Some of you may remember this iconic photo of the only remaining home still standing after the devastating Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Mississippi USA in 2005. This home was built using Insulated Concrete Forms and is testament to the structural integrity of ICF’s to withstand a natural disaster or hazard.
In light of the widespread devastation we are now all witnessing in Florida with Hurricane Irma causing mass flooding and destruction, there will no doubt be a lot of discussion about re-building with reinforced concrete.
When using the right product with a solid reinforced concrete core, you are building with a greater impact resistance that can withstand winds of up to 402kph. The structural integrity of ICF such as ZEGO Building Systems is second to none and protects properties and its occupants from tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones, strong winds and earthquakes.
Natural hazards and storms also bring extreme temperatures, so even if your home is structurally safe, occupants can be adversely affected by the fluctuations of hot and cold temperatures. The storm driven air infiltration is dramatically reduced by the continuous air barriers of the Insulated Concrete Form work as the high thermal mass of the concrete and the insulation of the sacrificial foam panels both help to regulate the temperature inside a dwelling.
Unexpected Fire damage can also occur from a hurricane, storm or tornado due to the rainwater and wind impact on the electrical services in the home. ICF’s offer a superior level of fire resistance with steel reinforced concrete and a non- toxic flame retardant EPS (Expanded polystyrene) foam with self- extinguishing properties ( ie: the “F” grade EPS does not have enough energy to sustain a flame unlike timber that continues to burn.
The ZEGO ICF Building System is a structural reinforced concrete building with stay in place foam for insulation. Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF’s) systems have been used in construction around the world for more than 60 years. Reinforced concrete is 6-9 times stronger than a traditional build.
For more information on Structural and Fire ratings of ZEGO Building Systems, please visit our website at www.zego.com.au.
