>I'm trying to find Sparfil, manufacturers of a CMU made of expanded
polystyrene
>beads and portland cement. Last known phone number 905-507-1163, in Ontario.
>Anyone know if they went away?
>
>Anyone know of another product that is a masonry unit and had some insulating
>value in vertical as well as horizontal directions? My first choice, Hebel
AAC
>isn't selling material in the northeast.
>
>I'm *not* looking for a standard CMU with foam inserts - they are all
>configured to reduce lateral (horizontal) heat loss. This application is to
>make a thermal break in a CMU parapet wall which is insulated on the exterior,
>where it passes the plane of the roof. The only other option I know of is
>Foamglas, which according to the manufacturer doesn't like to be mortared,
>and comes in odd sizes so the pieces would all have to be individually cut.
There are a number of suppliers of "Sparfil" type blocks (EPS beads mixed
with cement). I was once told that there was a big argument within the
ownership of the original company, and so it split up into many different
companies, all selling the same thing under different names.
Sparfil Blok (their spelling, not mine!)
POB 270336
Tampa, FL 33688
813.963.3794
InteGrid Building Systems
1396 Campus Dr
Berkeley, CA 94708
510.845.1100
(local dealers in most western states)
Ener-Grid Building Systems (note slight name change)
602.386.2232
(local dealers in all western states)
Along the same lines, there is Faswall, which is ground up wooden pallets
mixed with cement:
Faswall
404 N Forrest Ave
Ottomwa, IA 52501
515.682.1212
Hebel is a great product, but for some reason the US Liscensee has not
been able to get off the ground so to speak.
However, for your application, it seems you could easily use any of the
foam form systems, or any of the styro block systems. The block systems
use self-stacking "leggo" type EPS blocks whose cavities are then filled
with concrete, which is quick, easy, permitable, structural and
insulative.
I am quite attracted to the CMS's like Sparfil, that integrate structural
and insulative components into one unit, and hope they are a big part of
the future of the building industry. However at this time, I also note
that they seem to actually use MORE cement than a solid concrete wall,
while being more expensive and less strong! They also seem to have a
lower R-value than a concrete wall insulated with 3-4" of rigid board.
On the other hand, they use recycled EPS or wood, which a big advantage,
and are much easier to stucco than concrete or foam.
Buzz Burrell
Bolder Building
Boulder, CO
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