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WHY DID OUR ENGINEERS
CHOOSE STEEL OVER PLASTIC?
Superior Strength
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The
patented design of the PolySteel furring strips
and form ties are engineered to maximize
strength, allow for good concrete consolidation
and provide the thermal bridging needed to
maximize the effects of the concrete thermal
mass inside the forms, while minimizing the
effects of unwanted heat transfer through the
walls. |
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The
tensile strength of steel gives PolySteel a
cross tie that is more than twice as strong as
the plastic cross ties found in other insulating
concrete forms |
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Kitchen cabinets and other heavy objects can
attached securely to the steel attach points. |
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Checking slump prior
to pouring a
PolySteel project. |
Safety
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Plastic
melts and burns. The steel inserts used in PolySteel
cannot burn. With PolySteel, during a fire
situation, the drywall remains in place, unlike the
plastic. |
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The
plastic form ties used in most ICFs add an
additional 5,000 BTUs of fuel value per square foot
of wall, which means there is more fuel to burn and
prolong a fire when one occurs. |
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Many
plastics deteriorate and become brittle when exposed
to the sun’s ultra-violet
rays during the 2-6 month period of construction
during which they are exposed. Still others
crack and crumble after several years of aging.
Steel is unaffected. |
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Many of
the plastic materials used for ICF form ties become
brittle and break in extreme cold weather
conditions. Steel again remains unaffected. |
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No
“traditional” concrete forming system used in North
America today uses plastic form ties. They all use
steel ties. They have good reasons for this, even
though plastic is less expensive. |
Energy Efficiency
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The
PolySteel design accepts an 18% reduction in R-value
in order to gain a 29% increase in effective R-value
performance by utilizing the thermal mass of the
concrete wall. Plastic ties do not permit the
transfer of heat energy into and out of the thermal
mass. PolySteel's galvanized steel attachpoints
actually achieve an 11% increase in R-value
performance by enhancing the thermal mass of the
concrete. |
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