Built beyond natural disasters: An ICF case study
In Honolulu, Hawaii, ICFs were used to construct two new five-storey buildings as part of the Schofield Army Barracks, each housing 100 soldiers. As per the United States Department of Defense (USDOD), the structures were designed to anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP) standards, which are codes to prevent building collapse and damage from explosives, minimize human injury and death, reduce mission degradation, and preserve government property.7
More specifically, UFC 4-010-01, Minimum Antiterrorism Standards for Buildings, provide applicability of “government unique criteria for typical design disciplines and building systems, as well as for accessibility, antiterrorism, security, high performance and sustainability requirements, and safety.”8
ICFs fulfilled these standards, met seismic design criteria, and even helped the buildings achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold status.
While these conditions are certainly different from hurricanes and tornadoes, they reinforce the case for using ICFs in applications where durability is most needed and life safety is at greatest risk.
Conclusion
To combat devastation caused by natural disasters and extreme seismic events, many homeowners, city officials, and building professionals are turning to resilient design.
Building codes are evolving alongside these preventative practices to reinforce the longevity of existing and new buildings, which, in turn, increases personal safety and economic stability during natural disasters.
ICF construction meets resilient design standards, as well as ICC 500, FEMA, and the NBC criteria for storm shelters, safe rooms, and post-disaster buildings. ICFs are frequently used in residential and commercial buildings for their strength, energy-efficiency, and sound-dampening qualities that outmatch conventional wood-framing.
Notes
1 Learn more about resilient design, visit www.resilientdesign.org/the-resilient-design-principles/.
2 Read the report on benefit-cost analysis, www.nibs.org/projects/natural-hazard-mitigation-saves-2019-report.
3 See ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, codes.iccsafe.org/content/ICC5002020P1.
4 See the FEMA guidelines for residential and community storm shelters, www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_safe-rooms-for-tornadoes-and-hurricanes_p-361.pdf.
5 See FEMA ICC-500 2020 Highlights www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_ICC-500-2020-highlights_publication_082021.pdf.
6 Read the thermal study, www.icf-ma.org/resources/thermal-study/.
7 Learn about anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP) standards, home.army.mil/detrick/index.php/my-fort/all-services/prto.
8 Read the minimum antiterrorism standards for buildings, www.wbdg.org/FFC/DOD/UFC/ARCHIVES/ufc_4_010_01_2018_c1.pdf.
Author
Cameron Ware is western division key accounts executive for Tremco CPG Inc., providing Nudura installation training to architects, engineers, and insulated concrete forms (ICF) installation crews across the area. Ware has been involved with the construction of several million square feet of ICF, including more than 100 ICF schools and approximately 100 ICF-500 storm shelters.
