BuildBlock Products, Press Releases

Press Release: BuildBlock ICFs Releases BuildBlock Hardwall Connector

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

BuildBlock ICFs Releases BuildBlock HardWall Connector

Oklahoma City, OK – BuildBlock Building Systems has released an improvement to the BuildBlock Hardwall System used to create an insulated ICF wall on one side with a bare concrete face on the other. This system is used in commercial applications where no flammable material may be present such as emergency stairwells and elevator shafts as well as warehouses and industrial buildings where utility and impact resistance is required.

The initial BuildBlock Hardwall solved this challenge by using BuildLock ICF panels combined with web bridges and the webs normally molded into EPS panels. Plywood or other suitable materials is cut and attached to the assembled forms as they are stacked. This worked well, but left the full attachment strips exposed and required significant finishing to hide them.

“We always start with what we know.” says the BuildBlock Technical Coordinator, “After testing this product in the market for the past two years we have developed a revised connector based on our BuildLock Bridge Clip Connector to deliver a better result with a small footprint that is easily finished.”

The new BuildBlock Hardwall connector extends a BuildLock web bridge 2-1/2 inches to the edge of what is normally the EPS foam. The BuildBlock HardWall connector connects to any size of web bridge. The outer edge of the connector provides an attachment point for wood, cement board, or other suit able forming material. The end of the connector also contains a removable cap with a guide hole for screws. Once the wall is poured and the forming material is removed the cap may be left in place as an attachment point for wall finishes, or removed and the ½-in hole filled with patch or other material.

The new Hardwall Connector provides the ultimate flexibility to finish the concrete wall. Additional insulation may be added when using ThermalSert sheets inside the wall cavity against the outside wall panel. 

BuildBlock HardWall Gallery

About BuildBlock

BuildBlock® Building Systems is the manufacturer of BuildBlock Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) the most environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient and disaster resistant method of residential and commercial construction. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, BuildBlock serves North America through 14 manufacturing facilities including locations in Mexico and Canada.

About ICFs

Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are hollow foam blocks which are stacked into the shape of the exterior walls of a building, reinforced with steel rebar, and then filled with concrete. Insulated concrete forms combine one of the finest insulating materials, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), with one of the strongest structural building materials, steel reinforced concrete. The result is a wall system of unmatched comfort, energy efficiency, strength, and noise reduction.

More information about BuildBlock® Insulating Concrete Forms can be found online at buildblock.com or by calling 866-222-2575.

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