Easton Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The CFA presented Jack Easton, owner and co-founder of Durand Forms, Inc. of Durand, Michigan its first Lifetime Achievement Award at the CFA Summer Meeting luncheon in Niagara Falls, Canada last July. Easton was recognized as a leader in the concrete and aluminum forms industry.
The award was presented by long-time Durand salesman and former CFA Executive Director Bob Sawyer. Sawyer said that through Jack’s many years of hard work and dedication he not only put Durand on the map, he also helped thousands of contractors build their businesses.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was created by the CFA to recognize individuals who have devoted a great part of their life to improving the concrete foundation business. Jack is certainly deserving of this recognition.
CFA Directors Elected
Two new directors were elected and two incumbents were reelected at the CFA Annual meeting held in conjunction with the Summer Meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Reelected to three year terms were Arie Van Wyk, Van Wyk’s, Inc. of Waldo, Wisconsin and Gary Moore of Moore & Cormier Construction, Ltd., Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Elected to their first 3 year terms were Richard Crosby of Crosby’s NE Foundation Company, Branford, Connecticut and Jim Bartley of The Bartley Corporation, Ashton, Maryland. The CFA wants to welcome the new directors.
The associates council also elected two representatives to the board. Steve Rhinehart of Wall Ties and Forms and J. Kevin Van Gilder of Koch Waterproofing Solutions are serving alternating 2-year terms.
The CFA would also like to thank outgoing directors Kirby Justesen of Formco Foundation, West Jordan, Utah and Bill Mulready of C & B Foundations, Bethlehem, Connecticut for their contributions over the past years. Service on the CFA board is costly in terms of time and money and their efforts have helped make the association stronger.
Understanding Fabric Formwork
The use of fabric to form concrete is a very new technology. In fact, one of the first articles published on this method appeared in the October 1998 issue of “Concrete Facts”. Since that article appeared, considerable progress has been made, and fabric forming is finding various economic applications throughout North America.
This article will examine fabric forming, the progress made over the last two years, where fabric has an economic advantage, and what future it’s future will be.
Understanding Fabric Forming
Rigid materials such as dimensional lumber, plywood, or aluminum are conventionally used to restrain the fluid forces of concrete. In order to restrain these forces, the form will have tension forces on one surface, compressive forces on the other surface, and a neutral plane between the two surfaces.
Fabric, however, can only operate in tension and as a result can be an extremely efficient method of forming concrete. Fabric weighs approximately 1/300th that of dimensional lumber. However, in the world of concrete, nothing is “free”. Pressure is pressure, and pressure in fabric results in bulging or deflection. This means that fabric can only be used where the bulging is not detrimental to the finished concrete.
Using Fabric to Form Footings
To use fabric to form footings, the two edges of the fabric are supported with 2x4s or #5 rebar using a bracing system (called Fast-Yokes), and the concrete is placed into the fabric. In this case, the bulging of the fabric is not a disadvantage, and indeed the ability of the fabric to deform to the uneven ground becomes an advantage compared with rigid forming materials. The diagram below shows the shape the footing fabric takes when under the concrete pressure.
Advantages of Fabric in Forming Footings
- Less weight – fabric weights approximately 1/300th that of a conventional rigid form
- Less expensive – fabric is approximately 1/25th the cost of dimensional lumber. This may make the use of fabric a viable option, especially when the cost of moving the lumber from job to job is taken into consideration
- Stay in place form – As the fabric is left in place, the cost of stripping the forming lumber is eliminated.
- Waterproofing membrane – the fabric prevents the wicking of water up into the footing (testing of this factor has not been completed).
- Adaptable to uneven ground conditions – the weight of the concrete on the fabric ensures that the footing forms conform perfectly with uneven ground conditions. This makes the system ideal for use on uneven ground.
- Improves the quality of concrete – in the summer, the fabric prevents the rapid drying of the concrete, and in the winter, the fabric prevents the contamination of the concrete with mud and excess water.
- Stakeless system – as the concrete pressures are held by the fabric and the Fast-Yokes, there is no requirement for stakes to hold the concrete pressure. Small stakes are only required to locate the Fast-Yokes.
Where is Fabric Forming of Footings Competitive
- Deeper footings – With deeper footings, the cost of lumber and labor to install and strip the forms increases significantly. With fabric, the weight of the fabric and the labor to install remain constant, regardless of the footing height. Footing heights of up to 30″ are achieved with fabric.
- Uneven ground – Using lumber to conform to uneven ground is expensive, both from a lumber and labor standpoint. fabric adapts perfectly to uneven ground with minimal labor and inexpensive fabric. As well, the Fast-Yokes are easily adjusted both vertically and horizontally.
- Rocky ground – Driving stakes in rocky ground is extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible. Fastfoot is a stakeless system, and in rocky conditions can save thousands of dollars.
- Accuracy – The Fast-Yokes are easily adjusted and enable a high degree of footing accuracy.
- Curved footings – #5 or # rebar is bent to the desired radius, and placed in the Fast-Yokes. The Fastfabric is attached to the rebar by wrapping around the bar, and stitching with a 3″ nail. Fabric forming is about 1/3 the cost of conventional methods.
- Footing pads – Fastbags are an economic solution to forming footing pads, as they replace short lengths of lumber which are normally wasted on the jobsite
Where Fabric Forming of Footings is NOT Competitive
- Shallow footings with level excavations – The contractor will not experience significant savings if his footings are shallow, and he can reuse his 2x4s or 2x6s on the jobsite. Form-A-Drain is an excellent product for this situation.
- Trenched footings – Fabric forming is not suitable in this situation.
- Production forming – If a contractor has already invested in conventional footing forms, he may be reluctant to invest in the Fast-Yoke bracing system.
The Future of Fabric Forming
The following items provide some indication as to the future on fabric forming in the concrete industry:
- Carbon reinforced fabric – carbon fibers woven into the fabric will eliminate the need for steel reinforcing in the concrete. As the strength of the reinforcing is directly proportional to the square of the distance from the neutral plane, the fabric becomes an excellent location for the concrete reinforcement.
- Fastfabric DPM – Using the fabric as a damp proof membrane (DPM) that ‘blankets’ the footing and prevents water from wicking into the concrete will become an important feature of footing forming design in the future; this will allow builders to construct drier, healthier concrete structures and interior spaces.
- Fabwall – This wall forming system uses a waterproof fabric on the outside, and rigid insulation on the inside. A drop stitch in the fabric acts as the tie. This fabric based wall form has significant advantages:
- The thickness of EPS or XPS is determined by insulation requirements, not concrete pressure (i.e., the tie spacing can be reduced to accommodate concrete pressure)
- The form can be shipped flat, minimizing storage and shipping costs
- The form is pre-manufactured – no labor is needed to install ties on the job site
- The form panel size is not limited (in sizes up to 10′ high and 4′ wide), further reducing labor costs
- No stripping, as the forms are left in place
- No damp proofing, as the fabric is a damp proofing membrane.
CFA Announces Foundation Fundamentals Venues
The Concrete Foundations Association announced the venues for the next two Foundation Fundamentals Seminars. The fall seminar will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2002 at the Richmond Marriott West, located at 4240 Dominion Blvd. Glen Allen, Virginia. The seminar will have a slightly different twist than previous seminars in that the noon luncheon will be extended by 30 minutes and will be held in conjunction with a mini trade show from area vendors.
The CFA committees and board of directors will meet the day prior the seminar and will be feature a 2 hours management seminar. The CFA is always looking for additional committee volunteers. If you have some time to give, plan to attend the management seminar and sit in on the committee meetings.
The spring Foundation Fundamentals seminar will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2003 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Denver, South at the Denver Tech Center, 10250 E. Costilla Avenue, Englewood, Colorado. The CFA committees and board of directors will meet on Friday before the seminar.
Look for registration forms for both events in future newsletters and on-line at www.cfawalls.org beginning around 3 months before the event. Flyers will also be mailed to all CFA members.
The Building Code Process
Adoption of Codes
The development of building codes is an ever evolving and ever changing process. It can be mystifying and frustrating to even those who understand the process. Most wall contractors operate under one of the current standard building codes, primarily the Uniform Building or the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling code. If you do operate under that code it will be an older version since both of the entities that wrote those codes published their last versions in 1997 and 1998 respectively. More than likely, you now, or soon will operate under the International Residential Code (the current edition is IRC-2000).
The major code writing bodies formed the International Code Council several years ago and decided to collaborate in the development of two codes to take the place of the various codes then being enforced. The result was the IBC (International Building Code) for commercial structures and the IRC for one- and two-family dwellings. Many states and local jurisdictions have already adopted these codes.
A code doesn’t become a code until it is officially accepted with appropriate language by the jurisdiction in which the code will be applied. Although governing bodies typically use codes endorsed by their State, they are free to use any code they like, and they are also free, with due process, to make exceptions or amendments to the code. It is this amendment or exception process where you have the best opportunity to impact the code and its effect on your business. Any citizen can petition the local government during the adoption process to make amendments to the code. The proposed amendments must be well conceived with strong supporting information and the chances of getting a modification are not high but local codes are full of pages of amendments and exceptions proposed by not building officials, special interest groups, and interested citizens. The process of impacting your local codes will be one of the presentations at this summer’s meeting.
CODE CHANGES
The day a code is adopted by the ICC the cycle of proposed modifications to the base code begins again (actually it begins before the code is even adopted). Codes are typically updated on a three year cycle through a series of hearings, public forums, and correspondences.
The code is kept up to date through the review of proposed changes submitted by code enforcement officials, industry representatives, design professionals and other interested parties. Proposed changes are considered through an open code development process in which all interested parties may participate. Only building officials vote on the changes but anyone can propose a modification. Don’t get the idea you The Building Code Process can waltz into a meeting and completely rewrite the code – it doesn’t happen that way. A detailed procedure and timelines must be followed in submitting changes and much of the consideration is done without your input before it comes to a vote. When the vote is held, you have a total of 3 minutes to make your case (2 minutes to explain and an additional minute for rebuttal to those who can also argue against the chance), a vote is then called for and it either passes or is rejected.
Fortunately we have allies in the code monitoring process. The Portland Cement Association has three full time code development people who monitor, attend, propose modifications, and argue the case of the cement industry in several code venues. Steve Skalko, the PCA residential code representative, will be making a presentation at this summer’s meeting on understanding the code process and how to impact codes at the local level. For more information, contact the CFA at 319-895-6940. Keep in mind that we also have a section in our CFA online forum where you can post questions on code issues.
CFA/CHC in New Trade Shows
The CFA and the CHC will make appearances in two new trade shows this coming fall. These efforts are part of an expanded initiative to increase awareness of not only concrete in homes and bases but also the activities of the CFA and its alliance, the Concrete Homes Council. Both shows are inaugural events.
The first show is the Southeast Regional Concrete Homebuilder Show. It will be held on September 5-6, 2002 in San Antonio, Texas. The show is an effort of Permanent Buildings and Foundations, an R.W. Nielsen Company publication. The show will feature seminars on Concrete Finishing, Building Basements in the Southwest, Mitigating Mold, Concrete Pumping, Worksite Safety and a host of other topics.
The preliminary list of exhibitors includes Schwing, Dow Chemical, Putzmeister, Owens Corning and of course the CFA and CHC. If you live in Southeast this will be an excellent opportunity to attend a regional trade show devoted to concrete housing. For more information visit the show web site at www.concretehomebuildershow.com or call 800-746-7690.
The second show is INCON 2002, Innovations in Concrete. It will be held from October 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. The event is a production of the Florida Concrete & Products Association, Inc. The show has generated considerable excitement and has attracted a wide range of exhibitors. The venue for the INCON show will be the Gaylord Palms resort and conference center.
The seminar presentations will be one of the focal points of the event. Called INCON University, it will feature over 60 informative educational sessions, many of which will qualify for continuing education. For more information, visit the show web site at www.FCPA.org or call show management, Riddle & Associates at 404-876-1988.
Abfalter Brothers Concrete
“It is really quite simple,” said Gib Abfalter, president of Abfalter Brothers Concrete. “Customer satisfaction is a key priority and our goal is to ensure that our customers don’t have to make a lot of phone calls to get the job done.”
A member of CFA since 1996, this business approach has allowed the Abfalter Bros. of Big Lake, Minn. to grow, provided they were willing to try new things. Constantly striving to make things more convenient for their customers, the $10-million company offers more services than competitors in their marketplace and is the first to try new technology. As a full-service provider of concrete services including excavating and waterproofing, they are one of the leading providers in poured walls in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.
Probably the most significant change in the business was the transition from block to cast-in-place concrete options. Founded in 1981 by brothers Gib and Jerry Abfalter, the company originally began as a block basement and commercial flat work provider. In 1994, Abfalter Bros. became the first company to start with poured walls on “his side of town.” Although they still did some block work, “the more poured walls we did, the more customers wanted them,” said Gib Abfalter. Poured concrete foundations rapidly grew in popularity and Abfalter Bros. quit lying block foundations just one year after starting their poured wall business. Today, the company solely provides poured concrete for residential foundations.
Yet another example is waterproofing. Abfalter Bros. were the first to provide waterproofing. Following their lead, most of the competition now provides this added service, simply propelling Abfalter Bros. to continue to refine their offerings.
Keeping up with the constantly changing technology is very important to Abfalter Bros. and they are quick to credit CFA with helping them stay on top. For example, Abfalter discovered the Geodimeter Total Station and the Autocrete software through CFA, which has dramatically helped improve business.
“Productivity and accuracy are both greatly increased by utilizing this system,” said Abfalter. “Companies do not have to hire as many hard-to-find skilled laborers, and you are able to download coordinates into the software, which eliminates human mistakes caused by misreading.”
Even in this challenging economy, Abfalter Bros.’ business is thriving and they are busier than they ever have been at this time of year. With more than 40 employees, the company has two wall and two footing crews, one stripping crew, as well as drivers, operators and office personnel.
A big supporter of CFA, Abfalter encourages all members to regularly attend CFA meetings. “CFA functions are what made my business take off,” Abfalter explains. He said he has learned a great deal of valuable information, providing him with the advantage of having new products and techniques to keep his company ahead of the rest.
For more information about Abfalter Bros., visit www.abfalterconcrete.com or contact Gib Abfalter at 763-263-8088.
Cold Weather Protection Procedures for Footings, Foundations, and Retaining Walls
Cold weather concreting is becoming a topic that has the potential to substantially affect nearly every contractor in the CFA. This past year alone, members in Ohio experienced the frustration that can develop when misinterpretation of the ACI requirements for cold weather occurs. Based on this and similar occurrences over the past few years, the CFA has taken an aggressive position on analyzing, testing and producing guidelines for the poured wall foundation industry. This position is one that seeks to answer the age old question, “When is it actually to cold to pour concrete?”
In 2000, the CFA and a team from The Aberdeen Group commissioned a study of concrete cylinders cured at varying temperatures to attempt to answer this question. After many months of testing and analyzing the data from this study, justifiable conclusions were not definitively apparent. In short, it was concluded that additional research on actual wall specimens were required to further substantiate the data that was produced from the laboratory tests.
Recently, the CFA Board of Directors appointed an ADHOC Cold Weather Committee consisting of CFA contractor members, industry professionals, ready-mix suppliers and CFA executive staff to carry out further steps towards a resolution for our industry. The mission for this committee, as read by committee chairman Terry Lavy at the first meeting in Chicago on 6-15-02 is “To investigate the causes, effects, and remediation of extreme weather conditions on the residential Cast-in-place wall industry while working to establish the methods and parameters needed to decide When Is It Too Cold for poured concrete foundations.” The committee is seeking additional members that are interested in the progress towards resolution of this issue on an Association wide basis and feel that they can and wish to contribute to the direction of the committee. Please contact Terry Lavy at 937-773-3963 or terry@lavyconcrete.com for more information.
This committee, however, is not the only effort that is currently being undertaken within the CFA. Many members have committed to developing research and information that can solve this problem on a local level. Scott Smith, Modern Foundations and Frank Ramey, Tri County Excavating recently banded together to prevent inspectors from shutting down pouring of foundations this past winter. Their efforts, centered on mix designs by their local supplier and analysis by a registered engineer, produced immediate results that permitted them to continue with only a mild setback in construction schedules.
The article on cold weather concrete that follows was written by CFA member Kirby Justesen, owner of Formco Foundations in West Jordan, Utah. Kirby has been a member of the CFA since 1978 and has served on the Board of Directors. Kirby does commercial and residential concrete construction.
Objective:
The primary objective in cold weather concreting is to design a concrete mix design with admixtures that will achieve early strength gains to sufficiently protect against damage due to freezing and freeze thaw cycles. The resulting benefit is less effort and expense than with traditional tenting and heating.
Cost effectiveness and productivity can be achieved through better knowledge but the knowledge to accomplish these goals needs to defy conventional understanding. The application of this information will benefit the customer with lower cost yet will maintain the desired results.
Definition:
The definition of cold weather as stated by ACI 306R-78 1.1 is: Cold weather is defined as a period when more than three successive days the mean temperature drops below 40°F. When temperatures above 50°F occur during more than half of any 24 hour period, the concrete should no longer be regarded as winter concrete.
Thesis:
ASSESSING WHEN TO PROTECT THE CONCRETE:
Obviously concrete can resist freezing temperatures and freeze thaw cycles; the question is when does it have the ability to do so. To find an answer we can refer to ACI Cold Weather Concreting 306R-78 1.10.1.
Prevent damage to concrete from freezing at early ages. The degree of saturation off newly placed concrete, which has no access to external sources of water, will be reduced as the concrete hardens and water is combined in the hydration process. Under such conditions, the time at which the degree of saturation becomes reduced below that level which would cause damage by freezing corresponds roughly at the time at which the concrete attains a compressive strength of 500 psi (3.5 Mpa).
At temperatures of 50°F (10°C) most well proportioned concrete will reach this strength during the second day.
This tells us the resistence to early freezing is determined by saturation of water concrete mix. The degree of saturation to be able to withstand damage corresponds roughly to 500 psi which can be achieved quickly by well proportioned concrete.
Further ACI provides a table to understand what application of concrete, compared to the general mix design, will require how many days to protect the concrete against frost damage.
The left column, Service Category, refers to the type of use and whether load capability is needed now or will come later. For footing, foundation, and retaining wall, Category 1, “No load, no exposure,” would apply. See section 6.1.1.
To first includes such items as foundation and substructures which will not be subject to early load, and due to their deep or backfield location, will be subjected to little or no freezing and thawing service. In these circumstances of construction and service, conditions will be favorable to continued natural curing. This concrete would require only the protection time recommended for Category 1 in Table 1.4.2.
In the vertical columns of table 1.4.2 “damage from freezing” and “safe strengths” both right hand columns would apply. “Type III accelerator or extra cement.”
The conclusion is, after one day, footing and foundations cast in place with a mix design containing extra cement and accelerator admixture will be strong enough to resist freezing and freeze cycles. We see the well proportioned concrete mix is most vulnerable to frost damage from it’s earliest age and continues to decrease in vulnerability with time, until 24 hours, at which point conditions will be favorable to continued natural curing.
FIRST 24 HOUR PERIOD:
Understanding that the first 24 hours are critical and that reducing saturation is the key to frost resistant concrete we examine appropriate methods to cold weather protection. ACI 306R-78 5.1.
During the winter, however, when air temperature is below 50°F, atmospheric conditions in most areas will not cause undesirable drying; but, new concrete is vulnerable to freezing in a saturated condition, and therefore, should be allowed to undergo some drying before being exposed to freezing temperatures.
In contemplating the type of protection for the first 24 hours, first, consider drying to reduce saturation and second, allowing for adequate protection against the forecast low temperature. ACI further states in chapter 4 entitled “Protection” ACI 306R-78 4.2
Since most of the heat of hydration of the hardening cement in developed during the first three days, no heat from outside sources may be required to maintain concrete at correct temperatures if heat generated in the concrete is suitably conserved.
Emphasis should be placed on conserving the heat of hydration with out introducing heat from outside sources. Outside heat sources can produce carbon dioxide which reacts with calcium hydroxide to form a chalky calcium carbonate on the concrete surface. Forced air may also cause excessive below.
TYPES OF PROTECTION
Types of cold weather protection found in ACI 30678-R Chapter 4 include polyethylene plastic, foamed vinyl blankets, and straw. Advantages and disadvantages of each type of protection are listed below.
Cold Weather Protection Plan
MIX DESIGN
Mix Design should include 6 bag to 7 bag full sack mix with hot mixing water, + % to 1 + % non-chlorine calcium, and 6% to 7% air entertainment. The range in bag mix and calcium is increased with expected overnight low temperatures.
CALCIUM CHLORIDE
The best known and accepted accelerator is calcium chloride, but it cannot be used in prestressed or in concrete in which aluminum or galvanized metal is to be embedded. ACI 212 2.2
Accelerating admixtures are useful for modifying the properties of concrete, particularly in cold weather, to: (a) expedite the start of finishing operations and, when necessary, the application of insulation for protection; (b) reduce the time required for proper curing and protection; © increase the rate of early strength development so as to permit earlier removal of forms and earlier opening of the construction for service; and (d) permit more efficient plugging of leaks against hydrostatic pressure.
Some long term strength is sacrificed when using calcium chloride, but is more than offset by additional cement. ACI 212 2.3.4
Compressive strength is increased substantially at early ages. The ultimate strength may be reduced slightly. The increase in flexural strength is usually less than that of the compressive strength.
AIR ENTRAINMENT
Normally footings and foundations are designed with low air entrainment 3% to 4%. ACI 306 R-78 tells us in chapter 1.5, “If it is likely that any concrete will be exposed to freezing in a saturated condition during construction it should be properly air entrained event though it will not be exposed to freezing in service.” Therefore 6% to 7% air entrainment should be used during cold weather.
PROTECTION MATERIAL
Since there will be no load or service required, protection need only be for the first 24 hours. For forecast temperature lows 32°F to 18°F cover unformed surfaces with 4″ loose straw. When precipitation is forecast cover straw with polyethylene plastic. For forecast temperature 18°F to 10°F use foam filled blankets to cover formed and unformed surfaces.
TESTING
Cast one each concrete cylinder, each pour, leave on site under similar protection to represent conditions of concrete pour. Break cylinder at 24 hours, test results should or exceed 500 psi.
Through efforts such as these, and the work of the newly-formed CFA Cold Weather Committee, it is estimated that poured foundations in the extremes of winter will become as common nature if not preferred to pouring during the schedule-packed months of April through September. For more information on coldweather concreting, please contact Jim Baty, Technical Director of the CFA at jbaty@cfawalls.org or toll free at 866-CFAWALL.
CFA Presents Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Buck Bartley
MT. VERNON, IOWA (Aug. 12, 2002) The Concrete Foundation Association (CFA), an organization dedicated to improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in place concrete foundations, recently presented its Robert D. Sawyer Distinguished Service Award to Robert “Buck” Bartley at the CFA annual awards luncheon held Aug. 2.
Bartley, co-founder of The Bartley Corporation of Ashton, Maryland, is recognized for his devotion to the industry over several decades. An active member and supporter of the CFA since 1977, he has served on multiple committees for the organization.
The Robert D. Sawyer Award, named on behalf of Bob Sawyer, the first Executive Director of the CFA, is presented occasionally to a member of the concrete foundation industry whose contributions to the industry merit recognition. The award recognizes individuals who give tirelessly of their time and resources to serve the industry.
“Buck Bartley has always been an avid supporter of the foundations industry,” said Ed Sauter, Executive Director of the CFA. “He is always at the forefront in bringing new ideas and technology to the mainstream for foundation construction.”
Bartley, his late wife Marcia, and brother Tom formed The Bartley Corporation in 1970 and have been instrumental in introducing residential concrete foundation construction to the Mid-Atlantic region. Their industry efforts are mirrored by their business success and now have approximately 80 full-time employees and have grown to a multi-million dollar company. Sauter credits The Bartley Corporation with the dedication to implement new technologies that increase efficiency, as well as the willingness to share these innovations with others.
Serving as a voice for the foundation industry, Bartley was the only residential foundation concrete contractor on the ACI-332 (Residential Concrete) Committee until recent years. He has provided invaluable input from a contractor’s perspective to the group and their efforts to develop a residential concrete code. Furthermore, he is active on the CFA Codes and Standards committee where he shares his inventive ideas to help improve the industry.
“The Robert D. Sawyer Award is the highest honor given to any CFA member and Buck Bartley is very deserving of this award,” said Sauter.
The CFA was established in 1974 for the purpose of improving the quality and acceptance of cast-in place concrete foundations. CFA provides promotional materials, educational seminars, opportunities for networking, and technical meeting for members in 26 states and Canada. The CFA also represents the interests of its members and the industry on several code and regulatory bodies, such as the American Concrete Institute’s committee responsible for the creation of the “Residential Concrete Standard.” Once complete, this standard will likely be adopted by the UBC, CABO, and other building codes. The CFA has several of its members on the ACI committee responsible for this document and will endeavor to ensure that the interests of the foundation contractors are considered. For more information, visit www.cfawalls.org.
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Concrete Homes – It’s not a Question of If – but a Question of When
As the most innovative and progressive poured wall contractors in the US and Canada, the members of the CFA have always thought in what ways they can expand and make their companies more successful. This success has normally occurred through the training and retention of personnel and acquisition of additional equipment. Now that the economy is slowing, what is the next logical step to continue this growth? The answer is concrete homes. The next generation of aluminum forming systems is now allowing contractors of build energy efficient all-concrete homes competitively priced with standard wood-frame construction.
Concrete is being used more for the building of homes in the United States. It’s happening because homeowners are become more sensitive to environmental issues, are concerned with the increased cost and scarcity of energy, and because they want their homes to be “peaceful and quiet” – especially when they’re located in the center of urban areas. The awareness of these benefits of concrete homes is due in part to the Portland Cement Association’s promotional efforts and these efforts are working. “Public awareness of concrete homes is now at an all time high,” says Mike Weber from the Portland Cement Association (PCA). “22% of the people in the US said they were aware of the concrete homes in 1998. In 2000, the percentage has grown 41%.” He also estimates that over 15,000 concrete homes were built in the US in 1999.
Just a year ago, the PCA mainly promoted insulated concrete forms and concrete masonry unit as the method of choice in the construction of concrete homes. This is changing; in an effort of cooperation the PCA and CFA have produced a new brochure promoting the benefits of above grade concrete homes using removable forming systems.
What is the next stop in the promotional effort? Besides the CFA’s creation of the Concrete Homes Council, we may not have to look any further than the US Government. In the last few years, energy and natural disasters have been high priority. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through its Project Impact program, is interested in all-concrete homes. FEMA is taking a proactive position about structures in potential disaster areas. They plan to spend more money promoting the construction of building that remain intact for reconstruction of destroyed buildings afterward.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Star Program is an effort to reduce the green house effect by reducing the consumption of fuel. This program motivates builders to build homes that are 30% more energy efficient. Star Homes have lower closing costs. It also allows the borrower a stretch in their income-to-debt ratio at mortgage time. This qualifies more potential buyers for the builder.
The Department of Energy’s Building Thermal Envelope Systems and Materials Program, in an effort to reduce energy consumptions, is devoting research time to developing technologies that improve the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of residential and commercial buildings. This focuses on the structural elements that enclose a building (wall, roofs and foundations). The building envelope provides the thermal barrier between the indoor and outdoor environment, and its elements are the key determinants of a building’s energy requirements.
Finally, Housing and Urban Development has established The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH). This is a voluntary initiative that seeks to accelerate the creation and widespread use of advanced technologies to radically improve the quality, durability, environmental performance, energy efficiency, and affordability of our nation’s housing. Removable forms for concrete housing have recently been accepted as a PATH technology.
If now is the time you are thinking of which way you will continue to grow your company, concrete housing should be high on you priority list. In the near future, look for bills in Congress for builder tax credits and incentives to build more energy efficient and disaster resistant homes. Concrete Housing – It’s not a Question of If – But a Question of When, and it might be here sooner than you think.
