Ever year, thousands of general contractors and subcontractors must grapple with whether to bid Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) projects, how much to charge for them, and how to manage the job. ICFs are stronger, energy-efficient, and offer great design flexibility, and their use is growing by 30% a year. This invaluable work walks the contractor through both business and technical considerations in evaluating and adopting Insulating Concrete Forms for both the residential and commercial markets. * Details the entire ICF construction process * Training and supplier information * Actual job site experiences
Prospective homeowners will welcome this introduction to a durable, energy-efficient new building technology: insulating concrete forms (ICFs). Written by a top expert in the field, and organized in an accessible question-and-answer form, it will help homebuyers decide whether an ICF is right for them and how to get the most for their money. Every aspect of planning and construction is covered, from exactly what an ICF is to the intricacies of building a concrete house, from choosing a contractor to selecting a suitable design for the system. There’s crucial advice on how to make sure construction goes smoothly, diagrams and photos to illustrate every point, beautiful ICF homes on display, and explanations of how these homes differ from conventional ones and why they cost less to maintain.
Insulating concrete forms, the most requested new material in home building today, increases energy efficiency, design flexibility, strength and durability. This step-by-step illustrated guide shows designers, architects, and engineers how to put this cutting-edge technology to work. Eight pages of color photos show homes recently constructed with this technology. 178 illus.
An organized, structured approach to the 2018 INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE Loose leaf Version, these TURBO TABS will help you target the specific information you need, when you need it. Packaged as pre-printed, full-page inserts that categorize the IPC into its most frequently referenced sections, the tabs are both handy and easy to use. They were created by leading industry experts who set out to develop a tool that would prove valuable to users in or entering the field.
Infra-lightweight concrete combines the structural and thermal insulation functions of the building envelope in one monolithic material, thus providing new design options. The handbook is a practical guide to building with this new type of material. The architects and structural engineers of the interdisciplinary team of authors combine their findings from many years of research, including from a project in which the team investigated the architectural and structural potential of infra-lightweight concrete in multi-story residential buildings. In addition to essential information on designing with the material, including construction details, and an overview of the building physics properties, practical advice on building details is provided in the form of sizing tables and numerous details from various projects.
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are hollow blocks, planks, or panels made from rigid foam plastic insulation or from composites of cement and other mateterals and which have the ability to act as forms for cast-in-place concrete walls. While gaining in popularity as an alternative to light-frame construction, the lack of consistent and comprehensive standards has prevented ICF systems from reaching their full potential among builders and officials who may be unfamiliar with this construction technique.
Structural Design for Fire Safety, 2nd edition Andrew H. Buchanan, University of Canterbury, New Zealand Anthony K. Abu, University of Canterbury, New Zealand A practical and informative guide to structural fire engineering This book presents a comprehensive overview of structural fire engineering. An update on the first edition, the book describes new developments in the past ten years, including advanced calculation methods and computer programs. Further additions include: calculation methods for membrane action in floor slabs exposed to fires; a chapter on composite steel-concrete construction; and case studies of structural collapses. The book begins with an introduction to fire safety in buildings, from fire growth and development to the devastating effects of severe fires on large building structures. Methods of calculating fire severity and fire resistance are then described in detail, together with both simple and advanced methods for assessing and designing for structural fire safety in buildings constructed from structural steel, reinforced concrete, or structural timber. Structural Design for Fire Safety, 2nd edition bridges the information gap between fire safety engineers, structural engineers and building officials, and it will be useful for many others including architects, code writers, building designers, and firefighters. Key features: • Updated references to current research, as well as new end-of-chapter questions and worked examples. •Authors experienced in teaching, researching, and applying structural fire engineering in real buildings. • A focus on basic principles rather than specific building code requirements, for an international audience. An essential guide for structural engineers who wish to improve their understanding of buildings exposed to severe fires and an ideal textbook for introductory or advanced courses in structural fire engineering.
