A Better Way to Build EcoShell IIs
 |
| Please Note: This picture shows what the Rebar Hangers look like. Rebar Hangers will be used on the inside during construction of the EcoShell II. |
by Freda Parker
August 7, 2007
Using barbed instead of barbless rebar hangers
Mike South, VP and construction superintendent, said, "In the past, when we built an uninsulated dome -- such as the EcoShell II that does not call for foam -- we glued special stickers onto the first layer of Shotcrete, from which we hung the rebar.
"We are no longer using those barbless rebar hangers," Mike continued. "We now use barbed rebar hangers."
A barbed rebar hanger is the same as we use for the Monolithic Domes. It is a 2-inch square, thin steel, base plate. A perpendicular wire is welded in the center of one side of the plate. The opposite side has protruding barbs.
How we now do it
1) Once the EcoShell II structure is formed, we spray about a 1/2" of Shotcrete onto the inside of the Airform.
2) While that concrete is still setting up, we push the barbed rebar hangers into the concrete, following the layout pattern engineered for that dome.
3) With barbed rebar hangers in place and the concrete set up, we spray another 1/2" of Shotcrete over the hangers.
4) When the second concrete layer has set up, we hang the rebar, then spray the finishing layers of Shotcrete.
Why the switch
Asked why we now use barbed, rather than barbless, rebar hangers, Mike said, "It's faster. Gluing those rebar hangars in place was very time consuming. It's also less expensive. You don't have to buy the special adhesives.
"We've used barbed rebar hangers in Monolithic Dome construction for years," he added. "Now we're recommending their use in the EcoShell II. It's just a better way to do it."
Note: Barbed rebar hangers, instead of barbless ones, can also be used in the construction of spray-in-place, concrete fences.
Related Links:
- Rebar Hanger Placement and Final Foam Application
- Hanging Steel Reinforcement
- The EcoShell Book [pdf]
Rebar Hangers on the Monolithic Marketplace
177
Dome Park Place - Italy, TX 76651
Tel (972)483-7423 - Fax (972)483-6662
| Press Room