Greenbuild Conference and Expo- 2 weeks away
October 29th, 2009 | Marketing, Unique Trends
We are about 2 weeks away from the GreenBuild Expo in Phoenix, AZ. This is one of the largest, most influential green shows out there, and we definitely wanted to be a part of it, as this industry is about to explode. Pete H, from Colorado, and I will be working our show booth and hopefully meeting some customers, builders, and industry professionals who are ready to commit to building sustainable structures. We are looking forward to meeting folks who understand the solution to of our country’s energy issues starts with REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION.
If you are planning on going please stop by our booth (4422) and say “hi”. If you still haven’t registered, contact us directly and I can get you some free conference passes! All I need is your name, your title, and an email address.
I personally don’t get out to too many shows other than World of Concrete so I’m pretty excited for this particular one.
My goal is to try to bring a little of the show back to you, with DAILY blog posts “From the Show Floor.” I want to focus on any interesting people, products, or brief recaps of what the overall vibe is of people coming by our booth.
So Quick recap:
-GreenBuild Expo November 11-13th Phoenix, AZ
-Reward Wall Systems Booth 4422
-Call Us at 1-800-468-6344 if you want free passes to Show
-Daily Blog Updates “From the Show Floor”
Green building
With insulating concrete forms
Sustainable Churchs with Insulating Concrete Forms
October 27th, 2009 | From the Field, Project Showcase, Unique Trends
One market where ICFs have had significant activity recently is in the construction of new churches and religious buildings. In a particular market area, we have 5 projects currently under construction and a number of others in the works. As of this writing, The Hopevale Church in Michigan, the New Beginnings United Methodist Church in New York, the Portage Community Chapel in Ohio, the Manheim Brethren In Christ (BIC) Church in Pennsylvania and the Celebrate Life church in Lancaster, PA have all started projects using Reward. Tom R, our regional sales manager, began to wonder why so many of these church building committees were turning to Reward insulating concrete forms for their projects and he got some excellent insights from a few committee members.
Tom spoke with Ed Denlinger who sits on the building committee for the Manheim BIC. Manheim had built its Youth Center last year using Reward and currently has its new Sanctuary under construction, also with Reward. Denlinger said that the main reasons they decided to go with Reward are competitive first costs, energy savings, sound attenuation and building strength.
“We are going to be here for a while,” Denlinger says. “When we evaluated the costs of Reward versus traditional CMU cavity wall with added insulation, cost in essence became a non-factor. With continuing increases in energy costs, the performance of the building became key and it was a no-brainer.”
The building sits close to the street in a commercial area, so keeping the sounds of the church activities inside and the noise of the nearby street out were also added benefits.
Finally, Denlinger noted that finishing the building has been a simple process because they weren’t limited in terms of what they could use. Drywall application on the interior is easy and whether it’s a brick or an acrylic finish, it didn’t matter because both work well with Reward ICFs.
The sustainability of ICFs shows immense potential for the religious building markets. Churches from hundreds of years ago are still standing tall, as they should be intended to- granted they took intense manual labor and YEARS to build (between 8-22 years in some instances). But now with uses of concrete in ICFs these structures will still be standing, and they have the flexibility to be designed with any old world architectural inspirations or new age trends as well. Either way it will house a congregational community for a lifetime.
We’ll update this project as it finishes up!
The New Standard for Sustainability. Tell the World.
First Residential 17″ iForm Project
October 22nd, 2009 | From the Field, Project Showcase, Unique Applications
We’ve gotten some feedback from the field on our new 17” product line. This was the 1st use, for residential, of the 17” iForm, as these forms were about bought the day we released the product for sale! It’s for a home in the “Divide Ranch Community” way up on the mountains in Ridgeway, CO, built by Nick Miles Construction.
They were used for a foundation on a side of a steep hill. The engineer called for this size of ICF due to the large size of walls, the amount of back fill and the expansive soil type surrounding the building. The walls are 14 feet high and the concrete was placed in 3 lifts. Nick, the builder, said that he was “very impressed with the strength and stability of the block.”
Thanks Nick, we’ve done our research to make sure our forms remain an industry leading ICF!
We were lucky enough to meet this builder after he expressed his displeasure with a different brand of ICFs. He praised the pre-formed block and noted it was much easier in the field to work with as he did not have to assemble the forms. On a side note: Nick, had no trouble moving the forms about 50 yards from where the truck dropped them off, and the banding made them easier to move as well. Did you see the video of an ICF crew unloading a truck?
Thanks for the pictures and your feedback Nick! Would also like to thank Pat Tobin with Building Smart, LLC on his involvement with our inaugural 17″ residential project!
Currently the 17″ iForm has been a HUGE hit (pun WAS intended on that one) and we look forward to sharing more stories.
The New Standard for Sustainability. Tell the World.
- Story submitted by Pete H West/Pacific Regional Sales Manager
ICFs vs PIP: Rebar requirements (Correction)
October 20th, 2009 | Common Troubleshooting, From the Field, Lets Get Technical!, Marketing
I needed to re-post this article that was published in our newsletter last week. When I edited for space requirements I switched a couple sentences around in the second paragraph and in turn the paragraph made absolutely no sense. So to please our on-staff engineer and Darryl U as well I am re-posting that article with corrections made.
If ICFs produce a higher strength concrete and ICFs and poured walls both follow ACI 318, why do ICFs require significantly more rebar than a poured-in-place wall? This is a question we have heard many a time, and there are two different issues that each requires a separate answer.
ICFs do have a higher concrete compressive strength. According to Portland Cement Association (PCA) testing and information a concrete wall that is moist cured 100% of the time will end up having a higher concrete compressive strength than a concrete wall where the forms are removed. Standard walls will cure quicker due to more air and less moisture. A structural engineer can not rely on this in the design calculations, so it is not used in the design. This is only an inherent strength of the concrete ICF wall.
An ICF wall designed by a structural engineer will and should have the same rebar requirements as a poured in place wall designed by that same structural engineer. There should be no difference (assuming the same concrete wall thickness and everything else being equal). This is especially true with commercial construction. People may see the differences with residential construction and primarily with below grade basement walls. For residential below grade basement walls, it may be that ‘traditional’ walls are designed using prescriptive tables found in the building codes. These tables can show less reinforcement to zero reinforcement when compared to the ICF tables in the IRC Section 404.4 or Reward’s prescriptive tables.
It is important to compare the same wall thickness. These tables may not require reinforcement for an 8” PIP wall but someone may be trying to use a 6” ICF with rebar and trying to compare the two. So the choice is – an 8” wall with no rebar or a 6” wall with rebar.
Temperature & Shrinkage (T&S) for crack control may come into play as well. The ICF industry tables basically will always show #4 at 48″ o.c. no matter what for T&S. The difference being a PIP wall may not need rebar structurally and does not put T&S rebar in the wall.
It is important to know and remember that an ICF wall is a PIP wall and there should be no difference. So if you are ever in that situation, there should be no difference assuming everything else is equal.
Our ICF walls can be designed to the SAME tables as the PIP walls in the building code. Our ICC ES ESR-1552 report refers to these tables. They can design to the traditional prescriptive tables in the building codes, the ICF tables in the building code, Reward’s prescriptive tables or ACI 332 prescriptive tables for residential concrete
In conclusion, it is due to a combination of these factors why why an ICF wall ends up erring on the side of “more” rebar than a PIP wall.
Reward Fall 2009 Newsletter Released
October 15th, 2009 | Common Troubleshooting, From the Field, Marketing, Product Announcement, Project Showcase
Hello everyone, the leaves are starting to change and it’s getting a bit chilly here in Omaha, NE (Actually we had our first snow which is a GOOD sign apparently). We’ve had alot going on over the summer, including product developments, as we are continuing to give our customers the best service and best products in the industry.
So, here is our newly redesigned newsletter for the Fall to update you with what’s been going on and showcase a few projects. There are some links within the .pdf so make sure to follow up on our blog, or continue viewing pictures online. If you have any questions or comments on the content of this issue, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, or post your thoughts on our blog as well.
Thanks again and we hope to close out 2009 with a bang!
Page 1 The NoricF4 Custom Metal ICF Frames & Whats New!
Page 2 Message from the President
Page 3 Louis Saekow Estate: Camano Island, WA
Page 4 ICFs vs Poured in Place Concrete: Rebar Requirements & Forming a New Look
Page 5 Pennsylvania Energy Star Rated Home
Page 6 Reward Estimating Program 4.4 & Update on the ICFA’s Management Restructuring
Frank’s Theatre in York, PA
October 13th, 2009 | Project Showcase
One application where ICF’s are seeing both increased interest and use is in multiplex movie theaters. The sound attenuation qualities of an ICF wall assembly are outstanding; a perfect application for movie theaters. We’ve all been to those old theaters where you can actually hear the movie next door. Very annoying. ICF wall assemblies help to prevent that from being an issue, and it’s getting the attention of theater owners and patrons alike.
In York, PA, Frank Theatres has a 13-plex theatre under construction. Originally slated to start construction in the spring, the project finally got under way earlier this summer.
Designed by Tom Burdick of ADW Architects in North Carolina, this project has over 72,000 square feet of ICF wall, with some of the walls reaching 36’ in total height. The entire perimeter of the building, along with the separation walls between each theater, uses Reward’s 13” iForm. The building will have a combination brick/TAFS exterior. Also the design team took advantage of Reward’s ledge form, which provides a 4 ½” ledge for application of the brick veneer while maintaining a fully insulated wall assembly.
The contractor performing the install, Rubright Construction in Shoemakerville, PA, settled on Reward not only because of the competitive pricing but because of the depth and breadth of support services offered from Reward and its exclusive distributor, Construction Supply Centers of New Holland Concrete (CSC.) in New Holland, PA. The Reward/CSC team has worked closely with the architect during the design phase, and has been an integral part of the construction process. Reward sent its Field Application Specialist, Darryl U, to work with Rubright during the start of construction. Darryl helped Rubright, who had no previous ICF experience, learn the “ins and outs” of working with Reward ICFs. Darryl assisted in training Rubright’s crew, helping to improve their overall efficiencies.
“Darryl has been great to work with,” noted Todd Moore, Project Manager with Rubright. “He’s a real source of knowledge and information. He taught us a lot when he was here, and he’s been easy to reach on the phone when I have questions.”
CSC has provided almost daily support to the Rubright crew, providing material for the project on a tight schedule, and visiting several times a week to address questions and monitor progress. Chris Perez, Sales Representative with CSC, has maintained close contact with Rubright, providing both technical and field information as needed.
Rubright has made significant progress in constructing the walls for the project so farm and the GC for the project, Warfel Construction in Lancaster, PA, has been pleased with the progress. The delay in starting construction has put a time crunch on the project but they are quickly moving forward. As more trades are integrated into the construction phase, I will update this blog with information on how other subs (electricians, plumbers, etc.,) are faring.
-Article Submitted by Tom Reilly, Reward RSM Northeast US
The New Standard of Sustainability. Tell the World.
AIA CES Credits for Insulating Concrete Forms
October 8th, 2009 | From the Field, Marketing
As part of our due diligence of educating the building community on our industry, as well as increasing awareness of our product, we offer Continuing Education Units for AIA members. If you want to learn about ICFs on your own or if you gain credits for CSI or other state education credits, we’re here for you as well! We are hosted through an online program through AEC Daily. We just renewed for 2010 and are currently in the process of updating our presentation so it will qualify for the Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) and Sustainable Design (SD) credit. If you want to take our course it’s FREE! Go to AEC Daily to get started!
Our training doesn’t stop here
Reward Wall Systems takes pride in having the best training and customer support out of anyone in our industry. We understand a few things other people don’t. We want you to build better buildings and have positive first time experiences with ICFs. After all it would be better for your business, for our industry, and for the environment.
We are available for in-person jobsite training to make sure everything gets started well and all the tricks of the trade are handed down from the experts. We have an engineer on staff to solve any structural issue on hand, giving you the confidence in knowing we are teaching YOU correctly. We don’t let you buy our forms off the internet and forget about you after that, or let you purchase from us without proper training or consultation. It’s those standards we have that makes our network of builders the best, and why our projects go up on schedule and maintain the high quality that the owner expects.
Plus, with our thousands of distributors and builders in our network there are many opportunities for in-person “lunch and learn” training days. Here you can learn about the system, how it applies to your trade, get your hands on the product and see why it’s the future of building sustainable structures. Contact us if you are interested in having a “lunch and learn” training session, which also qualifies for AIA credits!
New Standards for Sustainability?We’re Already There.
Fly Ash in Concrete
October 6th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
This school in Northfield, MN used fly ash in their concrete mixture with Reward's ICFs. Carleton College will be LEED GOLD certified.
Fly Ash is a supplementary cementitious material used in concrete mix designs. There are two types of Fly Ash – Class C & Class F which have to do with the type of coal that is being used at coal-fired power plants. The different types of coal come from different areas of the country. Fly Ash is the by-product of combustion of pulverized coal in coal fired-power generating plants. Fly Ash is the non-combustible mineral of coal. They are molten particles that solidify into spheres rich in silica, alumina and calcium. Fly Ash is readily available in most parts of the country. The use of Fly Ash in concrete is good for the environment because it is the waste of generating power using coal. This waste could end up in our land fills otherwise.
The use of Fly Ash can, in most instances, help control the costs of concrete because it is inexpensive replacement for Portland cement. It is a by-product that in some instances can end up in our landfills. By using fly ash we save valuable space in our land fills. It just so happens to be very good supplemental cementitious material for the production of concrete. It doesn’t need to be produced like Portland cement, which requires energy to produce.
Fly Ash normally reduces the amount of water needed for a given slump. The water reduction for batch design is typically in the 2% to 10% range depending on the percent of Fly Ash and the type. The spherical shape of Fly Ash particles creates less friction allowing greater pumping distances of concrete. The workability of concrete also creates greater flow ability inside of ICF’s than same given slump with just Portland cement in concrete. Although Fly Ash is normally only used in volume of 15% to 25% compared to Portland cement. It helps aid in flow-ability. Flow-ability in ICF forms is very beneficial especially around areas of concentrations of reinforcement. In most cases, mixes with Fly Ash generally require less mixing water for a given slump than mixes with just Portland cement.
The following are some of the highlights of using Fly Ash in the batch design of concrete.
- Greater workability ( Better flow ability inside of ICF walls )
- Pumping ( Greater pumping distances, pumping requires less energy to pump less friction )
- Improved cohesiveness ( Reduced segregation )
- Reduction of heat of hydration ( Thicker walls )
- Higher strengths ( As supplement for Portland Cement )
- Saves energy ( Supplement to Portland Cement )
- Conserving landfill space
- Qualifies for LEED credit in sustainable construction
For more information on Carleton College visit our gallery or Carleton’s website to see all of the green features of this school.
The New Standard for Sustainability. Tell the World.
We Need Your Vote for ED&C’s Readers Choice Award!
October 1st, 2009 | Marketing
"Vote for me!" says the iForm ICF
"Vote for me!" says the iForm ICF
Reward’s insulating concrete forms are up for Readers Choice Awards from ED & C Magazine. Vote for our iForm insulating concrete form!
Directions on voting
1. Go to vote.edcmag.com
2. Fill out your name/email information
3. Click on the “Framing/Structural” Category
4. There we are, 3rd down on the list. We would love to be number 1. So check the box and submit!
Plus, you can vote as much as you want, so feel free to repeat procedures from above during your lunch break.
Your’e not just voting for our ICFs, you are voting for energy efficiency, for protection of families during natural disasters, and for healthier indoor environments. Please pass this post on to all of your friends and family so we can get as many votes as possible!
