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 Welcome
to ECO-Block "Changing the way you build"
One of the fastest growing sectors in the construction industry
around the world is Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs). These forms,
which are made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), are used to build
reinforced concrete walls for both residential and commercial buildings.
Once erected, concrete is poured into the form. After the concrete
has hardened, the forms stay in place and become the insulation
for the walls.
The use of ICFs is spreading world-wide because ICF homes are:
- Environmentally friendly – use of wood products in construction
significantly reduced.
- Energy efficient -- provide excellent insulation, reducing heating/cooling
costs; virtual air/vapor barrier with R-22 thermal insulation.
- Sound suppressing -- the interior rooms are effectively shielded
from all outside noise.
- Quickly constructed -- one house per day with a four-man crew.
- Extremely strong -- walls are "cast-in-place" monolithic,
reinforced concrete.
- Versatile -- any standard interior or exterior finish can be
applied.
- Fire retardant -- three-hour protection for a 6 inch (152 mm)
concrete wall.
ECO-BlockTM is world’s most advanced ICF technology. Compared
to earlier ICF systems, ECO-BlockTM is:
- Less expensive -- reduced EPS mold and manufacturing costs.
- Stronger -- superior strength during the crucial period of the
concrete pour.
- More versatile -- same side panel for 4, 6, 8 inch or larger
ICF form.
- Easier to transport -- components allow assembly on site.
ECO-Block building code approvals:
- Dade County, Florida, 07/30/98, Acceptance Number: 98-0421.01.
- Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI), 11/02/98,
Evaluation Report Number: 9845.
- International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), 04/15/99,
Evaluation Report Number: ER-5498.
- Building Officials and Specifications
"Revolutionizing Industry Standards"
- 50% faster construction compared to reusable concrete forms.
- Recessed furring strips clearly marked for easy application
of all conventional exterior & interior finishes.
- Molded corners to speed construction.
- R-22 insulating value - nearly double that of insulated stud
walls.
The ECO-BlockTM ICF is composed of three components:
- Sidepanels;
- Webs; and,
- Sidepanel connector elements.
Standard Sidepanel
(Cut-away View)Code Administrators (BOCA), 06/25/99, Research Report
98 42.
 Specifications
The ECO-BlockTM ICF system consists of two types of plastic: Expanded
Polystyrene (EPS) and high-density plastic. Each block has two sidepanels,
each measuring 48 inches (1219 mm) long by 16 inches (406 mm) high
by 2.5 inches (64 mm) thick. These sidepanels are made of flame
retardant EPS. Every 8 inches (203 mm) on the horizontal axis of
the sidepanel, there is a high-density plastic web that has been
molded into the EPS sidepanel. These webs provide a surface on the
exterior of the EPS sidepanel that can be nailed or screwed into
as well as a place on the interior of the EPS sidepanel where a
connector element, also of high-density plastic, can be attached.
The connector element spans the cavity between the two sidepanels
and connects the two sidepanels together to make the blocks. The
connector elements and the EPS sidepanels are easily and quickly
assembled on site. The cavity made by the connector element can
be of varying sizes of 4, 6 or 8 inches (102 mm, 152 mm, or 203
mm) depending on the length of the connector element. It is in this
cavity that concrete is placed to make the concrete walls of the
building. After the concrete cures, the ECO-BlockTM sidepanels remain
in place and provide the insulation for the building.
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