is online at www.densifiervideo.com.
Finishes
PermaCrete
www.permacrete.com
1.800.607.3762
Create a structural suit
of armor for ICF projects
using Permacrete. Approved
for both vertical and horizontal applications, it can be
applied by trowel or sprayer
so even big jobs get finished
quickly. The finish is available 170 standard colors,
and custom textures, colors,
and patterns are available for
unlimited design capabilities. In vertical applications,
it has an impact strength of
220 psi when applied over
ICF, EIFS or CMU. In horizontal applications, the coating has been
tested as having double psi compression strength over concrete slabs.
This tougher-than-concrete exterior coating protects investments.
Made in the USA. PermaCrete. Coating the world since 1991.
Flooring and Decking
Amvic Insulated PEX Panel
www.amvicsystem.com
1.877.470.9991
The Amvic Insulated Radiant PEX panel has been specifically
designed to provide the most cost effective installation and performance characteristics for hydronic radiant floor heating systems.
The manufacturing process starts with the most technically
advanced automated EPS molding equipment in North America.
The combination of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation—one
of the highest performing energy efficient insulation materials available today— molded to the high-impact polystyrene film makes for
a strong, resilient interlocking PEX panel.
The panel nubs form a “mushroom”
shape to lock the PEX piping firmly in
place. The PEX piping is easily inserted
into the panel simply by walking on the
tube. Once inserted the pipe will be
properly positioned and seated into the
panel. The innovative, patented panel
design ensures that the tube will be completely encased in concrete
and not pushed to the bottom of the panel as some competitive
products do. This will allow for the proper heat distribution of the
radiant tubing and more efficient energy transfer.
Canam-Hambro
www.hambro.com
1.800.546.9008
Canam offers
an array of structural components to
create better, more
functional buildings, including the
well known Hambro joists, used to
create an economical steel and concrete floor system.
The Hambro D500 floor system creates solid, reliable
elevated slabs supported by proven floor joists. Compatible with all
traditional structural systems, the Hambro D500 floor combines
the flexibility of the D500 joists with the strength of a reinforced
concrete slab.
It’s fast and easy to install, and offers maximum room for duct
work. It simplifies installation of HVAC, electricity and plumbing systems. It uses less concrete and reinforcing steel than conventional slabs,
which minimizes costs, and makes it possible to create long spans without load-bearing walls below. Hambro is compatible with all traditional structural systems, offers exceptional fire protection and outstanding
sound dampening properties. Hambro D500 is more than just a floor.
Heat-Sheet Radiant Floor Panels By Logix
www.heat-sheet.com
1.888.415.6449
Logix Insulated Concrete Forms Ltd. is pleased to announce
the launch of Heat-Sheet, a new lightweight radiant floor insulating
system designed for slab-on-grade, sandwich slab, snow-melt,
retrofit and overlay applications.
The compact 2' x 4' Heat-Sheet panels are made with Type
II or Type III EPS, and come in six thicknesses and offer R-values
from R-4 to R-14.
Heat-Sheet's tough pre-formed nodules resist jobsite breakage
and form the convenient 3" multi-directional tubing channel grid.
With Heat-Sheet , 1/2", 5/8" or 3/4" radiant floor tubing easily
"walks into place" (usually in 1/2 the time or better) and stays in
place without ties, clips or staples in most cases.
Heat-Sheet panels are available across Canada and in the
USA. The availability of HeatSheet products will vary from region to region.
For additional information,
or to download the Heat-Sheet
brochure or installation guide,
visit the website listed above.
July/August 2015 27
Paid Advertising
Footings
Forms and Wall Systems
Fastfoot Footing Form
Amvic ICF
www.fastfoot.com
1.888.303.3278
Made of high density
polyethylene fabric, Fastfoot
is an efficient alternative to
traditional lumber or plywood
formed footings.
One 14 lb. roll of Fastfoot
replaces up to 1500 lbs. of lumber.
Fastfoot is perfect for steps
and rocky or uneven ground. No need to scab lumber on the sides
of your footing or shovel the ground to achieve footing depths.
As Fastfoot is a closed form, there’s no concrete leakage nor
damage to screed boards and stakes. Forms are a breeze to strip,
with no concrete damage.
Fastfoot also acts as a damp proof membrane. Why damp proof
your foundation walls, and leave your footings exposed to ground
moisture? Fastfoot says in place, preventing moisture wicking into
your home through the footing.
Fastfoot comes in 100’ rolls, with 90º double stitched corners
also available.
www.amvicsystem.com
1.877.470.9991
Amvic is the most userfriendly insulated concrete
form (also known as insulating
concrete form) product on the
market due to its innovative
design which increases speed of
construction, reduces labor costs and provides the highest level of
performance during and after installation.
The powerful combination of the patented, reversible
FormLock interlock, EPS composition, innovative web design and
web spacing results in:
• Less taping, tying or gluing during installation.
• Less than 1% waste vs. up to 6% for most competitors.
• Ability to withstand internal vibration, ensuring a structurally
superior wall.
• Fully reversible blocks.
In addition, Amvic is the strongest ICF block form on the
market as proven by the Canadian Construction Material Center
(CCMC) Forming Capacity Strength Test (Technical Guide
03131) at 865 lbs./sq. ft.
Building with Amvic ICF wall systems in conjunction with
our own rigid foam insulation product SilveRboard, and our ICF
flooring solution Amdeck, Amvic really delivers a complete solution
for today’s energy conscious builder.
Foothold
www.thefootholdicf.com
1.860.523.1222
The Foothold is an innovative footing form system for ICFs
now being marketed by ICF Building Supply Co.
Company president James Ryan, who developed the product,
says it simplifies and speeds up the process of building your ICF
foundation. Whether it’s a full foundation, a frostwall, or even a
frost-protected shallow foundation The Foothold will make ICF
construction easier and more economical.
The Foothold is a molded plastic form tie compatible with 2 inch
thick EPS or XPS rigid foam insulation (available at your local building supply center). It’s an ICF for footings that stays in place with
nothing to strip – no wood planks, no stakes, no spreader boards.
With The Foothold, monolithic footings and frostwalls are
done in one pour. The Foothold footings for taller walls can be
poured and the ICF installation may begin immediately. There
is no stripping of forms and spreader boards happening on the
following day as with conventional footing forms.
The Foothold ties are sold in boxes of 25 for $72.50 enough for
approximately 40 lineal feet of footing.
28 ICF BUILDER
Extended 90° Corner from Fox
www.foxblocks.com
1.877.369.2562
Historically, corner blocks have
proven to be a challenge for contractors. They have resorted to inserting internal ties, external strapping and bracing
to gain needed strength. This adds cost in
additional materials and man-hour rates.
The engineering staff at Fox Blocks added more length to their corner blocks and introduced the heaviest cross tie corner bracket on the market. Adding these features to our large/strong interlock stops rotation and
movement within the blocks during the pour and adds strength to
eliminate blowouts. Having this bracket and no fewer than two ties
from each corner in all 45˚ and 90˚ block eliminates the need for
additional strapping or bracing.
Being 16” longer than other ICFs allows you to eliminate one
full straight block for every three Fox Blocks corners used, saving
you money. Like all Fox blocks, the extended corner blocks are
reversible so when you ask for a corner you will get the correct one
every time. All blocks have ties at 8” on center and are available in 4”,
6”, 8”, 10”, and 12” cavities.
Paid Advertising
One Series by NUDURA
www.nudura.com
1.866.468.6299
The One Series by Nudura is the industry’s only multi-link
form, offering builders and architects unmatched versatility for
projects designed using ICFs.
At the core of this innovative line is Dura Multilink Technology, offering users the ability to create a wide variety of custom
multi-sided form combinations for a variety of building types from
commercial to residential. The One Series blends traditional forming methods and ICF technology together to offer users the ability
to now construct elevator shafts, stairwells and other areas where
non-combustible products are required.
The One Series gives architects the ability to have more
versatility with design for multi-storey construction. The
innovative design easily allows installers to remove
the form ply after concrete placement to expose
a smooth concrete surface on one side and a
fully insulated wall on the other.
Contact your local Authorized
Nudura Distributor for a demo on the
One Series or visit Nudura.com.
Quad-Lock's Complete ICF Building Shell
www.quadlock.com
1.888.711.5625
Quad-Lock’s R-28 Ultra ICFs for walls and Quad-Deck for
floors & roofs let you create the ultimate in resilience, sustainability,
and longevity. Just add storm-shutters and doors to turn the entire
building into a saferoom.
Building in a flood-zone? Quad-Deck is ideal to form the
bottom floor of any elevated building, as used successfully in many
homes, schools, etc. after Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.
With insurance companies waking up to the economic
realities of sub-par building codes and flimsy envelopes, they’ve
been increasing premiums substantially for traditional buildings
in hazard areas while introducing incredible savings for resilient
buildings. In high risk areas those insurance savings can make the
sizable energy savings pale in comparison.
Do yourself, your
customers, our kids,
and future generations
a favor with much better indoor living comfort, health, productivity and safety while
increasing your family's, firm's and community's net worth.
Vibrators
Oztec
www.Oztec.com
1.800.533.9055
An addition to Oztec’s ICF consolidating equipment is the
RebarShaker. Placed over the top of vertical steel reinforcement, the
RebarShaker vibrates at 10,000 - 12,000 vpm, ensuring excellent
concrete consolidation inside insulating concrete forms.
The RebarShaker allows contractors to use a stronger, lower
slump mix and still produce void-free walls, since the shaker gives
the trapped air time to escape. The Rebar Shaker also tends to
slowly rotate the rebar; packing concrete between the rebar and
form with excellent bonding.
Walls with wide rebar spacing will be more effectively
consolidated using a combination of Oztec’s internal flexible shaft
vibrators and the Oztec RebarShaker.
Waterproofing
Epro Spray-Applied Waterproofing for ICFs
www.eproserv.com
1.800.882.1896
Epro Services Inc.’s products have waterproofed more
ICF foundations than any
other fluid applied system in
the industry.
The reason is that Epro
provides a complete system
from a water-based, seamless,
high performance liquid membrane to extremely durable and tough
HDPE protection courses and drainage composites that just work
better than any other system.
Unlike sheet (peel-and-stick), membranes, which have seams
and rely on an adhesive for bonding, the Epro fluid applied membrane forms a seamless barrier even at the most critical points (transitions, terminations and penetrations) and provides its own tenacious adhesion.
The protection course and drainage composite protect the waterproofing membrane while controlling and directing hydrostatic
water pressure away from the foundation. Their HDPE construction provides unparalleled chemical resistance guaranteeing a long
lasting system.
This adds up to the best ICF waterproofing system solution.
July/August 2015 29
Photo courtesy Blue Home Design
Radius walls, such as those on the
Massachusetts home above, are much
simpler to build with ICFs than any other
construction method.
Most ICFs with a six-inch concrete
core have STC ratings of 50 to 55.
Insulated 2x4 wood stud walls with 3 ½
inches of fiberglass batt are rated near 38.
The difference between an STC rating of
38 and 50 may not seem like much, but the
decibel scale is logarithmic, so 50 decibels
is ten times as loud as 40 decibels. In realworld terms, only about one-quarter to
one-eighth as much sound penetrates an
ICF wall when compared to wood frame.
This has become a major selling point
in the commercial sector. Theaters and
apartment buildings use ICFs to eliminate
sound transmission between units, and
developments near noisy industrial sites
are selling quickly, thanks to ICFs sound
sound-absorbing qualities.
Design Options
As already noted, insulated concrete
form construction can be adapted to virtually any residential or commercial project.
Adapting a plan for ICFs typically
starts with stretching the exterior walls
outward a few inches to accommodate
the thicker walls. Other architectural
flourishes are actually easier with ICF. For
instance radius walls, which are difficult
to build with frame or block construction,
Only about one-quarter to one-eighth
as much sound penetrates an ICF wall
compared to wood frame, making them
popular for movie theaters, such as this
one in California's Central Valley.
are simple. Long clear spans can be easily
accommodated, because the walls can carry
the loads and steel beams these designs
require. Windows can be made larger in
seismic zones, and winter construction
becomes possible in northern regions.
While ICF walls look dramatically
different from plywood-sheathed frame
construction, they're actually easier to work
with for most exterior finishes. The foam
substrate is perfect for cement-based stucco
or textured acrylic finishes. Brick, stone, and
manufactured stone are also applied more
easily to ICFs than frame, as no additional
vapor barrier is needed (in most regions).
Siding—vinyl, wood or cement board—are
also popular. It's as easy as fastening the
material to the ICF furring strips, clearly
marked on the outside of the forms.
Costs
Incredibly, the cost of living in an ICF
home is no higher—and may be cheaper—
than living in a regular house. Nationally,
an ICF home is estimated to cost 3% to
5% more than frame building. That’s about
$10,000 for a $250,000 house. Financed
with a conventional 30-year loan at 5%,
that amounts to an additional $55 on the
monthly mortgage. However, because the
homeowner will be saving at least that
much on energy bills, the actual monthly
cash outlay is less. In other words, when
energy costs are considered, it’s actually less
expensive to live in an ICF house. All of the
other benefits—like disaster-proof walls,
quiet interiors, and less maintenance—are
added bonuses at no extra cost.
Ad Index
Amvic
27, 28
Bright Tech.
21, 26
BuildBlock3
Canam-Hambro
IBC, 27
Epro
BC, 29
EZ Breathe
11, 25
Fab-form
25, 28
Foothold28
Fox Blocks
6, 24, 26, 28
Giraffe
19, 25
Gorilla Buck & Vbuck
16, 26
ICF Builder Awards
23
ICF Builder Group
7
IntegraSpec17
Logix
24, 27
Nudura
5, 24, 29
Oztec
IFC, 29
PermaCrete
Plumwall
9, 27
23, 25
Quad-Lock29
RAM Construction Products 19
Superform21
FREE INFO
www.icfmag.com/ads
for additional information on these advertisers.
Photo courtesy Logix ICF
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July/August 2015 31
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