mericans are now living in a post 9-11 era, coupled with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s,

as well as arguably some of the worst natu-ral disasters in human history. Not only are American companies, businesses, corpo-rations, and citizens on constant alert for the safety of their homeland, but they have found themselves facing ever-rising energy costs, making it difficult to make ends meet, let alone find money in company budgets or bank accounts for protecting their employees and loved ones.

A new, revolutionary insulated concrete forming system could be the answer to all these problems.

TF Systems was founded in 1994 and invented the market’s first vertical insulat-ed concrete forming system (ICF). Today, after thousands of successful projects with the Thermoform Vertical ICF system, TF System remains the largest Vertical ICF manufacturer, and an innovative leader in the ICF industry.

In 2008, successful entrepreneur, physi-cist, and engineer Steve Huff invested in TF with a vision for a new generation wall

system, evolving the Vertical ICF concept to a new level. TF founder and lead prod-uct designer Jerry Spude turned that vision into reality. The goal was ambitious but clear: design and build the ultimate con-crete wall forming system. The result is an entirely new class of wall system: Trans-Form, the Ultimate Wall System.

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FORMING SYSTEMS TF

TRANSFORM: T H E U LT I M AT E WA L L S Y S T E M

TF FORMING SYSTEMS 800.360.4634 www.tfsystem.com

“We believe it is our responsibility as a company to design building systems that keep Americans safe and reduce energy usage.”

TransForm is setting an unprecedented standard in: • Disaster Resistance and Durability • Extreme Energy Efficiency with Low Life

Cycle and Maintenance Cost • Design Flexibility & Constructability

“TransForm is more than a hybrid between traditional removable concrete forms and TF’s original Vertical ICF system,” explains Jerry Spude, President of TF Forming Systems. “TransForm combines the best features of both, but adds entirely new dimensions for disaster resistance, energy efficiency, and low-life cycle and maintenance costs.” The revolutionary system is a fully integrated wall system composed of both reusable components and permanent stay-in-place insulating forms. During its development and testing, more than two miles of walls were poured without a single blowout or system failure.

Concrete has long been recognized as one of the most practical and durable construction materials available. Structures like the Roman Colosseum that are comprised completely of concrete are still standing more than 2,000 years later. Today’s reinforced concrete is an incredibly strong material, able to withstand extreme weather events and man-made disasters such as acts of terrorism.

Additionally, the reinforcement steel inside the concrete is subject to corrosion when it is exposed to surface cracks and crevices. This greatly reduces the tensile strength of the concrete. Because of TransForm’s unique design, it eliminates these shortcomings. The outer insulation layer of TransForm completely isolates the concrete from exter-nal temperature extremes and provides a substantial water barrier protecting the reinforcement steel in the concrete.

TRANSFORM IS SETTING AN

UNPRECEDENTED STANDARD IN:

“The TransForm wall system is ideal for government and civilian buildings that must withstand disasters in order to protect citizens and lead rescue and recovery efforts,” Spude explains. “This system is engineered for fire and police stations, command centers, hospitals, schools, and any buildings where large groups of people either work or converge during disasters and where important information is housed and critical operations must be launched during extreme situations.”

This is a wall with the hollow plastic pans still attached. Once the concrete has set these pans will be removed, allowing the concrete to continue to cure between the two rigid foam panels.

TRANSFORMOUR PASSION:

T H E U LT I M AT E W A L L S Y S T E M

2 TF Forming Systems 800.360.4634

OUR COMPANY THRIVES ON THREE CORE VALUES: INTEGRITY, CURIOSITY, COMMITMENT

An exploded view of the TransForm system and all of its components. When assembled, these components make a wall that is up to 100 per-cent energy reducing and safe. Walls can be engineered to withstand water, fire, earthquakes and 200 mph winds.

1. Structural Performance

2. Energy Efficiency

3. Architectural Advantages

Key Benefits3

DISASTER RESISTANCE AND DURABILITY

EXTREME ENERGY EFFICIENCY WITH LOW LIFE CYCLE AND MAINTENANCE COST

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY & CONSTRUCTABILITY

AdjustableKicker

WhalerBrackets

ScaffoldPlatform

6”, 8”, 10”, and 12”Concrete Core Widths

CrosstieInterior Plastic Stud16” O.C.1-1/2” Attachment Face3-1/2” Deep Stud Cavity

Predrilled Holes in Studs for Running Wire

Slide Panels Up to Pour and Consolidate Concrete Through the Side of the Form

Radiant Heatand Cooling Tubes

Exterior Attachment Rail

4” Exterior Panels Stacked to any Height

3/4” Interior Panel

Aluminum Strongback

Lightweight Hollow Plastic Pans

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Extreme weather resistant, including tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, and earthquakesBomb proofConcrete is mixed with helix fibers which are much stronger than regular fibers, making them more likely to bend than break

Save 50-100% of energy versus traditional housingThick concrete walls provide great insulationPotential for “net zero” energy use

Insurance discounts thanks to lack of problems associated with normal structuresDesign flexibility thanks to state of the art building materialsPracticality, because TransForm is both disaster-proof and energy efficient

Tests show that concrete wall systems suffer no structural damage when impacted by debris carried by hurricane and tornado-force winds exceeding 100 MPH.

StructuralPerformance

TRANSFORM IS TORNADO RESISTANT

When the Joplin, MO EF-5 tornado hit the town on May 22, 2011, it be-came immediately evident the type of resistance traditional-built structures could not withstand under those extreme circumstances. Both block wall and tilt up constructions toppled.

Debris driven by high winds present 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 exceeding 100 MPH.

In a TransForm wall, concrete is poured wet and, over time, the moisture interacts with concrete’s components to “cure” the concrete. The concrete continues to cure and gain strength for more than a year, resulting in concrete that is as much as 50% stronger than a standard poured wall. Walls can be engineered to withstand F5 tornadoes or Class 5 hurricanes.

BLOCK WALL AFTER TORNADO TILT-UP WALL AFTER TORNADO

“The concrete continues to cure and gain strength for more than a year, resulting in concrete that is as much as 50% stronger than a standard poured wall.”

4 TF Forming Systems 800.360.4634

Tests show that concrete wall systems suffer no structural damage when impacted by debris carried by hurricane and tornado-force winds exceeding 100 MPH.

4” Exterior Poly3/4” Interior Poly

A concrete home that survived Hurricane Katrina. A home made from TransForm walls is engineered to withstand extreme weather conditions, including winds, waves and flying debris. (Photo Credit: FEMA/Mark Wolfe)

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TRANSFORM IS HURRICANE RESISTANT

Helix fibers are stronger than mesh, rebar, and other types of reinforcement fibers. It is designed to bend, but not break, under pressure. It is simply add-ed to concrete mixtures, and allows construction jobs to be completed much faster than regular concrete jobs. Helix holds micro cracks together more tightly, and helix is electrogalvanized (not just hot dipped) to provide added resistance to corrosion (Polytorx).

Find out more about Helix at www.polytorx.com

HELIX

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.

Investigators have learned from previous hurricanes that: • Wood frame walls performed poorly unless well designed

and constructed• Loads on building components and connections are sig-

nificantly increased when the envelope is breached by high wind or flying debris. Concrete wall systems ap-peared to resist breaching as well as, if not better, than other wall systems.

There are multiple components to making a TransForm wall strong enough to hold up to extreme hurricane and tornadic conditions.

In a typical concrete mix, the concrete must be “cured” in order to gain its full strength. This stated strength is typically based on a 28-day moist cure period. Unfortunately, in most situations, the forms are removed much sooner, often within a few days. This sudden exposure to the elements causes the con-crete to rapidly lose moisture before the concrete has completely cured, greatly reducing its ultimate strength.

With TransForm, the form insulation remains in place perma-nently, retaining the moisture for a more complete cure.

The resulting walls in a TransForm installation are highly re-sistant to disasters caused by either weather or man. Walls can be engineered to withstand F5 tornadoes or Class 5 hurricanes.

Additionally, TransForm also adds a unique fiber called “Helix fiber” to the concrete. By including Helix fibers in the concrete mix, the walls can also be engineered to survive severe earth-quakes and substantial blasts from explosives.

“A concrete wall is inherently the strongest wall you can build,” Spude says. “If you can add flexibility to that concrete wall, it makes it even greater. If you can add a bumper cushion like we have with our 4” of rigid foam insulation, it makes it that much more resistant to impact loads from flying objects slammed against it or blast impacts.”

With its steel-reinforced concrete core, TransForm is well known for being an extremely rigid and resilient building system, 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 4” and 6” of durable and bendable 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. TransForm structures have been tested by setting off 50 pounds of TNT just 10 feet from a 6”concrete core wall. The results are startling, as there is little to no damage to the structure.

TRANSFORM IS FIRE RESISTANT

Of all building materials, concrete is one of the most resistant to heat and fire. The fire resistance gives homes and buildings built with TF Concrete Forms a huge advantage. Walls built with TransForm offer noncombustible construction that greatly reduces the threat of damage caused by fires.

• TF concrete separation walls prevent fires from spreading through-out 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 gener-ally accepted construction methods.

Concrete businesses and residential areas have also performed well in the fires that have destroyed billions of dollars of property in Southern California and other parts of the western United States. Hilly terrain, hot dry winds, combustible vegetation, and closely spaced dwellings create fa-vorable 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.

WOOD FRAME WALLS INSULATED CONCRETE WALLS

hour1hours4Aside from wind

speeds and blasts, there are other disasters man needs to prepare for, one of which is FIRE.

TRANSFORM IS BLAST RESISTANT

“Whether it’s a home or commercial building, the owner should still want disaster-resistance and energy efficiency. It works for both,” Spude says. “Why would you not want to save on heating and cooling bills for either type of structure? Why would you not want to save your home or office from fire, tornado, hurricane or earthquake?”

Blast test revealed that concrete walls reinforced with rebar and helix and then insulated on both sides with rigid foam are impenetrable to many blasts.

WALLS BUILT WITH TRANSFORM OFFER NONCOMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION THAT GREATLY REDUCES THE THREAT OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY FIRES.

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Phot

o Ca

ptio

n He

re.

“The TransForm system makes sense for those in-volved in Homeland Security for a couple of reasons. For one, the reinforced concrete walls are extremely strong when compared to alternative building sys-tems. Secondly, Redimix concrete is readily available almost anywhere in the world and reasonably priced. The system itself makes sense because we have a thick layer of polystyrene on the outside of the wall that acts as an amazing shock absorber for a blast concus-sion, which has been proven already in our blast tests.”

Don Rudolph, Corporate Vice President and Technical Service

“We truly believe that TransForm is what buildings will become in

the future,” Spude says. “Because of its safety aspects, combined with its incredible energy savings and

low carbon footprint, we will have no other choice than to build with

TransForm in order to better our world.”

Photo Credit: John Fleck/FEMA

7www.tfsystem.com

The U.S. Department of Energy re-ports that 40% of the energy consumed by buildings goes toward heating and air conditioning, making it a signifi-cant expense for building owners and occupants. TransForm was designed to achieve energy savings of 50-100% over traditional construction methods (100% or “net zero” achieved using ac-tive thermal core management, solar, and geothermal systems).

TransForm was designed to take maxi-mum advantage of the thermal mass of concrete.

“All ICF systems on the market require substantial insulation on the inside wall of the concrete to prevent blowouts during the concrete pour,” Spude explains. “Typ-ically, these systems use 2.5 inches of rigid foam on the inside. This insulation is of very little value in insulating the building, and greatly diminishes the ability to man-age and take full advantage of the thermal mass of the concrete. The insulation be-longs on the outside of the concrete.”

TransForm uses a minimum of 4-inch-es on the outside of the concrete. This thick layer of insulation essentially iso-lates the thermal core of concrete from outside temperature changes. The exact amount of external insulation recom-

mended is dependent upon the local climate and expected

energy loss through win-dows and doors based

ENERGYEFFICIENCY

on the building design. On the interior surface of the wall, TransForm uses a thin, ¾-inch layer of rigid foam insula-tion. This layer serves two purposes: It permanently seals the concrete for an ex-tended cure period in order to strengthen it, and it provides a controlled thermal damper to changes in the temperature of the thermal core.

TransForm does not require active management of the thermal core, but ac-tive management of the core can provide extreme benefits, up to “net zero” energy use. The thermal mass of the concrete acts as a “battery” for storing energy from nat-ural sources, such as solar and geothermal.

How does this work? Heat can be collected and dispersed to the concrete core during warm, sunny days using inexpensive solar collectors. This heat energy is then slowly released during the cool nights into the structure to maintain a comfortable ambient tem-perature. This is accomplished by using embedded tubing in the walls exactly like radiant floor heating. In the same way, geothermal cooling can use cool ground water during warm periods to cool the concrete walls, greatly reduc-ing or eliminating the need for forced air, also known as air conditioning. The low-power pumps required for circulat-ing fluid through this closed system can be run by relatively small photovoltaic solar systems and batteries.

BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT THERMAL MASS OF THE CONCRETE, THE CORE TEMPERATURE ONLY NEEDS TO BE ALTERED BY A FEW DEGREES TO STORE TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF ENERGY.

TRANSFORM IS GREEN Aside from dramatically lowering energy usage and costs, buildings made with TransForm leave

up to 50% less waste for landfills than traditional construction sites. The primary components of the TransForm system also contain a high level of recycled materials, and no wood

products are consumed in the construction.

Radiant Tubes

Exterior PolyConcrete Wall

Interior Poly

TRANSFORM ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND MAINTENANCE

8

TransForm adapts to the design rather than requiring the designer adapt to the system.

“THE TRANSFORM SYSTEM IS REDUCING THE COST OF LABOR AND TIME BY INTEGRATING A VERTICAL SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO A STACKING SYSTEM.”

$50,500

$40,500

$30,500

$20,500

$10,500

$500YEAR 1 YEAR 5 YEAR 10 YEAR 15 YEAR 20

Based on research performed by Energy Wise Structures, build-ings built with ICF exterior walls are estimated to require 44% less energy to heat and 32% less energy to cool than compa-rable wood-frame buildings. A typical 2,000 sq. ft. home in the middle section of the U.S. will save approximately $1,500 each year in heating and cooling costs. Energy Savings: TF Forms vs. Traditional Construction Based on 2,268 sq. ft. home located in Minneapolis, MN.

ENERGY SAVINGSTF Forming Systems vs. Traditional Construction

GEORGE VAN HOESEN is a managing partner at Global Green Building, a company dedicated to educating the consumer on green building choices. Van Hoesen has a Masters Degree in Natural and Applied Sciences.

His fields of study include community planning, environmental law, sys-tems design, and extensive research in ventilation. George is dedicated

to bringing affordable green consulting to everyone. His goal is to improve the sustainability of the build environment by offering

affordable alternatives that everyone can use. He has been fea-tured in various publications, including Popular Mechanics.

As a Green Expert, why does TransForm make sense to you?

TransForm has set itself apart by redesigning and rethinking how ICF’s work. The TransForm system is reducing the cost of labor and time by in-

tegrating a vertical system as opposed to a stacking system. It also ensures a better distribution of concrete unlike the traditional stacking system.

Do you think systems like TransForm will become the way of building for the future?

I think it is inevitable. We need to move away from the 40-year model of throw-away buildings used in standard construction. Buildings built today are designed to be thrown away in 40 years. The population of the world and its growth is going to dictate that we have permanent construction methods in place.

Unless we change something socially, it’s not going to change. We are plan-ning for 700 million people in the U.S. in 40 years. We can’t afford to throw away homes and businesses. The system that TF is using gives us the best of both worlds – reduced energy consumption and longer life cycle.

Can the TransForm system effectively reduce energy costs and usage in both residential and commercial buildings?

A smart building owner – whether a home owner or a commercial owner – looks at building costs and operating costs of his building. When he totals

those up that is the true cost to build. Operating costs have everything to do with what happens to building in the future. We are greatly reduc-ing operating costs by using TransForm. With the smart energy efficiency you get out of this system, it far outweighs what is paid in construction. People think it will cost 25-50% more to go green. What we are talking about is 10%. The misperception needs to be laid to rest, especially when we are talking about 3-4% interest rates…then suddenly 10% doesn’t sound like a big deal. We are going to begin seeing more and more of that.

Recently, Van Hoesen’s company and TF Forming Systems were awarded a project with the non-profit organization, Con-voy of Hope. The companies will build 18 homes in the tornado-ravaged city of Joplin, MO in 2012.

INTERVIEW WITH AN EXPERT

The Pensmore home in Southwest Missouri is being constructed with Trans-Form. Intentionally designed to mimic a commercial-size project, the Pens-

more is a study in zero energy consumption and disaster-resistant building by the use of solar and geothermal energy in conjunction with radiant tubing.

For more information, visit www.pensmore.com.

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TRANSFORM’S UNIQUE BENEFITS: Ability to have radiant heat walls

Integrated kicker, whaler and strong-back system for exceptional rigidity and straight, true walls.

Integrated scaffolding system, eliminating the need for stand-alone scaffolding in tall wall situations

Light-weight, hollow plastic pans that are rugged and easy to clean

Integrated pour doors and sliding panels to accommodate tall wall pours and consolidation

Integrated vertical attachment strips on 16” centers for exterior cladding attachment

System flexibility for designers

Thick foam on both sides of the wall to maximize the concrete’s thermal mass benefits

“I ENGINEERED THE TRANSFORM SYSTEM TO BE EASY TO LEARN AND USE,” SAYS SPUDE. THE SYSTEM IS LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO HANDLE WITH USING A SMALL OR LARGE CREW.

The longevity of a TransForm structure can be measured in centuries, not decades. Traditional homes built with wood framing are subject to rotting and insect damage. TransForm walls are highly resistant to damage from weather extremes, insect infestations, and water incursions. Because the walls are concrete, they are not subject to wood rot or degradation from the elements. A TransForm wall does not settle, eliminating nail pops in the interior, cracks in the gypsum wallboard, or other maintenance headaches.

INSURANCE DISCOUNTSBecause TransForm eliminates the issues associated with traditional building, many insurance companies will offer discounts of 15-25% for property insurance. Couple this with energy savings and the building owner can stand to save thousands of dollars every year.

PRACTICALITY TransForm takes maximum advantage of the thermal mass properties of concrete by way of natural sources that can be managed both solarly and geothermally to heat and cool the structure, reducing energy bills dramati-cally. Along with being disaster resistant and energy efficient, TransForm is practical and livable. The insulated concrete walls provide an excellent sound barrier, giving occupants an incredibly quiet structure for a more peaceful atmosphere. Because of the tight envelope that concrete provides, dust allergens and infiltration from the external environment are greatly reduced, giving occupants a less contaminated environment year-round. Ambient air temperature remains constant and comfortable. Air quality is improved and drafts are virtually non-existent. This makes TransForm not only great for building homes, but also an ideal way for building business-es and government buildings, such as police departments and emergency communication centers.

DESIGN FLEXIBILITY With most ICF systems and traditional forming systems, architects and designers must make design compromises to adapt to the limitations of the forming system. Not with TransForm.

“With TransForm, design options are unlimited: round walls, tall walls, arches, varying wall heights, varying wall thicknesses, angled corners, bare interior concrete walls for stairwells and elevator shafts, windows, and doors where you want them,” Spude says.

TransForm adapts to the design rather than requiring the designer adapt to the system.

Additionally, TransForm includes exterior attachment strips with excep-tional pullout strengths to accommodate any exterior cladding, including stucco, brick, siding, and stone. You won’t find this capability with tradi-tional concrete forming systems.

ARCHITECTURALADVANTAGES

TRANSFORM PRACTICALITY AND FLEXIBILITY

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WHEN SPUDE DESIGNED TRANSFORM, HE DESIGNED IT TO BE ADAPTABLE TO EVERY WALL NEED. THIS IS WHY TRANSFORM IS AVAILABLE IN FIVE WALL TYPES. FIVE AVAILABLE WALL TYPES:

WALL TYPE #1WITH STUD CAVITYFor Walls Anywhere

WALL TYPE #2EIFS PANELS

Stucco Exterior Buildings

WALL TYPE #3BARE CONCRETE ONE SIDE

Prisons, Warehouses, Gymnasiums

WALL TYPE #4STUD CAVITY BOTH SIDES

Fire walls, sound walls

WALL TYPE #5BARE CONCRETE

BOTH SIDES

“There’s no doubt that the system has the opportunity to revolutionize the way people build buildings. The fact that the system can accomplish five different types of poured concrete walls using the same components is revolutionary.”

Don Rudolph, Corporate Vice President and Technical Service

ANOTHER CRUCIAL POINT TO THE TRANSFORM SYSTEM IS ITS DESIGN FLEXIBILITY. IT CAN BE USED IN THE BUILD OF A SMALL HOME, A MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESS, OR LARGE COMMERCIAL PROJECT. THE BENEFITS ARE UNIVERSAL.

LAKE COUNTRY LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL, HARTLAND, WI

11www.tfsystem.com

TF Forming Systems gives new, innovative ways of building than old ICF systems have ever been able to offer. The TransForm system – a hybrid ICF system - allows for extreme energy efficiency while resisting deadly weather conditions or disasters. Here’s what some of their customers are saying:

BENEFITS FOR BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS:“Global Structural Solutions is familiar with various types of ICF systems. We have found that the TransForm system is far superior be-cause it is the most cost effective system on the market. It is more versatile due to being a vertical system. A benefit with this system is that it uses foam insulation, allowing a longer curing process with the concrete, creating extra insulation, greater R-values, and as a result, lower energy costs. We have assisted in multiple recovery efforts from recent natural disasters and we have noted that solid concrete struc-ture remain erect and in tact as compared to traditional wood-framed buildings. For these reasons, we choose to use TransForm.”

Adam BradyGlobal Structural Solutions

FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USE, THE BENEFITS REMAIN THE SAME:“Just wanted to let you know how HAPPY we are with the TF System! We have been in our home now for about 6 months, during the end of winter and now summer. It is amazing how strong the wind and rain can be and the house just stands tall! We don’t have enough informa-tion yet for a full year, but our cooling costs are much lower than our previous home. You were a great help to us and to our contractor with making the decision to use the system and also through the construc-tion process!”

David Schiltz West Chester, PA

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRANSFORM, PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.TFSYSTEM.COM.

TO SPEAK WITH A TF REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CALL: National and International: 800.360.4634 Missouri: 417.200.0052

THE STONEY CREEK INN. ONALASKA, WI

DAVID MAHER RESIDENCE, WI

PLANET FITNESS, GREEN BAY, WI

TESTIMONIALS

CORN ALCOHOL REFINERY, IL

WESTPHAL PRINTING, BROWNSVILLE, WI