White Paper- ICFs Offer Shelter From the Storm
ICFs Offer Shelter From the Storm News of natural disasters appear almost daily in the media. While some events, such as floods and earthquakes, are restricted within certain geographic regions, wind storms respect no such bounds. Some areas of the country are more prone to tornadoes or hurricanes, but high…
White Paper- ICF Energy Tax Provisions
Energy Tax Provisions While energy savings of 10 – 15% can be achieved by improving appliances, lighting, and HVAC equipment, there is no doubt that more significant savings must start with improvements to the building envelope. Increasing the insulation values and tightening up the thermal envelope is the most effective and durable…
Asked & Answered: How Do I Design Door & Window Openings in an ICF Home?
Door & Window Openings in an ICF HomeGenerally, there is little difference in door and window placement in an ICF home when compared to standard wood-framed construction. The biggest thing to keep in mind are openings really close together or really close to corners. Since the supporting structure to the wall is the…
Asked & Answered: EPS Foam and Fire Retardants
There are some misconceptions about EPS foam in the building industry. In this Asked & Answered we discuss how fire retardants used in EPS foam as used in building products. EPS foam, when used in building products, contains a fire retardant added to the bead before it is expanded and molded. Additionally EPS foam…
Asked & Answered: Why don’t walls with corners layout in even foot dimensions?
Why don't walls with corners layout in even foot dimensions? This is an interesting question we receive occasionally from designers, engineers, and builders.It is possible to create a building that will have even foot dimensions. This is typically achieved by shortening blocks at some other point in the wall away…
Asked & Answered: ICF Myths, Half-Truths, and Misconceptions
[message type="custom" width="100%" start_color="#eee" end_color="#eee" border="#ccc" color="#333333"] Download the Brochure [download id="13855" template="filename2" align="left"][/message] Separate fact from fiction and dispel ICF Myths, Half-Truths, and Misconceptions. ICFs are too expensive… ICFs cost 3%-7% more on average compared to using traditional wood construction. This difference can be reduced by smaller HVAC requirements,…
White Paper: The ICF Effect
Continuous R-Value, reduced air infiltration and thermal mass all make up the ICF EffectNew energy codes, higher fuel prices, and colder winters have all contributed to an increased awareness of energy efficient construction. For consumers and builders, this means a stronger focus on increased “R-value” of the building envelope. Understanding the…
Form-A-Drain (FAD) Accessory Product Changes
The Form-A-Drain (FAD) product is no longer available with fabric attached to the lineals. This change to FAD happened for several reasons. There is a tendency for the fabric to blow off, or otherwise become unattached in shipping, variance of codes around the country and detailing different application scenarios for the fabric. Some…
Asked & Answered: What is the Sound Performance of BuildBlock ICFs?
In general, it is important to limit noise and sound transmission through walls. While important in residential structures, this is especially critical in certain commercial structures such as hospitals, movie theaters, concert halls,hotels and airports that require substantial noise reduction. Homes built on noisy streets or near interstate highways will…
BuildBlock ICF Above Ground Safe Rooms
Tornado season is upon us, and once again, we in the Midwest and Southeast will see thunderstorms forming and rolling across the plains, and we will look up and wonder if that is just a low hanging cloud, or something more ominous. Safety is of primary concern during a tornado. …