Abstract:
A panel for a building form made of insulating material such as polystyrene is integrated with a reinforcing member for enabling the panel to resist deformation due to forces applied against its concrete-facing surface. Reinforcement of floor/roof panels is beneficial to reduce the amount of, or eliminate the need for, shoring for supporting the weight of wet concrete or workers. The reinforcement resists against deformation due to cracking, splitting etc. Reinforcement is likewise beneficial for wall forms where the weight of concrete asserts significant pressure against the concrete-facing surface of the form, in order to resist deformation of the wall forms under pressure. The reinforcing member may be made of a plastic material such as polypropylene or high-impact polystyrene. Methods of manufacturing reinforced form panels are disclosed.
Abstract:
A subfloor component includes a hardboard panel having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of intersecting grooves to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals having walls that extend into the panel from the first face toward the second face. The subfloor component also includes a film of substantially moisture-impervious material attached to the first face of the panel and that conforms to the tops and walls of the pedestals and to the bottoms of the grooves.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a subfloor component comprises: providing a mold configured to form an insulating foam panel, the mold including pedestal-forming structures for forming the panel to have a plurality of pedestals with walls extending from a first face of the panel toward a second opposing face of the panel; placing a substantially moisture-impervious film into the mold adjacent to the pedestal-forming structures; placing heat-expandable beads into the mold against the film opposite the pedestal-forming structures; applying heat to the mold to expand the heat-expandable beads to form the panel, wherein expansion of the heat-expandable beads causes both the film and the expanding beads to enter into and conform to the pedestal-forming structures thereby to form the pedestals of the panel with the film fused thereto; removing the panel with the fused film from the mold; and attaching a hardboard layer to the second face of the panel.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a subfloor component, comprises: providing a mold configured to form an insulating foam panel, and including pedestal-forming structures for forming the panel to have, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals with walls that extend into the panel from a first face toward a second opposing face; placing a moisture-resistant film into the mold adjacent to the pedestal-forming structures; placing heat-expandable beads into the mold against the moisture-resistant film opposite the pedestal-forming structures; applying heat to the mold to expand the heat-expandable beads to form the panel, wherein the expansion of the heat-expandable beads causes both the film and the expanding beads to enter into and conform to the pedestal-forming structures thereby to form the pedestals of the panel with the moisture-resistant film fused thereto; removing the panel with the fused moisture-resistant film from the mold; and attaching a hardboard layer to the second face.
Abstract:
A device for connecting and maintaining a first panel and a second panel of a concrete formwork in a fixed, spaced relationship during a wall building process includes a first connector embeddable within the first panel and having a non mold-abrading surface. A bridge links the first connector with the second panel, and at least a portion of the bridge is made of a fire-resistant material. Due to the properties of the device, it does not unduly scratch molding equipment during formation of an insulated panel in which it is to be embedded, and resists passage of smoke or flames through the formed concrete wall in the event of a fire.
Abstract:
A subfloor component includes an insulating foam panel having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of intersecting grooves to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals having walls that extend into the panel from the first face toward the second face. The subfloor component also includes a moisture-resistant film attached to the first face of the panel and that conforms to the pedestals, and a hardboard layer on the second face of the panel. A method of manufacturing subfloor components is also disclosed.
Abstract:
A subfloor component includes an insulating foam panel having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of intersecting grooves to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals having walls that extend into the panel from the first face toward the second face. The subfloor component also includes a moisture-resistant film attached to the first face of the panel and that conforms to the pedestals, and a hardboard layer on the second face of the panel. A method of manufacturing subfloor components is also disclosed.