What is the consensus on using these block reinforcements? I have training materials that say to use them as an option. Arxx says to use them every 4 courses. I will have a 7 course wall.

Very interesting, I've never seen those before. I used Amvic blocks and we didn't have anything like that in there.

What is the name of the block reinforcements?  I try to stay up with the latest but I have not seen this before if it is the zigzag steel?? I see in the picture.  Is this supposed to be serving the same function as the horizontal ladder masonry reinforcement in CMU?

Arxx makes one called Arxx Loks. Theirs is not zig-zag, more grid in nature. The picture is from Fox Blocks called Dura Lok. Nudura's is called "form lock". I bet others have them.

You have to use that because the foam panels and plastic ties are not strong enough to stand up to the concrete when pumping. Most ICF manufacturers use 1.35 lbs of EPS per cubic foot when blowing the foam. Polycrete uses 1.5lbs per cf and has a 4mm steel wire mesh inside the EPS panels that combines with 4mm steel wire cross ties to make a very robust ICF. Withstands up to 1,600 lbs per sf of lateral pressure so it can't blow out. If you need an even stronger ICF, they can actually move the steel wire mesh further to the outside of the foam panel.

Sorry Bruce, but I have to discount everything you're saying when you start your comment with a fabrication. You state, "the foam panels and plastic ties are not strong enough to stand up to the concrete when pumping." You state it as an absolute, but I know many ICF walls are poured without these dohickies.

Thanks for your opinion but I'm looking for a "consensus" not a biased point of view towards a product you sell.

Nat, if they did not need them, they would not make them. Consensus is formed by collecting the available data, weighing it and then reaching an informed decision. But you knew that, didn't you?

Nat's right on this one. The only function of the internal wire is to keep the wall straight. Alton your right, it is CMU reinforcing wire but adds not much structural help to the wall, just keeps it straight

7 courses...Either track the bottom course to the footing or place the BlockLock in the second course and again the second course from the top, it does help keep the wall straight between the alignment system

Nat, We are not a dealer or close enough to do your work.....no bias. We do not use a starter track or the extra reinforcement you are talking about. Snap a line on your footing, get two rows locked together with rebar, then foam glue the side you are bracing. If you have waves between your bracing either your rebar is bent or you need to tighten up your bracing. The blocks we use make a very straight wall with bracing up to 6' on center.

Bruce, You are starting to get like some of the rediculous posters that sound like a stuck needle. You have a need to attack all ICF blocks that are not Polycrete. What is your market share? Will you be around in 2015? Why do you not pay to advertise on this site as others do that do not automaticly throw out their biased opinions? The facts that I have seen you throw out dismiss you are someone who cares about the ICF industry and show you are only a salesman. Most of the people on here that offer their help are representing blocks that work very well every day. Most of them do not push their product. I have used most of them. Trying to say that they do not work well proves to us that you may be an idiot.

Is it important to have a straight wall? Why should you have to fool around with these freaky rube goldberg contraptions? Snap a line and glue your ICFs to the footer? Are you kidding me? Get an ICF with a metal track. Shoot it onto the footer, and then run with it. You don't even have to look at it again because you KNOW it will always be straight. Use a strong ICF that won't bow, snake or scallop and you do not have to become an artist with a rasp. We'll talk about out-of-plumb corners another time.

Do the research. We've been around since 1988. There's a change coming. Big Block is a new patented product that introduces a next generation ICF in the commercial market. Read quickly because they will take this post down really fast.

Bruce, Your starting to sound desperate. We don't use those silly metal durawall contraptions. We don't use silly metal tracks. We don't even own a rasp...never needed one. Out of plumb corners?....sorry to hear you have that problem....that's right....you don't even have corners you have to home make them! Maybe metal tracks are something you need when your tie resembles a hook and loop out house door latch.

Quaker, Take a deep breath and slooooowly exhale. You will stop hyperventilating in a minute or two. I have messaged you offline.

LiteForm recommends horizontal in-wall bracing at or near the top of the wall and mid-height.  Rather than the diagonal type in-wall bracing which can impede the flow of concrete, LiteForm recommends a ladder type bracing with cross braces that line up with the ICF tie spacing, i.e. ties 8" oc would use in-wall bracing with cross bars at 8" oc to line up with the ties.

The following installation manual shows various ways for installing the in-wall bracing:

http://www.liteform.com/PDF/part1_install.pdf

Quaker, my friend: Thanks for your kind words offline. Now would be a good time for some sort of mea culpa for public consumption. Cheers!

If you are going to use it ,use the single wythe ladur it lines up with a 8" on center web. Since this guy is a newbie I would suggest him using a product like this

Arxx used to call it Block Lok. I think it is now Arxx Lok. It is used to help straighten a wall. It is not structural. They make it in different sizes (widths) for different block sizes (interiors). You don't have to use it. I have built many houses using Arxx and it's not a bad product.

Thanks for the (on-topic) reply EnergyAudit. I'm very tempted to not use these products. Of the four ICF makers I'm still deciding amongst the Fox Blocks distributor says I don't need them, the Nudura distrib recommends that I do, the Arxx rep says I should, and the Amvic guy says not to bother. So it's all over the map. I know some people will say, "Don't take a chance with your wall for a couple hundred bucks." But it is *my* $350 that I'd rather spend on a couple new cordless tools. Seems silly to pay that much money just to have the product buried in the wall forevermore. If I have to spend another half-day bracing or plumbing the wall, I'd rather do that.