BuildBlock provides a variety of engineering information for the United States & Canada to make building with BuildBlock ICF products simple and straightforward.

Below you will find several engineering resources including BuildBlock Prescriptive Engineering, BuildDeck Engineering, BuildBlock Swimming Pool Engineering, legacy US and Canadian Engineering Tables, and GlobalBlock Engineering Tables.

Engineering Quick Links

BuildBlock Engineering
BuildDeck Engineering
ICF Swimming Pool Engineering
HUD Prescriptive Engineering
Legacy US & Canadian Tables
Legacy GlobalBlock Tables

buildblock-engineering-manual-20160401-1BuildBlock Flat Wall Engineering Manual: Above & Below Grade ICF Walls, Rebar Reinforcement, and Safe Room Design

The BuildBlock Engineering Manual extends prescriptive and safe room engineering for greater wall heights above and below grade as well as making it easier to design FEMA 361 compliant safe rooms. The BuildBlock ICF Products & Safe Room Engineering Manual increases the scope of prescriptive engineering for BuildBlock ICF products. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the PCA 100 Prescriptive Design of Exterior Concrete Walls for One- and Two-Family Dwellings when determining reinforcement for residential walls and as a reference for commercial engineering.

  • Below grade wall include 12ft heights for all products and 14ft in certain applications.
  • Maximum above grade wall heights are engineered to 14ft for all products and 20ft in certain applications, reducing the need for site specific engineering.
  • Easy to read lintel design tables are based on opening sizes and provide clear reinforcement requirements.
  • FEMA 361 & ICC 500-2014 compliant prescriptive design for safe rooms with spans up to 22ft, wall lengths up to 44ft, and wall heights up to 20ft.
  • Rebar conversion tables to convert between single and double bar applications.
  • The IRC, the PCA 100, the Prescriptive Method, and ACI-318 are recommended companions to this engineering manual.

2019-BuildBlock-Engineering-Manual-2019-09.pdf

GlobalBlock Screen Grid Engineering Manual: Above & Below Grade ICF Walls, Rebar Reinforcement

2019-GlobalBlock-Engineering-Manual-2019-09.pdf

BuildDeck Roof & Floor Decking System Design, Engineering, and Installation ManualBuildDeck Design, Engineering and Installation Manual

The BuildDeck Floor & Roofing Decking System is a lightweight, stay-in-place Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and used to construct a solid monolithic insulating concrete floor and/or roof decking system. BuildDeck is perfect for site-cast or precast concrete floors, roofs, decks, and walls for commercial, industrial and residential uses. BuildDeck provides structural integrity through reinforced concrete while providing comfort and sound mitigation through superior EPS insulation.

2019-BuildDeck-Design-Manual.pdf

BuildBlock ICF Swimming Pool Engineering

The BuildBlock ICF Swimming Pool Engineering Manual is intended to provide prescriptive requirements for the design of BuildBlock Building Systems ICF In-Ground and Above Ground reinforced concrete Swimming Pools for limited scope and applications. It provides wall, footing, and reinforcement designs for building above ground and in-ground ICF pools, cisterns, and water basins. This guide provides recommended designs for a variety of soil and seismic conditions.

Additional information about the construction, finish, and accessory products for pools will be forthcoming.

buildblock-swimming-pool-engineering-manual-final-2018.pdf

Prescriptive Method for Insulating Concrete Forms In ResidentialHUD Prescriptive Engineering

The Prescriptive Method published by the Department of Housing and Urban Development is included below and was adopted into the International Residential Code (IRC)  and International Building Code (IBC) and contains universally accepted engineering for residential structures. Download this document for free from the HUD website at this link or below.

prescriptive-method-for-icf-2-edition.pdf

prescriptive-method-for-icf-2-edition-appendix.pdf

BuildBlock U.S. Engineering Tables

Download the entire set of engineering tables or individual tables below.

us-tables-complete.pdf
Table # Description PDF Revised
1-A High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements for 4″ ICF Walls 1/2009

1-B-1-F
Notes

 High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements for 4″ ICF Lintels 1B-1F Notes 1/2009
1-B High Wind Load Reinforcement Table for 4″ ICF Lintels 1/2009
1-C High Wind Load Reinforcement Table for 4″ ICF Lintels 1/2009
1-D High Wind Load Reinforcement Table for 4″ ICF Lintels 1/2009
1-E High Wind Load Reinforcement Table for 4″ ICF Lintels 1/2009
1-F High Wind Load Reinforcement Table for 4″ ICF Lintels 1/2009

Note: Unless otherwise specified, all BuildBlock wall designs are mandated by ACI-318. All final design is the responsibility of the project specific engineer of record.

BuildBlock Canadian Engineering Tables

Download the entire set of engineering tables or individual tables below.

canadian-tables-complete.pdf
Table # Description PDF Revised
1-A Vertical Reinforcement for 6″ (150mm) and 8″ (200mm) Below Grade Walls in Seismic Zones 0, 1 & 2 11/2007
1-B Vertical Reinforcement for 6″ (150mm) and 8″ (200mm) Below Grade Walls in Seismic Zones 3 & 4 11/2007
1-C Vertical Reinforcement for 6″ (150mm) and 8″ (200mm) Below Grade Walls in Seismic Zone 5 11/2007
2 Reinforcement for Above Grade Walls In All Seismic Zones 11/2007
3-A Reinforcement in Above Grade 4″, 6″, and 8″ Walls NBC 1995 / OBC 1997 11/2007
3-B Reinforcement in Above Grade 4″, 6″, and 8″ Walls NBC 1995 / OBC 1997 11/2007
3-C Reinforcement in Above Grade 4″, 6″, and 8″ Walls NBC 1995 / OBC 1997 11/2007
4-A Minimum Steel Reinforcement for Lintels in 150mm (6″) Walls 11/2007
4-B Minimum Steel Reinforcement for Lintels in 200mm (8″) Walls 11/2007
5-A Below Grade 150mm (6″) and 200mm (8″) Walls – Vertical Reinforcement Based on NBC / OBC 9.15.4.5 Without Brick Ledge 11/2007
5-B Below Grade 150mm and 200mm Walls – Vertical Reinforcement Based on NBC / OBC 9.15.4.5 Without Brick Ledge 11/2007
5-C Below Grade 6″ and 8″ Walls – Vertical Reinforcement Based on NBC / OBC 9.15.4.5 Without Brick Ledge 11/2007
6-A Below Grade 6″ Walls with Brick Ledges Maximum Weight of Brick Veneer (lb/ft)   11/2007
6-A1 6″ Foundation Walls – No Brick Veneer (By Location)  11/2011
6-A2 6″ Foundation Walls – No Brick Veneer (By PGA Values)  11/2011
6-B Below Grade 150 mm Walls with Brick Ledges Maximum Weight of Brick Veneer (kN/m) 11/2007
6-B1 6″ Foundation Walls – Brick Veneer (By Location)    11/2011
6-B2 6″ Foundation Walls – Brick Veneer (By PGA Values)  11/2011
6-C Below Grade 6″ Walls with Brick Ledges Maximum Weight of Brick Veneer (lb/ft) 11/2007
6-C1 6″ Walls Lintel Reinforcement 11/2011
7-A Below Grade 8″ Walls with Brick Ledges Maximum Weight of Brick Veneer (lb/ft) 11/2007
7-B Below Grade 200mm Walls with Brick Ledges Maximum Weight of Brick Veneer (kN/m) 11/2007
7-C Below Grade 8″ Walls with Brick Ledges Maximum Weight of Brick Veneer (lb/ft) 11/2007
8-A Reinforcement in 6″ and 8″ inAbove Grade Walls NBC 2005 / OBC 2006 Subsection 9.20.17 11/2007
8-A1 8″ Foundation Walls – No Brick Veneer (By Location)  11/2011
8-A2 8″ Foundation Walls – No Brick Veneer (By PGA Values)  11/2011
8-B Reinforcement in 6″ and 8″ Above Grade Walls NBC 2005 / OBC 2006 Subsection 9.20.17 11/2007
8-B1 8″ Foundation Walls – Brick Veneer (By Location)  11/2011
8-B2 8″ Foundation Walls – Brick Veneer (By PGA Values)  11/2011
8-C Reinforcement in 6″ and 8″ Above Grade Walls NBC 2005 / OBC 2006 Subsection 9.20.17 11/2007
8-C1 8″ Walls Lintel Reinforcement 11/2011
9 Taper Top Reinforcement 11/2007

GlobalBlock Engineering Tables

Download the entire set of engineering tables or individual tables below.

Download
“US Engineering GlobalBlock Tables Complete” us-tables-globalblock-complete.pdf – 1 MB

Table # Description PDF Revised
10-A  GlobalBlock 300
High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements
1 Story Structure		 3/2014
10-B  GlobalBlock 400
High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements
1 Story Structure		 3/2014
10-C  GlobalBlock 400
High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements
2 Story Structure		 3/2014
10-D GlobalBlock 600
High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements
2 Story Structure		 3/2014
10-E GlobalBlock 800
High Wind Load Reinforcement Requirements
2 Story Structure		   3/2014
11-A 6” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form
8-Foot High Basement Wall
Vertical (Grade 60) Rebar Requirements		 3/2014
11-B 6” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form
9-Foot High Basement Wall
Vertical (Grade 60) Rebar Requirements		 3/2014
11-C 6” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form
10-Foot High Basement Wall
Vertical (Grade 60) Rebar Requirements		 3/2014
11-D 8” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form
8-Foot High Basement Wall
Vertical (Grade 60) Rebar Requirements		 3/2014
11-E 8” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form
9-Foot High Basement Wall
Vertical (Grade 60) Rebar Requirements		 3/2014
11-F 8” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form
10-Foot High Basement Wall
Vertical (Grade 60) Rebar Requirements		 3/2014
12-A 4” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form Table 5.10 A&B
Maximum Allowable Clear Spans (feet-inches) for
Screen Grid ICF Lintels in Load-Bearing Walls		 3/2014
12-B 6” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form Table 5.10 A&B
Maximum Allowable Clear Spans (feet-inches) for
Screen Grid ICF Lintels in Load-Bearing Walls		 3/2014
12-C  8” GlobalBlock Screen Grid Form Table 5.10 A&B
Maximum Allowable Clear Spans (feet-inches) for
Screen Grid ICF Lintels in Load-Bearing Walls		 3/2014
12-D Maximum Allowable Clear Spans for
6-inch Thick Screen-Grid Lintels in Load-Bearing Walls1,2,3,4,5,6,16
Roof Clear Span 32 feet and Floor Clear Span 24 feet		 3/2014
12-E Maximum Allowable Clear Spans for
6-inch Thick Screen-Grid Lintels in Load-Bearing Walls 1,2,3,4,5,6,16 Roof Clear Span 40 feet and Floor Clear Span 32 feet		 3/2014
BuildBlock Engineering June 12, 2013