Does anyone know of a good reference for dowel sizing and placement for ICF construction?

It appears that our ICF installer did not put adequate or properly spaced dowels in our footings. Also, as things have turned out he is no longer doing ICF and now we are looking for a new installer.

In the meantime, I would like to do my own homework and find out how it should have been done. Also, I would like to find out how to drill and place dowels after the footings are in place.

Any help would be appreciated.

Brian.

Most ICF mfgr's will specify dowel/vertical rebar size and spacing for their blocks, under your particular circumstances.
After you decide on a brand and supplier, ask for assistance in specing your reinforcement.
As to setting dowels in existing footers, a good hammer drill and epoxy will set your dowels.

Question: What is the spacing right now with the dowels? What grade of bar is it #4, #5 etc? How far do they stick out of the footing? Should be at least 40x the diameter.
You could ask 10 people how far they should be spaced apart a probably get 10 different answers. Its like asking which block is the best!!
Where are you located, I am sure someone on this site is close by and will know what is code depending on the area.
I space around 2' apart and the bars a typically 32" in length, if that helps any???

Go to the Block manufacturers site and pull off their installation manual and engineering manual.  Almost every manufacturer has them on line.  They, for the most part they follow the prescriptive  measures outlined in the Prescriptive Method Of ICF Installation.  They will give you much needed information on bar sizing and installation methods.  Better yet seek out the resistance of a local ICF distributor or installer that is still in the business. 

Here's one of the 10 answers from one of the 10 responders!!

Go to http://www.huduser.org/publications/destech/icf_2ed.html and download the Prescriptive Method for ICF in Residential Construction.

In my case the PM doesn't require me to use dowels because I have only about 2' of back fill against the the crawl space wall. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of no dowels so I put in 16" dowels, #4 rebar, extending 8" above the footing and spaced 2' apart. This doesn't comply with the usual 40 x dia for rebar overlap, but it is what the PM shows when dowels are required. Another benefit of using the dowels is they provided an easy guide to placing and spacing vertical rebar for the wall pour.

I agree with Paul Stevens. What do your plans call for? Where are you located?

The house I'm working on in CA. has #5 bar at 6" o.c. in the below grade footings. i've heard of people placing #4 at 48" o.c.

Talk to an engineer familar with you area.


Joey