BuildBlock ICC-500 Tornado Impact Testing
Although we couldn't persuade Intertek engineers to test our wall system with a real missile, we came close with our successful ICC-500 Tornado Impact Testing. This "Missile Impact Test" involved firing 15 lb. 2x4s from a high-pressure air cannon at over 100 mph! The goal was to assess how well…
Hilldale Elementary Builds 11-Classroom Safe Room
Hilldale Elementary Builds 11-Classroom Safe Room addition, which will be able to protect all of its students, teachers and staff during severe weather or a tornado.These classrooms will be a warm, comfortable learning environment all year, sound proof and energy efficient. Should the need arise, they would also function as a…
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…
NBC Bank Utilizes BuildBlocks ICF Disaster Resistance Capabilities
NBC Bank Utilizes BuildBlock ICF's Disaster Resistance Capabilities for security of important documents and equipment. As far as banks go, this is one of the most energy-efficient banks in Oklahoma. Banks are high traffic, and considerations for foot traffic must be accounted for in the design. ICFs coupled with the spray…
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. …
BuildBlock ICFs used to rebuild Water Filtration Plant in White Sulfur Springs, Montana
BuildBlock ICF chosen to replace tornado leveled White Sulfur Springs, MT water filtration plant. Summer wind storms are common in Montana, this particular windstorm in 2012 turned into a powerful tornado and destroyed White Sulfur Spring's fairly new water filtration plant. With the possibility of this happening again, it was time to re-think…
BuildBlock FieldNotes – 006 ICF Safe Rooms
We’ve all seen what happens on the news when disaster strikes: shattered homes and lives after the tornado or hurricane, smoking ash after the wildfire, and collapsed rubble after the earthquake. Disasters happen when we least expect them,but are something we need to be prepared for. We wear seat belts and have…
Educare Childcare & After School Program Building 75+ Person Safe Room & Media Class Room in Perkins, OK
Educare Childcare & After School Program Building 75+ Person Safe Room & Media Class Room in Perkins, OK Educare child care is using BuildBlock ICFs to build EF5 multi-purpose safe room tornado shelter for children and staff at First United Methodist Church in Perkins, OK. (Oklahoma City, OK, June 12,…
Video: Perkins Educare Safe Room Part 2
Perkins Educare Safe RoomConstruction continues on the Educare safe room in Perkins. While the kids had a blast helping stack the first two courses of block Educare Director Betty Weems and James Ladwig, Ladwig Construction discuss the challenges of the project and their hopes for the future.Look for more updates as…
Video: BuildBlock Helps Build 75+ Person Educare Safe Room Part 1
Oklahoma has been in the middle of "Tornado Alley" since it was first defined in the early 1950s. We see our share of tornadoes and strong storms throughout the year. In May 2013 devastating tornadoes hit the community of Moore, Oklahoma and took the lives of several children who were sheltered…