Insulating Concrete Forms and Concrete Masonry Reports Released

Census 2000: How America Knows What America Needs. Your community's federal funding depends on your response to the Census. This is your future. Don't leave it blank. For additional information, visit www.census.gov HUD has released two new reports about innovative technologies, their performance, and techniques for utilizing them. HUD joined builders and manufacturers to accelerate the adoption of innovative materials for home construction. Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) is an example of a technology that can be used to improve housing. The new report released by HUD, Insulating Concrete Forms: Comparative Thermal Performance, informs builders how to better evaluate the thermal performance of ICFs and identifies opportunities to optimize their use in residential construction. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center conducted a study to compare the cost performance of ICF walls to conventional wood frame exterior walls. Three homes were constructed—one with an ICF plank system, one with an ICF block system, and one with conventional 2 by 4 construction. The three homes, which were unoccupied, were set up for long-term energy monitoring. Insulating Concrete Forms contains results on energy and thermal comfort performance as well as computer modeling of energy use and explains the findings using photographs, tables, and other graphics. Concrete masonry units (CMUs) have also been identified as an alternative building material for residential construction. Even with the CMU's strength, durability, fire resistance, and proven success in the commercial and localized residential market, builders and designers are often hesitant to explore approaches that differ from conventional practice. In an effort to promote healthy competition and help define optimal use of natural resources while enhancing housing affordability, HUD has released Concrete Masonry Homes: Recommended Practices. Concrete Masonry Homes focuses on the attachment or installation of foundations, floors, roofs, insulation, utilities, and finishes to concrete masonry and was developed as a guideline for using concrete masonry in the construction of homes. The publication is divided into seven fact sheets:

• Foundation connections.

• Floor connections.

• Roof connections.

• Finish attachments.

• Insulation placement.

• Utility placement.

• Tools and fasteners.

Each fact sheet presents information with detailed figures and tables to illustrate specific points and includes a section on additional resources.

Insulating Concrete Forms: Comparative Thermal Performance and Concrete Masonry Homes: Recommended Practices are available for $5 each from HUD USER. Use the order form.