Mark:

Have you paid ALL of your bills? 

I have been in the ICF industry for better than 25 years, designed form systems, started ICF companies, used most of the form systems on the market at least once and have yet to meet many people that rely on your expertise.  I personally don't think ICF warrants "experts", it warrants people that have common sense with a bit of concrete and carpentry background to make a successful company go at installations.  Additionally, the "leaders of the industry" do more good for themselves by sharing the small amount of knowledge required to get to the point of "experienced" with the people that want to learn so that the end result is "more ICF builds" rather than act like they have the key to the golden gate.  ICF does not take a college degree (Yes, I have one from a Big 12 University, but who cares), it takes people that can learn with common sense.

With the great success of your professional career, the "hundreds of projects" you cite, the attitude of being the ICF Wizard, why would you waste your time here?  It doesn't appear well . You appear to be boasting, rather than helping.

Why is it that a 6" slump with a 3/8" aggregate concrete is specified in most ICF?  There are several basic criteria that make this a requirement.  Please enlighten us as these criteria have not changed in recent years and are still a part of the code.  Please enlighten me as well as other professionals on just how you substantiate the use of 4-5" slump concrete with 3/4" aggregate. in a 6" wall...I would like to research these so that I can understand this as well as inform others.

Which  brands of ICF Manuals did you write?

Why is it that in the present as well as past, with the use of wood or fabricated metal form systems, we did not encounter "gravelling" as you state?  Your posts continue to insinuate that this is something inherent to ICF only.  Most of us guys that have spent our adult years forming and overseeing concrete work (and not busy attaining the letters to banter behind our names) know that 99% of this is caused by only a few variables that are explicitly detailed in code related publications.  Please clarify to us whether this is a condition related to ICF only.

All form systems that are worth using will withstand high slump (high slump being 6" or greater) without having "floating" problems if installed correctly.  Many times, the top form isn't even floating, rather it is the lower forms compressing, leaving the top form that doesn't get any weight above to push it down to appear that it floated.  Key words here are "worth using" and "if installed correctly". 

The use of a 2" vibrator in a 6" wall with reinforcing steel both horizontal and vertical  seems overkill....Even if you are using LOW slump as you state.  I question the statement regarding the "flow" created by the vibrator.....if you are pouring a 5" slump concrete and filling the wall 4-5 feet, then the flow in theory should already be 24" away from the vibrator....BEFORE introducing the vibrator.  A 4" slump cannot possibly be used and be consolidated in EVERY square foot of wall if you have reinforcing in the wall along with the plastic or foam webs of the ICF and you are pouring walls greater than 8' in height.  The thought that comes to my mind is that of the hotel in Omaha that had to be knocked down due to excessive voids...no doubt caused among other things by too stiff of a concrete mix.  Vibration in a wall or flatwork is not intended to "move" concrete, but intended to consolidate concrete once it is placed in the correct location.  With the larger variation in aggregate size you are stating, the use of a vibrator will only encourage segregation of coarse aggregates.

Concrete mix designs using today's technology are meant to be placed as closely to the final state as possible with the use of vibration as an aid to consolidate, not to "move the concrete".  What you fail to mention in this analysis of yours is that the 2" head vibrator has the ability to destroy the integrity of the mix design by over vibration. Concrete mix designs also vary by company as they all don't use the same sources for ingredients, so to state a  mix design is not realistic as an across the board recipe.  Sand and aggregates in Washington state are much different than those found in Oklahoma.  To make a statement about getting crushed granite aggregate shipped in as being a viable option is not a very accurate statement for someone in an area far away from granite quarries...

I hope this post does not come across as another "picking on you", but as a request of you to provide better clarification, limit the self gratification, and provide better background information regarding what you are preaching.  Some of your statements are greatly misleading to the novice (and probably to the experienced) and could lead them to trying some of your methodology and ending up with big problems.

I don't think anyone in the world can come close to your credentials, wouldn't even want to. We don't need those credentials, ICF doesn't require them.  We do know that last year we poured a heck of a lot more square footage of wall and floor system than most companies in the world, this year and next year will be much more than last and we do not adhere to your principles in any way.  We do not have troubles with voids, we don't have troubles with floating forms, we don't have troubles with "gravelling" and we do have straight (within reason) walls and we do have flat floor systems.  We use a variety of different ICF systems and floor systems, we are not married to one brand of anything.  We do find that some systems require more work and care than others to get to the end product though...99% of the time that ends up costing someone to unnecessarily spend more money.

Ian:

Bills paid. as for projects, going back to the year of 2000, which you would remember, I did projects from basements, churches, historical rebuilds all the way up to 5 story condo's with amvic, if you remember or take the time ask, you know I did close to 70 projects that year with amvic alone. The year before, when I wrote Integs manual, I also completed lafarges study into the proper mix design in 42 of integs projects, which detailed ideal mix and methods based on a variety of aggregate materials. It was not just myself that detailed methods and mix designs, however 3 of lafarges top engineers, who where on site, as well as several of thier plant managers and batch operators. I have worked and continue to work with a multitude of systems, however know what impacts the industry, and have come to understand what a self shoring form is. My preference is for the form to be a form on its own, not with a ton of tape, plumber straps or wood, hence why I use what I use so much. This year alone, we have used wood, insuldeck, litedeck, hambro, plank, steel joist and pan, and yes, your favorite, speedfloor.

Look closer at the Iowa project, I think you will find that there were no vibrators used, and the steel schedule was agresive, two factors to consider. Also remember this, an open mind is important. I have learned a lot from you, and probably will continue, I have also tried many of your suggestions, and found success, which has made me a better installer. Thanks. anyway, have a good weekend, and enjoy your family and wee ones. They are precious.

Mark Ross