June/July 2009 News

According to a new study sponsored by the EPS Molders Association (EPSMA), expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) is one of the most sustainable building products in the world.

The study, titled Energy and Greenhouse Gas Savings for EPS Foam Insulation Applied to Exterior Walls of Single Family Residential Housing in the U.S. and Canada, found that the energy and emissions used to create EPS is far outweighed by the environmental benefits of its insulation.

EPS insulation can return up to 200 times the amount of energy required to produce it, and can reduce emissions by up to 100 times when compared to the emissions produced during the manufacturing process.

The life cycle study concluded the savings from adding EPS insulation are both substantial and rapid, providing a 100% payback anywhere in North America in less than two years. It also provides significant energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions over the long-term.

Everyone knows that adding insulation to your home will reduce energy costs,” says Betsy Steiner, executive director of EPSMA. “However, consumers are increasingly aware that product manufacture requires resource and energy consumption. We want our customers to know that… EPS insulation is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce energy usage.”

Franklin Associates, an independent consulting firm in Prairie Village, Kansas, conducted the study. 

As reported in the Dec. 2008 issue, the 2009 International Residential Code will require automatic fire sprinklers in all new one-and two-family homes. The vote would have failed by 2-to-1 margin if not for the sudden appearance of more than 900 fire officials who voted, then left the meeting.

Now the NAHB has filed an appeal, claiming the International Code Council failed to provide a fair and open voting process during the final hearing in September. 

In the letter, NAHB asked the ICC to “take immediate action to eliminate the influence of third-party funding in the voting process” and “undertake corrective action… by restoring the principle of balance… in the selection of voting representatives.” 

The ICC has not yet set a date for hearing NAHB’s appeal. However, interested parties are invited to respond to the appeal by submitting their views in writing to mpfeiffer@iccsafe.org and to participate in the appeals hearing. 

Logix Insulated Concrete Forms Ltd. will begin manufacturing in Hawaii effective July 2009.

The plant will manufacture a full line-up of 6.25” and 8” knockdown blocks. The company anticipates adding other elements to the product line over time.

“Establishing manufacturing in the state of Hawaii is the next stage of our expansion plan,” notes Andy Lennox, vice president of marketing at the company. “We’ve recently added manufacturing capabilities in Minnesota and in California, as well,” he notes.

Tom Smerchanski, one of the owners of Logix, says, “The current economic downturn presents challenges, but it also presents a great opportunity to separate yourself from the pack. Unlike most of our competitors, we are aggressively expanding… our distribution network, marketing capabilities, product offerings and manufacturing capacity.”

With the expansion, the company is actively looking for a Territory Manager to oversee operations in this Pacific paradise. Distributor inquiries are also welcome. Interested parties should contact Cooper Stewart at 218-863-1152.

LiteForm Technologies has launched an initiative to use 100% recycled (re-grind) EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) in selected lines of their ICF forming systems. According to the company, the move was prompted by environmental concerns about depleting and wasting valuable resources.

New molding equipment and processes allow this Nebraska-based firm to intercept EPS scrap from local building contractors and incidental “consumer” scrap and recycle it into durable EPS building products. EPS scrap from LiteForm’s operation is automatically captured and recycled also. 

Currently, this discarded EPS is a major contributor to local landfills and dumps. Lite-Deck Top Hats made from 100% regrind are already available. The company is currently expanding the process to other product lines.

MillenniumBlok, which makes a cement-EPS composite ICF, is beginning manufacturing operations in China. 

According to David West, owner of the Colorado-based company, molds for the pilot plant were shipped last month, and plans are in place to expand to 22 manufacturing facilities in China over the next several years.

The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) has added another title to its popular pitch book marketing tools. 

The new Insulating Concrete Construction book is designed to be an easy-to-understand overview of how to build energy efficient and disaster resistant concrete commercial buildings.

Designed for owners, architects, and commercial developers unfamiliar with ICFs, it lays out the benefits and features of insulated concrete buildings. Even the newest ICF salesperson or concrete promoter can speak with confidence, thanks to the book’s everyday language and explanatory graphics.

The professionally produced flipbook can be presented over a cup of coffee, during a one-on-one meeting, or customized with a company-specific logo. 

A PowerPoint presentation (on disk) is included with the flipbook for an even more effective lunch-and-learn presentation.

“The flipbook series has been very popular and with good reason. Sometimes the low-tech, simple approach produces the best results,” said Glenn Ochsenreiter, NRMCA’s senior vice president of marketing. “This marketing tool will be very helpful in advancing insulating concrete construction.”

Like other flipbooks, each page presents attractive, clear and compelling information about the product on the viewer’s side of the page, while the reverse contains additional information only visible to the presenter. “This helps every promoter stay organized, reinforce the key points and also cover additional helpful information to support the specifier,” says Jon Hansen, who developed the flipbook in conjunction with the editor of ICF Builder Magazine.

Quad-Lock Building Products, an ICF manufacturer based in British Columbia, has been recognized for it’s new R-ETRO insulation system.

R-ETRO consists of EPS panels that are mechanically fastened to exposed concrete walls. Whether used for remodeling or to furr out basement walls poured with removable forms, it provides many of the benefits ICFs offer.

In November, R-ETRO was named “best building material” in the “wall coverings” category at the 2008 WFX New Product Awards. According to the WFX website, the awards recognize “the newest and most innovative building, management and technology products marketing to churches within the past year.”

Wendy Davidoff, marketing director of Quad-Lock at the time of the announcement, says, “The winners are touted as ‘the best of the best’ so naturally, we are very proud of our newest product line!”

BuildBlock Building Systems LLC, now offers software to help architects better understand the benefits of ICF construction. 

The company has partnered with Architecture Demarest to create 3D models of their products which will aid architects in the design phase of their projects. The files can be downloaded free on from the BuildBlock website: www.buildBlock.com/designitforlife.

“Many architects are unfamiliar with the full benefits of building with Insulating Concrete Forms,” says Michelle Spurlock, marketing director at BuildBlock, “Nor do they have complete knowledge of their use in the design process. This is why we’re leading the way by making our products available for use with AutoDesk Revit Architecture.”

The software uses state-of-the art Building Information Modeling (BIM) to help architects and engineers with collaborative design, efficient documentation and concise construction. Spurlock states that BIM and Autodesk Revit Architecture software makes sustainable design, clash detection, and construction planning, easier.