ICFs
Deliver the Sounds
of Silence
The thermal and sound-proofing qualities of
external walling made from Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) has
delivered a Queensland family a comfortable and quiet new residence in
Brisbane’s eastern suburbs. Read The Full Article with Photos Here
House in the
Natural Environment
Brisbane has many areas that are categorized
as bushfire prone. Whilst being close to the beautiful natural
environment, houses that are built on these types of sites need to be
carefully designed to ensure the safety of the occupants. The Insulating
Concrete Form (ICF) system is suitable to be used for this type of site
due to its excellent fire resistance and durability. It can offer great
flexibility in design as well as ease and safety in housing
construction. Read The Full Article with Photos Here
Concrete Comfort
A comfortable haven built in Chandler, Queensland demonstrates the
ability of concrete to naturally control extreme temperatures. Built of
concrete external walls and floors the house is cool in summer and warm
in winter providing year round comfort. Thermally efficient, concrete
naturally controls comfort levels and dramatically decreases energy
demands. Read The Full Article with Photos Here
Energy Savings
for an Eco ICF Home The documents below have
been provided by Jorge of Builtex Homes based on one of their display
homes built with Eco Block. Average
Saving PDF BERS Rating Eco Lateral ED PDF
Thumbs Up For
Eco Block As a very hands on builder, Adam
Guerassimoff of JADA Building Services is
always keen to trial new products and try new
ideas. After talking to Michael Falloon from Gladstone Bricks Sales on alternative methods of forming up for the construction of his new pool, Adam was convinced that the new Eco-blocks Michael recommended would be perfect.
“There were a number of reasons I
decided to give them a try,” he said. “Michael
really knows his stuff and I was happy to take
his advice in this matter. I saw this as a good opportunity to try the product on my own construction project to see how it went. The blocks turned out to be very cost effective, very manageable and easy to use.”.............Read
More
BOULDER
USA - Peter Brady lives on top of a mountain off of Fourmile
Canyon Road. Not only did his house survive the Fourmile Canyon Fire,
but he also survived to tell the story."This
is the place that I decided I wanted to finally settle down in, put all
my energies into, be the steward of the forest," he said.
Brady says he was so confident in how he prepared his house in the event
of a wildfire, he did not leave the area when the evacuation was
ordered. There is charred ground a full 360 degrees around his home, not
to mention most of his neighbors' homes did not make it.
Brady is not a firefighter by trade, and he used a green gardening hose
to put out hot spots. Brady says he built his home thinking every step
of the way: how could I build this to best withstand a fire?
He wasn't the only one putting up a battle. His 32-year-old son walked
eight miles up a steep mountain to help his dad in the fight. "He comes
walking up the driveway with a shovel, and a pick, and his gear... and,
we went right to work," Brady said.
For four sleepless days, the two fought the fire with a $6 nozzle and
green garden hose as their primary line of defense. The flames crept up
as close as 30 feet from his home. As for the preventative work done
beforehand, he laid a road made of rock to block the fire, and he
trimmed the trees around his home to help thin the forest surrounding
his house. Brady even laid solar panels used to transform the energy
from the sun and turn it into electricity.
Perhaps most impressive, his home is insulated by an 8-inch concrete
barrier that can withstand flames for up to four hours.
"It's made out of insulated concrete forms which is foam on both
sides so you have a high insulated value, but the interior of the core
is poured concrete," Brady said.
Flames crept up on Brady's house within an hour and a half from when he
first saw signs of fire, so he didn't have time to prepare or buy food
in advance. His neighbors did choose to evacuate, and with their
permission, he raided their refrigerator and he and his son ate that for
their four sleepless
days and nights of firefighting. It's important to mention firefighters
certainly don't encourage fighting a fire on your own.
ECO-Block Leads the
Way
ECO-Block has been the leader in innovative technology and product
applications. Our unique panelized system is the only block to work in
tilt-up construction. The ability to change the wall sizes around the
corner, within a wall length, or even just within one block had made
ECO-Block a prime candidate for commercial applications needing
pilasters, retaining walls, or varying load capacity. Our insulating
concrete form is simply the most versatile in the marketplace.
ECO-Block Gets Noticed
Whether it be advances in the residential market or in the increasingly
successful commercial market, ECO-Block gets noticed. Our projects are
often featured in magazines and journals, picked up by TV crews, and
chosen for top awards.