Is there a best practice for the elevation of the cold seam, relative to the floor deck, in multi-level above grade icf construction? I assume placing the seam at the bottom of the windows would be the weakest point. One foot above the subfloor would be convenient for us.

Where do you normally place the seam and why?

The walls are poured to whatever the first floor wall height needs to be and allowing for the embedment of the ICFVL or other anchoring system for the ledger. Concrete stops below the top of the last course to allow for the continuation of stacking the next level, usually after the sub floor is framed and decked.

You should always try to end each pour at the top of the sub-floor. When you set up your bracing you don't want to attach them to block that is already poured. You will have a hard time adjusting the wall, you may be able to 'push' the wall out but will have a hard time 'pulling' the wall in, most times you will end up with a 'crease' part way up your wall. Make sure that the braces are able to move the entire wall to which they are attached. I always attach my rim board before I pour with anchor bolts and end the pour when those bolts are adequately covered. You especially don't want the concrete to be above sub floor height where the doors are!! (the rim board also helps keep the top of the wall really straight, which is important when trim is attached, it won't be wavy!!) Even if you pour one foot above the floor you may still have problems, just cover whatever floor connection you are using and stop.

Makes sense.

How do you secure the rim board before the anchors are set? I guess screws into the webs would hold the weight.

I prep. the rim on the ground first. pre-drilling pilot holes for 3.5 in. deck screws, also setting anchor bolts as well. 1 guy on the scaff. calling out measurements 1 guy on the ground. once it is ready pass it up, screw it in, and there you have it!!! I have some pics of it but they are 20 kb's or something like that too big for the site, if you know how to downsize I will post them>

Or if you want get me your e-mail and I will send the pics to you>

Thanks Paul,
I sent a PM with my email.

First thing to do is save the pics using your photo program and set the JPEG quality level at around 60 to 80% (6 to 8 in some programs). This will cut the file size a lot and the reduction in quality will be hard to notice. If that isn't enough then resave them at a lower resolution, e.g. save an original 1600 x 1200 to 800 x 600 pixels per inch. That will really whack the file size down.