Concrete is resistant to hurricanes, tornadoes, and high winds. Following Hurricane Katrina, a house still in the building phase using insulating concrete forms was the sole house left standing in a Pass Christian, MS, neighborhood (photo to the right). 

Investigators have learned from previous hurricanes that: 

  •   Wood frame walls performed poorly unless well designed and constructed

  •   Loads on building components and connections are significantly increased when the envelope is breached by high wind or flying debris. Concrete wall systems appeared to resist breaching as well, if not better, than other wall systems.

Debris driven by high winds presents the greatest hazard to homeowners and their homes during hurricanes and tornados. Tests show that concrete wall systems suffer no structural damage when impacted by debris carried by hurricane and tornado-force winds.

As a means to prove just how robust concrete walls are to wind-blown debris, the Portland Cement Association, in conjunction with Texas Tech University, tested concrete wall systems by shooting 2x4s out of a wind cannon at speeds in excess of 100mph. In all instances, the insulting concrete form wall shattered the wood studs, while the 2x4s easily passed through the frame wall with little resistance.

The TransForm and ThermoForm concrete forming systems are the best solutions to protect your family from hurricanes, tornadoes and high winds. Choose the TransForm or ThermoForm Concrete Forming System as the only solution to extreme weather and natural disasters.

 
Blast Resistance
With its steel-reinforced concrete core, TransForm and ThermoForm are well known for being extremely rigid and resilient building systems, allowing walls and floors to be built with redundancy to prevent structural failure during a terrorist or catastrophic event. In addition to its concrete core, TF Concrete Form walls are layered with anywhere between 2" and 6" of polystyrene exterior foam, acting as a cushion. When air pressure hits the wall, the foam absorbs air pressure and spreads the energy generated by an explosive event over a larger surface area of the concrete wall greatly increasing its resistance to damage. 

Of all building materials, concrete is one of the most resistant to heat and fire. That fire resistance gives homes and buildings built with TF Concrete Forms huge advantages. Mainly, walls built with either of TF products offer noncombustible construction that help reduce the threat of damage caused by accidental and wild fires. 
 

      •    TF concrete separation walls prevent fires from spreading
            throughout a building.

      •    TF concrete walls protect human life and possessions within a
            building.

      •    TF concrete walls contain fires, preventing them from jumping to
            another home or

            building.

      •    TF concrete walls can often be reused when the building is
            restored.

A two-hour fire endurance test for a concrete wall proves the wall gets hot, but will not fail structurally if designed and built according to generally accepted construction methods.

Concrete homes and buildings have also performed well in the fires that have destroyed billions of dollars of property in Southern California and other parts of the western U.S. Hilly terrain, hot dry winds, combustible vegetation, and closely spaced dwellings create favorable conditions for these types of fires. This building location trend is expected to continue as populations continue to expand into rural areas. Data collected after these fires shows that buildings having noncombustible exterior walls achieved a higher level of survival.

Take advantage of the benefits ThermoForm concrete walls provide to protect homes and people from the devastating effects fire can cause.