May/June 2023 News
CFA's New “Emerging Leaders” Group
The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) announced the development of what’s commonly known as a “young professionals” or “YP” group. With many CFA member companies being multigenerational, this new Emerging Leaders group provides space for the new generation to experience the benefits of team learning and sharing among others with whom they can more easily relate. In January of 2023, at World of Concrete, this group had their first in-person social. Sponsored by Western Forms, there was a happy hour kick-off, allowing many from the group to meet for the first time. The Emerging Leaders group communicates regularly through Slack. The next in-person activity is planned during #CFACON23, the Concrete Foundations Association’s yearly convention, which will be held this year in San Antonio, Texas, July 27–29. Anyone from a CFA member company is welcome to participate in events and programs and to get involved. Contact Skye Kelley at skelley@cfaconcretepros.org or by phone at 319-895-6940. www.cfaconcretepros.org
Results of Thermal Study
The Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) recently commissioned CLEB Laboratories (formerly known as Air-Ins Inc.) to conduct the first in a series of accredited whole wall thermal studies. This installment compared a 2-inch x 6-inch traditional insulated wood frame cavity wall to a standard 6-inch (150mm) core insulating concrete form (ICF) wall. The study proves an insulating concrete form wall can achieve up to 60% energy savings and 58% greater R-value/RSI for home and building owners. For decades, the ICF industry has been asked to provide definitive proof that thermal mass, the air-tightness and continuous insulation features of ICF walls deliver real, quantifiable benefits in terms of overall energy-savings and achieved R-Values/RSI. Although other studies have been conducted in the past, this is the first time a SCC- and IAC-accredited and internationally recognized testing facility has been commissioned to evaluate a realistic side-by-side comparison of the two types of wall assemblies within a single study. The test results confirm the following:
- The tested ICF wall assembly provided 58% better effective R-Value/RSI
- The tested ICF wall assembly generated up to 60%
energy savings - The measurable contributions of the ICF wall assembly’s thermal mass and the interior and exterior layers of continuous insulation
The tested wood-frame wall assembly meets the Canadian National Building Code for above grade residential walls and the 2015 IRC in the USA for climate zones 1-5.
An ICF Pioneer & Ambassador Has Retired
D.C. Mangimelli, who worked as the business development advisor in the Eastern, U.S. for Airlite Plastics Co., and ARXX Building Products, among others, retired on March 31, leaving the industry better than he found it. He made a significant impact on construction and the built environment. For more than 15 years, D.C. led the ICF industry with ARXX and Fox Blocks ICFs, manufactured by Airlite Plastics. He supported and developed projects nationwide, resulting in millions of yards of concrete poured into buildings by supporting value design engineering and construction for major commercial projects in the Eastern U.S. He helped owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors lower construction costs, shorten construction timelines, and provide long-term operational cost reductions for clients within the federal, municipal, institutional, educational, and other various sectors of commercial projects.
D.C. delivered hundreds of building science education tracks to AIA, USGBC, CSI, SAME, NRMCA, ACI, HBA, and other organizations-audiences. He provided countless consultation and construction management sessions, pre-design, design, scope refinement, bidding and construction support, and project management support.
“D.C.’s professionalism and servant leadership well represented Airlite Plastics Co., Fox Blocks, and the Sustainable Building Products Division as a standard we should all strive for,” says Mike Kennaw, vice president and general manager of the Sustainable Building Products Division of Airlite Plastics Co.
D.C. stacked his last block at the University of Georgia – Athens Dormitory Project. That was followed by a dinner Mike Kennaw hosted that included some key customers, family, and friends of D..C to celebrate his career. D.C. is pursuing part-time work with local non-profit ministries in Clarkesville, Georgia, and other fun leisure activities. D.C’s Fox Blocks family and the industry as a whole will miss him greatly and wish him and his wife, Janice, the best in his retirement adventure.
