Integrated framing assembly

Last updated

An integrated framing assembly (IFA) is a specialty product in insulating concrete form (ICF) construction. First developed in 2006 by Stala Integrated Assemblies, LLC, and thus also known colloquially as "Stala frames," these assemblies were designed for large commercial ICF construction.

Contents

IFAs’ innovative nature has been recognized by publications in the concrete construction industry, [1] wall and ceiling industry, [2] door and hardware industry, [3] ICF industry, [4] and architecture industry (both in the United States [5] and Canada [6] ). In 2012, Stala Integrated Assemblies obtained a United States patent for integrated framing assemblies.

IFA and ICF construction

As a poured concrete construction method, ICFs have become popular due to ICF buildings’ energy efficiency [7] and structural stability. [8] Their primary market has been residential homes, with a popular-level introduction to ICFs even appearing in 2007. [9] Commercial ICF construction has grown considerably, however, [10] and brought with it problems specific to large projects.

IFA and the door and window problem

IFAs address a problem for large commercial ICF construction—door and window openings. Under previous construction methods, contractors used wood, vinyl, or light-weight steel to block out door and window openings while pouring the concrete. [11] On residential projects, with only around 10 to 20 openings, this method sufficed. On larger construction projects, however, these methods of blocking out the openings meet problems:

IFA design

Engineers and construction industry professionals designed IFAs for large commercial projects in order to solve this door and window problem. As 14-gage galvanized hollow metal frames, IFAs are installed prior to the pouring of the concrete, are capable of being anchored into the footer, and function as the method of blocking out the opening and the frame that under previous methods would be installed later. Thus, not only do they keep the opening’s dimensions firm during concrete consolidation, they are immediately ready to receive doors and windows. Door assemblies even come with hardware preps, and most IFAs come with drywall returns for the interior side of the assembly.

Several other elements of IFAs reflect their design for the large commercial ICF construction market. IFAs can meet architectural designs that include sidelights, mullions, view windows, radius frames, etc. IFAs can be used on external walls as well as internal load-bearing walls. IFAs have an optional thermal [ disambiguation needed ] break for cold- and hot-weather climates. [13] IFAs can meet fire code requirements for doors in, for example, stairwells in commercial buildings.

IFA jobsites

Since their appearance on their first job site in Kentucky in 2006, IFAs have been used on or are specified for job sites ranging from Scarborough, ME (Walgreens), Burleson, Texas (Burleson Independent School District), and Oahu, Hawaii (Schofield Barracks). Particularly innovative IFA projects are South Warren Middle and High School (Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA), the largest ICF building in North America upon completion, at two stories at 330,000 sq. ft., and Turkey Foot Middle School (Kenton Co., Kentucky, USA), the first job site to use IFAs with the thermal-break design, and Overdale Elementary School (Hillview, Kentucky, USA), where architects adapted the IFA design for mechanical chases.

Related Research Articles

Daylighting Practice of placing openings and reflective surfaces so that sunlight can provide internal lighting

Daylighting is the practice of placing windows, skylights, other openings, and reflective surfaces so that sunlight can provide effective internal lighting. Particular attention is given to daylighting while designing a building when the aim is to maximize visual comfort or to reduce energy use. Energy savings can be achieved from the reduced use of artificial (electric) lighting or from passive solar heating. Artificial lighting energy use can be reduced by simply installing fewer electric lights where daylight is present or by automatically dimming/switching off electric lights in response to the presence of daylight – a process known as daylight harvesting.

Building material Material which is used for construction purposes

Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rocks, sand, and wood, even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materials, many man-made products are in use, some more and some less synthetic. The manufacturing of building materials is an established industry in many countries and the use of these materials is typically segmented into specific specialty trades, such as carpentry, insulation, plumbing, and roofing work. They provide the make-up of habitats and structures including homes.

Modular building Prefabricated building or house that consists of repeated sections

A modular building is a prefabricated building that consists of repeated sections called modules. Modularity involves constructing sections away from the building site, then delivering them to the intended site. Installation of the prefabricated sections is completed on site. Prefabricated sections are sometimes placed using a crane. The modules can be placed side-by-side, end-to-end, or stacked, allowing for a variety of configurations and styles. After placement, the modules are joined together using inter-module connections, also known as inter-connections. The inter-connections tie the individual modules together to form the overall building structure.

Prefabrication is the practice of assembling components of a structure in a factory or other manufacturing site, and transporting complete assemblies or sub-assemblies to the construction site where the structure is to be located. The term is used to distinguish this process from the more conventional construction practice of transporting the basic materials to the construction site where all assembly is carried out.

This page is a list of construction topics.

Insulating concrete form

Insulating concrete form or insulated concrete form (ICF) is a system of formwork for reinforced concrete usually made with a rigid thermal insulation that stays in place as a permanent interior and exterior substrate for walls, floors, and roofs. The forms are interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked and filled with concrete. The units lock together somewhat like Lego bricks and create a form for the structural walls or floors of a building. ICF construction has become commonplace for both low rise commercial and high performance residential construction as more stringent energy efficiency and natural disaster resistant building codes are adopted.

Framing (construction) In construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure support and shape

Framing, in construction, is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure support and shape. Framing materials are usually wood, engineered wood, or structural steel. The alternative to framed construction is generally called mass wall construction, where horizontal layers of stacked materials such as log building, masonry, rammed earth, adobe, etc. are used without framing.

Fire door

A fire door is a door with a fire-resistance rating used as part of a passive fire protection system to reduce the spread of fire and smoke between separate compartments of a structure and to enable safe egress from a building or structure or ship. In North American building codes, it, along with fire dampers, is often referred to as a closure, which can be derated compared against the fire separation that contains it, provided that this barrier is not a firewall or an occupancy separation. In Europe national standards for fire doors have been harmonised with the introduction of the new standard EN 16034, which refers to fire doors as fire-resisting door sets. Starting September 2016, a common CE marking procedure was available abolishing trade barriers within the European Union for these types of products. In the UK, it is Part B of the Building Regulations that sets out the minimum requirements for the fire protection that must be implemented in all dwellings this includes the use of fire doors. All fire doors must be installed with the appropriate fire resistant fittings, such as the frame and door hardware, for it to fully comply with any fire regulations.

Wall plate

A plate or wall plate is a horizontal, structural, load-bearing member in wooden building framing.

Exterior insulation finishing system Exterior cladding

Exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) is a general class of non-load bearing building cladding systems that provides exterior walls with an insulated, water-resistant, finished surface in an integrated composite material system. In Europe, systems similar to EIFS are known as External Wall Insulation System (EWIS) and External Thermal Insulation Cladding System (ETICS).

Superinsulation

Superinsulation is an approach to building design, construction, and retrofitting that dramatically reduces heat loss by using much higher levels of insulation and airtightness than normal. Superinsulation is one of the ancestors of the passive house approach.

A thermal break or thermal barrier is an element of low thermal conductivity placed in an assembly to reduce or prevent the flow of thermal energy between conductive materials. The opposite of a thermal barrier is a thermal bridge.

Precast concrete

Precast concrete is a construction product produced by casting concrete in a reusable mold or "form" which is then cured in a controlled environment, transported to the construction site and lifted into place. In contrast, standard concrete is poured into site-specific forms and cured on site. Precast stone is distinguished from precast concrete using a fine aggregate in the mixture, so the final product approaches the appearance of naturally occurring rock or stone. More recently expanded polystyrene is being used as the cores to precast wall panels. This is lightweight and has better thermal insulation.

Outline of construction Overview of and topical guide to construction


The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to construction:

Thermal bridge

A thermal bridge, also called a cold bridge, heat bridge, or thermal bypass, is an area or component of an object which has higher thermal conductivity than the surrounding materials, creating a path of least resistance for heat transfer. Thermal bridges result in an overall reduction in thermal resistance of the object. The term is frequently discussed in the context of a building's thermal envelope where thermal bridges result in heat transfer into or out of conditioned space.

Tin can wall

A tin can wall is a wall constructed from tin cans, which are not a common building source. The cans can be laid in concrete, stacked vertically on top of each other, and crushed or cut and flattened to be used as shingles. They can also be used for furniture.

Hempcrete Biocomposite material used for construction and insulation

Hempcrete or hemplime is biocomposite material, a mixture of hemp hurds (shives) and lime, sand, or pozzolans, which is used as a material for construction and insulation. It is marketed under names like Hempcrete, Canobiote, Canosmose, Isochanvre and IsoHemp. Hempcrete is easier to work with than traditional lime mixes and acts as an insulator and moisture regulator. It lacks the brittleness of concrete and consequently does not need expansion joints. The result is a lightweight insulating material ideal for most climates as it combines insulation and thermal mass.

Fire damper

Fire dampers are passive fire protection products used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts to prevent the spread of fire inside the ductwork through fire-resistance rated walls and floors. Fire/smoke dampers are similar to fire dampers in fire resistance rating, and also prevent the spread of smoke inside the ducts. When a rise in temperature occurs, the fire damper closes, usually activated by a thermal element which melts at temperatures higher than ambient but low enough to indicate the presence of a fire, allowing springs to close the damper blades. Fire dampers can also close following receipt of an electrical signal from a fire alarm system utilising detectors remote from the damper, indicating the sensing of heat or smoke in the building occupied spaces or in the HVAC duct system.

Graceville Uniting Church

Graceville Uniting Church is a heritage-listed churchyard at 215 Oxley Road, Graceville, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was designed and built by Walter Taylor from 1917 to 1951. It was previously known as Graceville Methodist Church. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 24 September 1999.

EN 16034 refers to a set of European standards which specify the technical performance characteristics for fire resisting and/or smoke control products, or better known in common language as fire/smoke doors or fire/smoke proof doors. Compliance with this standard requires to fulfill the requirements of the Construction Product Regulation for construction products, which are placed on the EU market with the intention to become permanent parts of a construction.

References

  1. ↑ Tom Klemens, "Theme and Variations in Forming: Insulating Concrete Forms Make Sense-and Dollars, Too," Concrete Construction (March 2008): 45.
  2. ↑ Jay McNally, "ICFs Gaining Ground in Education: Integrated Steel Assemblies Speed Construction Time, Save Money," Walls and Ceilings (May 2008): available here.
  3. ↑ J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrated Framing Assemblies: A New Bridge for ICF Construction and the Door and Hardware Industry," Doors and Hardware 72.9 (November 2008): 36–40.
  4. ↑ J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrated Framing Assemblies: A New Alternative for ICF Openings," ICF Builder 4.5 (October/November 2008): 40–41. See also the quotations from ICF industry professionals J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrated Framing Assemblies: A New Bridge for ICF Construction and the Door and Hardware Industry, Doors and Hardware 72.9 (November 2008): 38.
  5. ↑ J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrated Framing and ICF Construction," The Construction Specifier 61.12 (December 2008): 48–54.
  6. ↑ J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrating IFAs and ICFs," Construction Canada 51.4 (July 2009): 66–70.
  7. ↑ Pieter A. VanderWerf, "Energy Comparisons of Concrete Homes Versus Wood Frame Homes" (Skokie, IL: Portland Cement Association, 1997).
  8. ↑ E. W. Kiesling and R. Carter, "Investigation of Wind Projectile Resistance of Insulating Concrete Form Homes," (Skokie, IL: Portland Cement Association, 1998). See also the ICF home left standing after Hurricane Katrina in "Concrete House Stands Up to Katrina," Nation's Building News (December 12, 2005): available here.
  9. ↑ Pieter A. VanderWerf, The Concrete House: Building Solid, Safe & Efficient with Insulating Concrete Forms (New York: Sterling, 2007).
  10. ↑ Clark Ricks, "ICF Industry Forecast," ICF Builder (December 2007/January 2008): 28–35; Clark Ricks, "Commercial Sector Growth and Opportunities," ICF Builder 4.5 (October/November 2008.
  11. ↑ Kelvin Doerr, "Installing Wooden Window Bucks," ICF Builder (April 2005): available here; "Vinyl Window Bucks: A Perfect Fit" ICF Builder (August/September 2005): available here.
  12. ↑ J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrated Framing and ICF Construction," The Construction Specifier 61.12 (December 2008): 52–53.
  13. ↑ J. Andrew Keith and Chris Keith, "Integrating IFAs and ICFs," Construction Canada 51.4 (July 2009): 70.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.