Over the past several years, concrete wall construction has taken a foothold in residential and commercial developments. By using ICF engineering, not only has it been possible to economically produce concrete wall elements, but the heat insulation properties (R-value) of the finished elements have been dramatically increased over that of conventional, insulated wood framing. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) are a high-performance, alternative forming system for cast in place reinforced concrete that can be used for walls or slabs. Capability is the key to our success, whether you want to build an ICF house, need a designer, ICF engineering assistance or builder or already have relationships with those disciplines, we are ready to support you.
ICF engineering is quickly growing in the custom residential market and wide range of commercial markets such as mid-rise residential, schools, assisted living, military and agricultural. There are many occasions where established prescriptive design methods are applicable to residential projects. However, because of code applicability limits, many jurisdictions require an ICF engineering project to be designed and sealed by a Licensed Professional Engineer. Utah Engineering Services is pleased to be able to offer effective and economic design for ICF elements and to assist their clients with the permit approval process. Our ICF engineering building systems are the most versatile, allowing design and construction flexibility unmatched in other types of forming.
ICF engineering provides the best living environment because you can quickly build ultra-efficient, more comfortable, quieter & safer building envelopes. ICFs for walls & floors/roofs form solid, reinforced concrete buildings and stay in place to provide superior insulation, space to run utilities, and backing for finishes. With the recent substantial increases in lumber and plywood prices, ICF engineering construction is now cost-comparable with conventional framing. ICF structures boast exceptional energy efficiency and thermal resistance. The continuously expanded polystyrene forms typically provide R-Values of 30+ with no thermal bridges or gaps typical to wood frame construction. When combined with the thermal mass of the concrete, this can increase even more with temperature fluctuations inside the home is considerably minimized. The steel reinforced concrete core in ICF buildings is resistant to fire, hurricanes, and tornadoes and can be engineered for all seismic conditions. The concrete walls of an insulated concrete forms home have high thermal mass, which buffers the interior of a home from the extremes of information. This reduces both peak and total heating and cooling loads. As a result, these homes provide a healthy indoor environment.
Don’t waste time or money with engineers who don’t know ICF engineering inside and out. Our seasoned ICF engineering team can help solve your problems. Hook up with Utah Engineering Services. There’s no substitute for true expertise. We strive to provide best in class quality by consistently exceeding customer expectations, delivering on time, superior customer service, assuring best value and adhering to our commitments. Our onsite support and technical training are second to none. This expertise ensures our existing and new contractors can confidently deliver the very best results for you.
Following are questions to ask of an engineer you are thinking of hiring:
To obtain work as a foundation engineer, even at the entry level, almost all professionals need a bachelor’s degree in engineering at a minimum. Most engineering degrees prepare students for their future specialties.
To be able to qualify for the license, most states require that a candidate graduate from an accredited engineering program, have four years of working experience and complete a state licensing exam.
Once licensed, professional engineers are often assigned an identification number that must be stamped or embossed on any plans they approve. Many state license boards also require that a professional engineer take a minimum number of hours of continuing education each year.
It’s usually the case that the more years a professional has under their belt, the more experience they have. Because there are many disciplines in engineering, and even in foundation engineering itself, make sure to hire an engineer who specializes in and has experience with residential projects.
One aspect of foundation engineering that’s unlike other professions is extensive documentation. A foundation engineer should be able to show you a portfolio of photos or drawings of recently completed work.
To sum it up, a foundation engineer will look out for your best interests, from assessing foundation quality, to determining the extent of any foundation damage or failure, to providing solutions for any foundation-related issues. Those are the main reasons why it is important to hire a competent Foundation Engineer.
Call Utah Engineering Services to get a free cost quote for your foundation engineering and design needs.
