TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND TRAINING GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS WHY CONTRACTORS ARE CHOOSING FOX BLOCKS Fox Blocks Training Programs Fox Blocks End View Sizing Fox Blocks Line-Up The True Cost of Fox Blocks Remove Costs on Your ICF Project Fox Blocks Interlock Fox Blocks Studs 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 FOX BLOCKS PRODUCTS & ACCESSORIES Extended 90˚ Corner Fox Blocks T-Block Fox Blocks Transition Ts Fox Blocks HV Clip Fox Blocks Compact Product Fox Blocks Curb Block, Installation, & Uses Fox Blocks Reveal Product Fox Blocks Energy Stick Fox Buck Continuous Ins
Why Contractors are Choosing Fox Blocks FOX BLOCKS TRAINING PROGRAMS As contractors gain experience, higher level wallet cards are earned. Tracking experience on successfully completed projects allows us to make appropriate recommendations on all jobs looking for a properly qualified installer.
Why Contractors are Choosing Fox Blocks FOX BLOCKS END VIEW SIZING NOTES: 1) Straight Blocks are 48" in length. 2) All block have 2 5/8" EPS for consistent R-Value. 3) Rebar spacing is consistently 16" o/c and lower truss is 8" o/c from top or bottom of upper truss. 4) All block work with each other, example the 4" block will connect to all sizes of block. 5) Rebar notches are designed to lap rebar on top of each other to ensure proper concrete placement. 4 877-369-2562 | WWW.FOXBLOCKS.
FOX BLOCKS LINE-UP With advice from leading contractors in the Insulated Concrete Form business, Fox Blocks has created an incredible group of blocks. A) B) FOX BLOCKS LINE-UP INCLUDES: (Please note: Fox Blocks are reversible. As an example, each corner block is a left or a right.) A) STRAIGHT BLOCKS Available in 4", 6", 8", 10" and 12". C) B) STRAIGHT 1/2 BLOCK Available in 4", 6", 8", 10" and 12". D) C) EXTENDED 90˚ CORNERS Available in 4", 6", 8", 10" and 12".
Why Contractors are Choosing Fox Blocks THE TRUE COST OF FOX BLOCKS To help understand the cost advantage of using Fox Blocks Industrial Strength Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) consider the following key points: THREE KEY AREAS GIVE YOU THE TRUE ACCURATE COST OF THE ICF YOU CHOOSE: 1) ICF BLOCK COST Most ICF fall to within $0.10 per square foot of each other in block cost which is a minor portion of the overall cost of the wall construction.
REMOVE COSTS ON YOUR ICF PROJECT TWO PROVEN AREAS TO REMOVE COST: 1) CORNERS PROBLEM: Historically, corner blocks have proved to be very difficult for installing contractors to hold the corner positioning or actually holding concrete during the consolidation process. Contractors have resorted to inserting internal ties, external strapping and bracing to gain needed strength. This adds cost in additional materials and man hour rates.
Why Contractors are Choosing Fox Blocks FOX BLOCKS INTERLOCK THE OLD For the past 20+ years, the interlock of most ICFs in the industry have been designed to be within 1/2" to 1" of the desired building dimension. Most contractors have been trained that it is acceptable to be this far off the desired dimension.
THE NEW TRAINING: ROW ONE: Simply start from each corner to a point within the wall. Cut one of the blocks to fit perfectly. The cut does NOT need to be on the cut lines. Measure the cut block and mark its measurement to the side of that block large enough for everyone to see. ROW TWO: Start at the corners again placing the corner block the opposite direction from row one to give an overlap with the block. When you reach the cut block on row one, cut the block above it to line up exactly.
Why Contractors are Choosing Fox Blocks FOX BLOCKS STUDS You are a sheetrock, residential wood frame, commercial steel stud or siding contractor that has been trained, and are efficient with, a continuous 1 1/2" wide attachment surface @ 16" on center. Our team agrees with this tradition and therefore created Fox Blocks with the same, continuous 1 1/2" wide attachment surface, but increased it to 8" on center.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories EXTENDED 90˚ CORNER Fox Blocks engineered the 90 degree corner to hold concrete without the need for extra strapping or external bracing. OTHER ICF 90s • 5 to 5.33 total square feet of coverage • More costly per square foot of coverage • 16" shorter than Fox Blocks • Only 4 ties • Only one tie on short end • More movement during concrete FOX BLOCKS 90s • 7.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories FOX BLOCKS T-BLOCK Sure you can build T walls with a couple of straight block and some tie wire, but if you want to lower your man hour rate, you need the Fox Blocks T-Block. When contractors said they needed a T-Block, Fox Blocks delivered with one that is easy to use and incredibly strong. FOX BLOCK T-BLOCK FEATURES: 1) The T-Blocks are available in 6" and 8" concrete cores.
FOX BLOCKS TRANSITION Ts For demising walls that are a different size from the main walls, Fox Blocks offers a Transition T.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories FOX BLOCKS HV CLIP Contractors asked for a wire clip to secure their Fox Blocks jobs together so the team at Fox Blocks went to work designing one. Fox Blocks ties are engineered to be perfectly balanced, spaced at 8" o/c Horizontally and Vertically, giving flat walls post concrete. This allowed us to put all of our design into one wire clip which helps everyone with only one SKU.
FOX BLOCKS COMPACT PRODUCT Fox Blocks Compact is a panelized product designed to stack seamlessly with the traditional Fox Blocks line. The Compact Block reduces freight costs by delivering flat. Ties are then easily inserted into the panels at the jobsite.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories FOX BLOCKS CURB BLOCK There has always been a need for a block that can create a ledge to support floor systems within the wall without limiting course heights. The Fox Blocks team has solved this by adding an extra attachment point within the tie. This patented solution allows you to form a curb with the block to support whatever you need to support. USING THE CURB BLOCK: 1) INSTALLATION See following page for proper steps using the curb block.
FOX BLOCKS CURB BLOCK INSTALLATION & USES INSTALLATION STEPS: CURB BLOCK USES: STEP 1 Separate Curb Block bundles and set aside until needed. You can identify the Curb Block by the green ties. • • • • • • • • • • STEP 2 Decide where you need the concrete shelf elevation to land and either mark and rip-cut the block with a circular saw or set a fence on a table saw and make your cut. Finish cut by cutting the tie with a handsaw.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories FOX BLOCKS REVEAL PRODUCT When exposed concrete is needed on one or two faces. The Fox Blocks Reveal product is an innovative one-sided form. The one-sided Reveal form provides the standard 2 5/8" thick expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam on one side of the concrete wall and temporary wood forming on the other side of the wall. The temporary wood form is then removed after the concrete is placed and cured.
FOX BLOCKS ENERGY STICK How do you improve an Insulated Concrete Form wall that already out-performs most wall systems in all climates? You move the concrete mass toward the living side of the wall. This unbalanced R-value will allow the mass to be closer to the living temperature of the conditioned space allowing for a more comfortable building. The Fox Blocks design team had two goals: 1) Move the mass away from the harsh temperatures and 2) Increase R-value.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories FOX BUCK CONTINUOUS INSULATION The Fox Buck is a certified, fully integrated, continuous insulation window and door buck for commercial and residential ICF wall openings. Fox Buck completed 3rd party testing and obtained State of Florida product approval (FL 17775) for all of Florida, including MiamiDade counties.
FOX BUCK INSTALLATION INSTALLATION STEPS: STEP 1 a) Build wall as normal with opening 4" larger than rough opening. b) Ensure all opening rebar is properly placed and secured. c) Double check opening measurements. Temporary support can be attached to Fox Buck fastening zones. STEP 2 a) Cut sides to length and notch each end 1" as in photo. b) Place Fox Buck sides into place and hold with tape.
Fox Blocks Products & Accessories xLERATOR LEDGE REINFORCEMENT ® From foundation to finish, Fox Blocks’ patented family of products helps you get the job done more efficiently. Combining industry feedback with the creativity of Fox Blocks’ product design team, we offer an impressive array of product innovations that benefit the owner, the contractor, AND the design team.
xLERATOR® ENGINEERING LOAD CAPACITY ULTIMATE LOAD CAPACITY, PU = 2000PLF Example Application Calculated ultimate load tributary area X LoadX Load Factor Brick 35 Ft. X 40 PSF X 1.4 = 1960 PLF Stone 17.5 Ft. X 80 PSF = 1960 PLF Wood Floor Joists 22.5 Ft. tributary area or 45 Ft. clear span 22.5 Ft. X (20 PSF X 1.2 + 40 PSF X 1.6) = 1980 PLF Precast Hollowcore Floor 14.5 Ft. tributary area or 29 Ft. clear span 14.5 Ft. X (60 PSF X 1.2 = 40 PSF X 1.6) = 1972 PLF Notes: 1.
How-To Section FIELD CUT CORNERS WHEN A MITERED CORNER IS NEEDED 1) Place a straight block on top of another block and rotate to the desired angle. Take care to place plastic ties in a position that will minimize the amount of cutting. Example is a 45 degree angle. 2) When you are satisfied with the positioning mark both block on the outside faces where they meet. Notice in the example the block was positioned so no plastic ties are cut. See Note B. 3) Cut both block and position in the wall.
FOX BLOCKS RIM JOIST ATTACHMENT There are several ways to attach a floor diaphragm to a Fox Blocks wall. The most common has been to simply use common anchor bolts. See bottom of page for other options. STEPS FOR RIM JOIST ATTACHMENT: 1) 2) 3) 4) Build wall to within one row above rim joist location Mark out top and bottom of rim joist location Mark out o/c locations for anchor bolts Cut out 4" x height of rim joist. Angle top cut up into block to allow air to escape during concrete placement.
How-To Section FOX BLOCKS SHORT RETURNS USING EXTENDED FOX BLOCKS CORNERS: 1) Cut block for long leg of corner (cut-off will give you an 8" off cut you can use elsewhere in your wall). 2) Cut block for short leg of corner (cut-off will give you a 24" off cut you can use elsewhere in your wall). 3) Build wall creating a stacked seam. 4) Once wall is built brace with plywood and 2 x 4s.
FOX BLOCKS SHALLOW FROST/STEM WALLS One row of Fox Blocks. Fox Blocks is designed to accept a 2 x 4 resting on top of the tie. Attach with screws through face of tie. After concrete placement, cut block and remove 2 x 4 to create a shelf for slab to rest on. Footings and reinforcing to meet local building codes. Using Curb Block allows you to lower slab, giving a curb that does not require any finish.
How-To Section BASIC CONCRETE PLACEMENT IMPORTANT STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CONCRETE PLACEMENT A) VOLUME AND MIX DESIGN AND SLUMP CALCULATING VOLUME: Fox Blocks are exactly 4", 6", 8", 10" or 12" in concrete width. Length x Height x Width to calculate volume needed. CHOOSING MIX-DESIGN: Follow building code and/or Engineer Of Record specifications for your concrete mix design requirements. Admixtures are not required but may help your concrete placement.
B) CONCRETE PLACEMENT PLAN 1) Start concrete placement away from corners. Freshly placed concrete will act as an anchor to hold wall in place as concrete enters the corners. 2) Divide wall height into lifts heights for a comfortable placement. Most wall 8' to 12' high will work best with three lifts of concrete. 3) Final lift of concrete should be no less than 16" and preferably 24".
How-To Section ICF BRACING/SCAFFOLD When building walls over three courses tall Fox Blocks recommends the use of ICF Bracing/Scaffolding. The above photo shows two racks of 20 braces for a total of 40 sets. At six foot on center this would be enough for 240 lineal feet of wall. ICF BRACING/SCAFFOLD HAVE THREE MAIN PARTS: 1) STIFF BACK WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE STUDS IN THE WALL Screw to ties in block which are 8" o/c. One screw per block row. 2) TURNBUCKLE WHICH ADJUSTS THE WALL.
Estimating Fox Blocks FOX BLOCKS ESTIMATOR PRO TAB 1: WALL Fill in the basics, height, length width and whatever else your job will need. FILE MENU Save your estimates as .fox files and choose from a variety of printouts JOB NAME & INFORMATION Fill out the job name and client information. There is no limit to the number of levels in your project. TAB 2: OPENINGS As an option you can input openings one at a time or in groups. The data can then be transferred to the wall data page.
Estimating Fox Blocks SAMPLE CROSS SECTIONS Fox Blocks are designed to make walls. Take the time to understand your on site height requirements to ensure accurate material takeoffs.
22'-0" TALL SAMPLE SHOP WALL When planning any wall you want full understanding of the job for accurate takeoffs and low man hour rates. The above job required a 4'-0" stem / frost wall and 16'-0" tall door openings. The contractor used the same cross section to decide the concrete lift heights. The concrete lift heights decide the vertical rebar lengths. Fox Blocks ICF Guidebook V5MAR17 6110 Abbott Drive | Omaha, NE 68110 | 877-369-2562 | WWW.FOXBLOCKS.
Estimating Fox Blocks MAN HOUR RATES • To budget a job properly for efficiency in crew size • To budget a job properly to land job • To be profitable Man Hour Rates (MHR) have been around for decades. Most contractors document their production rates without realizing that time / square footage built will give them a man hour rate similar to one found in most cost estimating programs, such as RS Means. For most Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) this has become a common practice.
Appendix FOX BLOCKS RESOURCE CENTER Visit the Fox Blocks Resource Center to gain access to the essential resources and tools you need to plan and design your next innovative ICF project. Some of the tools you will find here: CONTINUING EDUCATION Fox Block’s free, AIA approved online course, Introduction to Insulating Concrete Forms, provides an overview of ICFs, including the components, variations and function. Also, the benefits of ICFs are discussed in real life situations through case studies.
Appendix FOX BLOCKS BY THE NUMBERS 4 6 8 OUTSIDE INSIDE DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS CONCRETE CONCRETE BUNDLE LENGTH/ LENGTH/ VOLUME VOLUME QUANSURFACE SURFACE YD M TITY AREA AREA ACTUAL BUNDLE SIZE LENGTH/WIDTH/ HEIGHT WEIGHT BUNDLE/ PIECE ITEM NUMBER BLOCK TYPE TOTAL WIDTH TOTAL HEIGHT FOX-S400 Straight Block 9.25 16 48 5.33 48 5.33 0.066 0.05 12 38 49 49 84 7 FOXS400HB Straight Half Block 9.25 8 48 2.67 48 2.67 0.033 0.025 24 38 49 49 84 3.
ITEM NUMBER TOTAL HEIGHT T-Block Short 13.25 16 44 4.89 4.75 N/A 0.141 0.108 T-Block Long 13.25 16 44 4.89 8.75 N/A 0.152 0.116 Corbel Ledge 13.25 16 48 5.33 N/A N/A 0.162 0.124 9 53.25 49.5 FOX-TT800 Taper Top 13.25 16 48 5.33 N/A N/A 0.144 0.11 12 54.5 FOXS800CB Curb Block Straight 13.25 16 48 5.33 N/A N/A 0.132 0.101 12 FOX-EC890CB Curb Block 90˚ Corner 13.25 16 68 7.56 41.5 4.6 0.145 0.111 FOXBUCK8 Fox Buck 13.25 2 48 4.
Appendix TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE DATA Fox Blocks ICF Wall System CONCRETE WALL CONSTRUCTION (4", 6", 8", 10" & 12" Reinforced Structural Concrete Core) Design criteria for the structural concrete wall system ACI 318 design standards for straight wall concrete construction Recommended concrete consolidation Reference the Fox Block Installation Manual, ACI 309 Fox Blocks Installation Manual Second Edition (2012) Prescriptive Design of Exterior Concrete Walls PCA 100-2012, IRC R404.
LOCATIONS Twenty-One Manufacturing Locations Across North America Making Your Success Our Destination Fox Blocks ICF Guidebook V5MAR17 6110 Abbott Drive | Omaha, NE 68110 | 877-369-2562 | WWW.FOXBLOCKS.
Please go to: WWW.FOXBLOCKS.
