On average I have been pouring around 100 yd. of concrete a week for about 20 + years.

Thats in a lot of different forms, not just icfs but wood , pans, decks what ever.

 I work commercial construction mostly and thats what I do for a living.

I say this not to beat my chest but to let you know where my opinion is based from.
Do you actual work with the concrete or sell stuff?
 I am not selling any thing here And I am not looking for work.

 I love icfs they are so easy on the crew that is doing the build.
Every man in the field I have put icfs in their hands like the ease of the stacking and see how this is a real assume way to build.
All icfs.
Hands down are a better way to build.
I have used a lot of blocks and am always willing to work with a icf any one of them.

The icf form that I will use hands down over any one out on the market is integraspeck.
If you look at the whole build it just works faster and cheaper the any other form out their.
I don't get into bashing any one here, keep  building with icfs they are the way to go.
I don't make a dime on any icf here not in the last year any way.
I just work with them.
 So what I heard from Buddy was PIN ON!
I you think just anyone of the street can just stack and pour icfs and get it right all the time well
 Good luck to you!
 This is not to say that a hand man is not able to use icfs ( they can)
Just know that sometimes people don't know what they don't know.
In concrete that is dangeres.....things do go bad, can you fix it. Do you know how?
Stop all the stack and pour stuff , put the block in the hands of the pros out in the feild.

 

Your perception on the HIPS plastic used in IntegraSpec is inaccurate.  HIPS used in IntegraSpec is made of 100% repro. 

For people wandering what HIPS means, here it is H= High, I= Impact, P= Poly, S= Styrene.

What buddy means, IntegraSpec use HIPS in their form because it is highly compatible with the EPS used for the panels fusing both materials together when being mold which make a stronger form.

Greenblock use to have the same HIPS plastic a while back making it to be a strong form as well.  I know because we use to install it in the 90’s

As for the concrete free fall, that is another myth.  See the attached document.  Since we started using Greenblock & now IntegraSpec, we always filled our walls straight up.  By filling them, the concrete is always flowing down & not dropping down.

Think about it, if you go around in lift, there is at least 2 to 3 lift.  If you don’t pay attention, your are increasing the risk of cold joints between the lifts which create a weakness in the wall & on top of that creating possible water seepage point in the walls.  Water is lazy & it will take the easiest route.   Now if you have a water problem in your ICF walls, how do you find the problem spot????

EMM,

I read the attachment about the Free Fall of Concrete.  Very interesting.  Of course, this is opposite of what I was taught in school many years ago.  Hopefully, I am not too old to change my thinking about how concrete behaves.

When you say you always fill the walls straight up, do you mean that most of the concrete is placed at one point.  If so, do you have to add more bracing to counteract the fluid pressures at that point?  Do you use  superplasticizers that make the concrete more fluid?  Please elaborate.

Alton,

In our area the concrete plants have a specialized ICF mix which includes a type 2 superplastisizer & pea stone.  The mix usually arrives on site at a 6 to 7” slump which flow nicely in the walls.  It gives us plenty of time to pour & align our walls.   Of course I move around while filling up the walls in one pass.

Believe it or not, since 1992, I can truly count on one hand the number of blow outs that I had in 16 years in ICF contracting.  The worst part is, it was due to stupidity or trials/testing.  The biggest advantage in using HIPS plastic, it gives you time to react do to the fusion between the two materials (HIPS/ties & EPS panels).  I.e. if you see the form buldge while pouring you have time to move the pump without getting an actual blow out.

Aaron,

In regards to EMM's post and the attached article, this is a document I am quite familiar with and am very happy to see posted. As mentioned in a post before when pouring heights that are above the specified recommendations it is important that you are using a high-end ICF that you trust and feel comfortable with. The addition of more bracing is not required and additional vibration would be left up to the installer. This technique of pouring the walls full, eliminates cold joints and ensures a monolithic wall structure. The flowing of the concrete throughout the forms provides for better concrete consolidation, but this is not to say vibration is not needed or should be lessened. However, if your concrete has the right amount of additives and the slump is 6" or 7" you could choose to only vibrate in tight spots. This is not something I have attempted yet simply because I bought the vibrator...It hasn't failed me and I'm going to use it. 

This way of pouring saves time and money in having the pump truck on site for two hours not five, and from what I have experienced it yields professional results with the elimination of added complications when pouring in lifts as EMM has pointed out.

EMM is exactly right in referring to my reference about HIPS plastic, I meant to say that the fusion of the HIPS with the Type 2 EPS creates a stronger mechanical bond between the two materials resulting in a strong form, which is one reason why I trust IntegraSpec. I trust that if there is weakness within the forms due to an installation error I will be able to recognize this point of weakness before a blow out and avoid it until the necessary strapping is applied. As well, I was unaware that HIPS was 100% repro, that is good to know.
 
Buddy Newberry,

lkazanov2,

Doesn’t matter which ICF system you select.  Knock down or pre-assemble.  What is very important is for you do your homework & choose the best dealer/rep that will give you the best customer support possible.  Class room course simply doesn’t cut it out.  You need to be trained on site as every site are different.  Anybody without pouring experience should NOT be left pouring a job by themselves no matter which ICF forms used.

Renangle,

If I am not mistaking the pull out test is perform on the fastening strip by inserting anchors (i.e. screws & then pulling them out) & not the overall forms strength.  Obviously we are both bias & feel confident with our choice of ICF brand with very similar end result.

Wow, what great info.

I know we tend to drift away from the original question, but this has helped us realize there are more important things to consider than the type of block. For instance, the installer and support and what has me busting at the seams to learn is the best method for vibrating/pouring the wall. Thanks for elaborating on those areas, it has helped us understand why a installer with experience is the key. 

Marc and Kemella