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Functional Equivalence Specification
Building Type: 2 story house, 20ft tall not including roof
OVE Lightwood Framed Walls
Inventory of Materials:
Wood: 2” x 6” studs spaced at 24 inches O.C., each one 10 ft tall
2 stud corners
4” x 4” Header Hangers Above Windows
2” x 6” Top Plate
Batt Insulation:
Lenths 47" to 96" Widths 11" to 24"
Plywood Sheathing: 3/4”-1/2” Thick
This, along with the siding and housewrap, will serve as another barrier to the environment and will provide some added insulation and control of the flow of air into and out of the home.
Standard Housewrap: 150’ x 9’
Will prevent airflow and water through the wall
Gypsum Board:
Available gypsum board in 1/4", 1/2", & 5/8" thickness
1/2" and 5/8" gypsum board available in 8', 9', 10', and 12' lengths
Aluminum Siding: 10’ x 0’ (3.05mm) x 1’
Insulated Concrete Forms-Composite
Inventory of Materials:
Cement-Bonded Wood Fiber Panels
Mortar:
1” of mortar will be used to attach the wood fiber panels to the slab on grade.
Rebar: #4 at 30” O.C. Vertical
#5 at 30” O.C. Horizontal
The rebar will be used to give the wall stability and to connect the panels to the slab.
Rock Wool Mineral Fiber Insulation: ¾ inch thick 10” x 16”x 48”
The rock wool mineral fiber insulation, along with the concrete, plywood, and gypsum board should give the building around an R-Value of 20. The Insulation panels are slid down in between the plastic ties.
Concrete
Fasteners:
Used to retain the insulated panels to the concrete.
Standard Housewrap: 150’ x 9’
Will prevent air flow and liquid through the wall and can be applied straight to the cement-bonded wood fiber panels.
Gypsum Board:
Available gypsum board in 1/4", 1/2", & 5/8" thickness
1/2" and 5/8" gypsum board available in 8', 9', 10', and 12' lengths
Aluminum Siding: 10’ x 0’ (3.05mm) x 1’
http://www.arcat.com/specwizard/07463nap/index.htm?coid=38879
http://woodworking.about.com/od/typesofwood/p/WoodSizing.htm
http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/walls/Insulating-Concrete-Forms
http://www.concretehomesmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&func=show_article&id=78
http://www.flash.org/resources/files/ICF2005-05-04.pdf
http://www.covalencecoatedproducts.com/docs/pdf/products/brands/CodeReport/BarricadeICBO4449.pdf
http://www.durisolbuild.com/products_overview.shtml
http://www.simplyinsulate.com/content/tips/installBatt.html
Estimating Methodology
Process Map
To begin an estimate process map a project scope is defined. A work breakdown structure should then be created to assist in this process. Economic feasibility of the building should be discussed before anymore time is invested. The next step requires the estimator to identify and collect all information that describes the scope of work for the project. Material quantities need to be calculated which can be done with various techniques or applications. Next, unit material costs should be calculated. These costs can be calculated from historical data, or a previous project with a similar scope or preliminary cost from a contractor. Unit cost should include installation labor costs and other indirect costs. Information gathered this far should be enough to provide you with a base estimate. Additional quantities should be considered for error factors. A base estimate should be reviewed, challenged and well understood.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/ProjectMgmt/RiskAssessment/Process/
Unit Prices:
4” Straight $15.44 ea. $2.90 sq ft
6” Straight $15.62 ea. $2.93 sq ft
8” Straight $16.47 ea. $3.09 sq ft
Labor approx. $4.00 per sq ft
http://www.foxblocks.com/product_info/pricing.shtml
Checklist of factors to be considered
· Site conditions
· Installation error
· Distorted/ defective product
· Unexpected delays
Economically, Insulated Concrete Forms have been invented to cut cost on many different aspects of the building process. They are best in conserving energy both physically and thermally. Also, there performance economically has grown over the past decade ensuing better waste management of materials and a more clean aspect of wall systems. A downfall to Insulated Concrete Forms is the fact that it is a heavier material that is harder to make adjustments to post-building. In conclusion, the ICF wall system has become an industrialist way of building envelopes and components of different structures.
http://www.integraspec.ie/_images/gallery/products/lg/full.jpg
Contractor Investment Analysis
If a contractor is already quailified to install a standard wall system would it be worth it to the contractor economically, to make the investment to be able to also install Insulated Composite Concrete Forms.
Additional Equipment Needed: There is very little additional equipment needed. Obviously the new building materials are needed, composite concrete blocks and concrete. Other common equipment such as circular saws and concrete tools would be needed. The only major additional equipment that would be needed is concrete placement equipment such as a pump truck which more than likely would be provided by the concrete company. This means there would be no need to rent or purchase large equipment.
Additional Training Needed: Although Insulated Composite Concrete Forms are built in a different manner than traditional walls, it is stil pretty simple. Extra skills needed to install this type of wall would be the ability to do masonry type work and pour concrete, both of which are pretty basic skills in the construction business. Therefore little additional training would be needed to install the product. If the contractor want to go above the standard, they could receive a Specialist Designation from ICFA.
Overall it would not take much to be able to install this product. Therefore it would be economically benefical to make the investment in training and equipment.
www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/walls/wood-fiber-composite-forms
Procurement Analysis
The following information deals with the procurement and gathering of materials for composite insulated concrete forms. It was acquired by contacting different suppliers (Rastra, Tech Block, Performwall) of the building product and gathering specific information about their company and its processes.
How much lead time is needed to receive the product? Due to the simplicity of the product, there isn't much time required to obtain the materials. The companies are able to quickly gather the panels from their inventories, once the orders are made, and ship them out. The only thing that can add to the lead time is if the panels are customized at the company’s facilities. Rastra can ship the product quicker than Tech Block because they send the panels as a whole and have consumer make the cuts in the field, whereas Tech Block alters the ICFs at their plant. The only problem that was run into is that Rastra's plant for the Eastern United States (located in Ohio) is currently under construction; however, the director of sales said that their inventory is still easily accessible and this should not cause any delay in the order. Overall, depending on the average shipping time and time it takes to customize the materials, the companies claim that a few weeks is a reasonable estimate to allow for the lead time.
Does the product need to be special-ordered? As stated before, this depends on the way a company carries out the process of selling the material. Rastra does not require any special ordering, because they just send out standard panels and have the builder alter them to their needs. However Techblock requires the specs of the new building (such as the windows, doors, and other openings in the walls) so they can pre-cut the forms at the plant. Other than that, there isn't any other major special ordering that is needed when buying composite ICFs.
Is it necessary to maintain an inventory of the product to properly service the wall? The companies' answer to this is no. Their claim is that the materials that make these types of walls (a composite form and concrete) will not rot, which would be the main reason to have an extra supply of the wall panels. So unless a known addition to the building is planned for the future, it is not necessary to keep extra supplies on-site.
Transportation: There are not any special transportation costs involved with the shipping of the ICFs. The companies ship the materials to the site via flatbed truck, which is a common means of transportation for building materials.
Aluminum Nails: These will be used to install the aluminum siding.
Aluminum Nails: These will be used to install the aluminum siding.
