210 - 216 Bannister Road
Canning Vale, WA, 6155, Australia
+61 (0)8 6161 5880
admin@durisol.com.au
Choosing superior, environmentally friendly materials like Durisol ICF insulated concrete forms for your design will guarantee that your building will endure for generations, while having minimal impact on the environment around us.
Durisol Insulated Concrete Form ICF Comparison
When designers and builders make cost-effective and technically superior decisions in a manner that is environmentally responsible, they are providing the best design solution for both the owner and the environment ICF Performance Benefits
Healthy
While the Durisol ICF material is inert with no VOCs or off-gasing, the cement content of the Durisol material creates an above average pH environment at the wall surface, that inhibits the growth of fungi and mould. Furthermore, the hygroscopic nature of the material moderate’s relative humidity levels (65% RH maximum) and provides an inherent moisture regulator that keeps humidity low and further serves to repress any type of fungal growth.
Click the following on more information regarding Durisol ICF and Indoor Air Quality
Termite Resistant
Unlike wood and other non-hygroscopic material, Durisol ICF provides effective resistance to termite attack. A number of testing programs have been conducted by independent agencies such as the U.S. Forestry Service. Durisol samples were placed in termite infested areas for as long as six years without any destruction of the Durisol material.
The Durisol wall form was first manufactured in 1946 to help rebuild post-war Europe at time when resources were scarce. The product line has since expanded to include roof panels, floor forms, noise barriers retaining walls, bridge panels and even wine storage cabinets, With this proven history of versatility, performance and durability, your reputation can safely stand on our reputationOverview – Wall Form System
Performance Advantages
The Durisol Wall System has a unique combination of desirable properties. In-service advantages are outlined as follows:
1.3.1 IMPACTRESISTANCE
Standard renders applied directly to the Durisol material result in a finish that is less expensive and more impact resistant than conventional EIFS systems (polystyrene, lath and render).
1.3.2 IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY
The cement content of the Durisol material creates an above average pH environment at the wall surface, which inhibits the growth of fungi and viruses. The Durisol material is completely inert with no VOCs or off-gassing. Furthermore, the hygroscopic nature of the material moderates RH level. This regulation of water vapour keeps humidity low and further serves to repress any type of fungal growth.
SOUND PROTECTION
Durisol wall systems provide considerable protection against unwanted noise. The sound absorptive properties of our material in combination with the mass of the wall system can provide an ideal combination of sound absorption and sound transmission properties. STC ratings for Durisol wall systems can range between 54 and 72, while the exposed surface of the Durisol Wall Form can provide Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) ratings as high as 1.0.
THERMALMASS EFFECT
Materials like concrete, brick, and Durisol have a high heat capacity; that is, they can store a significant amount of heat energy. This benefit of thermal mass, as the ability to store heat results in reduced heating costs as the energy/heat in the wall is transferred back into the cooler air. Similarly, when the surrounding air is warmer than the walls, heat will be transferred to the thermal mass and reduce cooling energy consumption. The benefits of thermal mass are increased through the use of Durisol Wall Forms with insulated inserts since the majority of the insulation is located on the exterior face of the wall system. This is unlike foam concrete forms that have 50% of the insulation on the interior face and reduce the net benefit that is obtained through the effects of thermal mass.
The true benefit that is realized from thermal mass effects depends on a number of site-specific parameters such as climatic conditions and building orientation. Simple blanket statements such as “R-6.9 when including thermal mass” are inaccurate and misleading. Durisol Australia has a staff of engineers experienced in the field of Building Science who will provide customers with detailed evaluation of thermal mass effects upon request. Alternately, publications such as ASHRAE Fundamentals or ASHRAE Standard 90.1 will provide guidance to evaluation of different wall systems and corresponding dynamic effects.
NEGLIGIBLE THERMALBRIDGING
Durisol wall systems are not simple one-dimensional assemblies. Real buildings are three-dimensional, with corners, window openings, etc. However, most wall R-value calculation methods, and almost all marketing brochures, do not factor in the effects of framing at windows, doors, corners, etc. Thus they tend to over-estimate the true thermal performance.
The construction details that increase energy flow through a framed wall system have little or no influence on the energy flow through the Durisol Insulated Wall Form System. Durisol Wall Forms are designed to ensure that the R-value through the core of the wall is almost the same as that through the web. This not only avoids thermal short-circuiting, it ensures uniform wall temperatures with no cold spots to encourage condensation, create discomfort, or cause dust marking.
Recent studies by Oakridge National Labs, ASHRAE 90.1 committee and other independent research agencies have shown how these factors influence the overall performance of wall systems.
FIRERESISTANCE
The fire resistant properties of Durisol itself and the Durisol wall system as a whole provide considerable protection from fires. Tests in Canada have been conducted for two and four-hour fire ratings while in Austria, six-hour fire ratings have been obtained.
In Australia Durisol Australia obtained the non-combustibility test AS/NZ1530.1
The surface burning characteristics of Durisol far surpass all other types of stay-in-place formwork. Durisol has a flame spread and smoke spread rating of zero. Unlike foam, Durisol will not ignite, melt, sustain fire or release toxic fumes in the event of a fire.
MOISTUREPROTECTION
Since no exterior finish will act as a perfect rain barrier, it is good practice to have a wall system that is capable of compensating for imperfections in the veneer. In the event that moisture does become temporarily trapped within the wall, the Durisol wall system is capable of accommodating this moisture without any damage to itself. Damage to other wall components is of course a possibility. Although the Durisol material will not prevent moisture damage, it will mitigate the effects of moisture penetration through the exterior weather barrier. The behaviour of Durisol in this regard is similar to any other type of cement based product with moisture storage capability – such as concrete masonry. The permeable nature of the Durisol material serves to regulate the water vapour in the air and provides a smoothing effect to rapid swings in relative humidity.
TERMITE RESISTANCE
Durisol provides effective resistance to termite attack. A number of testing programs have been conducted where Durisol samples were placed in termite infested areas for as long as six years without any destruction of Durisol material occurring.
Heating Energy Savings Due to Mass Effect
Clearly, thermal mass plays as much of a role as the use of quality windows in reducing heating energy consumption, yet it often costs less to provide this mass. Other benefits of thermal mass include the increased ability to survive heating/cooling system failures without discomfort or damage, and the ability to use smaller heating/cooling systems.
The benefits of thermal mass are even more important in cooling climates and in heating climates during the summer. In most locations, the night-time air temperature is considerably lower than the day-time air temperature. This difference in air temperature can be taken advantage of by encouraging ventilating during the night, thereby cooling the thermal mass. As the temperature rises during the following day, the interior will remain cool. Although this use of thermal mass was widely employed thousands of years ago by, for example, the Anasazi Indians of Arizona, thermal mass is still a relevant and highly successful means of providing a comfortable interior environment with no supplemental air conditioning Even in hot climates with warm evenings, major benefits can be had from a substantial downsizing in equipment and the shift of maximum cooling to the evening hours, when air conditioning equipment is more efficient and power can be less expensive.
Thermal mass also acts to reduce the need for cooling by absorbing and storing solar energy that falls on walls. The thermal lag of a Durisol wall is at least 8 hours, meaning that the maximum temperature on the inside occurs 8 hours after the maximum on the outside.
As an example of the potential for reducing cooling energy consumption thermal mass can have a major influence on the cooling energy consumption of a building — an even greater effect than that on the heating energy consumption. For normal window areas (10 to 15%), the cooling energy consumption of a building with thermal mass is five to ten times less than that of a typical lightweight framed building! In practice, air conditioning equipment can be eliminated in moderate summer climates, providing a major up-front cost savings.
Proper sizing of the window overhangs and west-facing window area will also help control summertime solar gains and reduce the need for cooling even further.
210 - 216 Bannister Road
Canning Vale, WA 6155, Australia
Tel: +61 (0)8 6161 5880
Mobile: +61 (0)412 098 044
email: admin@durisol.com.au
210 - 216 Bannister Road
Canning Vale, WA, 6155, Australia
+61 (0)8 6161 5880
admin@durisol.com.au