Earth Covered Homes Brochure

7/30/2019 Earth Covered Homes Brochure

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HARDENED STRUCTURES OF AMERICA, LLC1811 SOUTH 22 STREET ~ LINCOLN, NE 68502

TOLL FREE: 1-877-603-7233 ~ DIRECT: 1-402-613-8290

[email protected]

Website: www.hardenedstructuresofamerica.com

THE FB/HSA GREEN HOME TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM

Hardened Structures of America has partnered

with the Industry Leader in Green Home

Construction/Technology. FB, Inc. specializes in

the design and construction of energy efficient

and off grid structures. We have joined together

with FB, Inc. and HSA developed a one of a kind,

versatile building system that enables DIY

homeowners and/or contractors to build with

confidence, the FB/HSA-Building System.

FB/HSA structures are built from our patented

building system components and have been

erected throughout the U.S. and Canada. The structural forming system does not

require any previous expertise to erect. This system was designed to be built by anyone,

anywhere in the world.

Concerned about Rising Energy Costs? Global Warming? Forest Conservation? Air

Pollutants and Allergens? Green space? The overuse of Fossil Fuels? Safety from natural

disasters such as Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, or Power Outages? FB/HSAbeautiful custom homes address all of these issues. An immense amount of research

and construction has already been conducted in

order to create this modern green roof architecture

that is popping up all over the northern

hemisphere. FB/HSA designs are the most tested,

tried and successfully proven system for earth

sheltered, green roof technology. Our homes are

unmatched in energy efficiency, comfort and

security.

Interested in fortifying your home? The FB/HSA System is versatile and offers unique

ballistic/blast protection for customers interested in having a fortified Home/Shelter.

We can explore a number of ballistic and blast rated windows/doors to fit right into

your home. As traditional homeowners are facing escalating ownership and operational

costs, FB/HSA home owners are enjoying stability and peace of mind.


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FB/HSA structures provide financial protection against the devastating impact of rising

energy costs and ongoing exterior maintenance.For around the same cost as a comparable wood frame home, you can protect you and

your family, both physically and financially, with a home that will last hundreds of

years.

So...why would you build anything else?

About Earth Sheltered home manufacturer, F.B.Inc.

F.B. Inc. has been specializing in earth sheltered

technology since 1979. The oil crisis in the 70's

was the catalyst that set the company in motion.

The idea for sustainable, affordable housing was

the driving force behind the creation of the

business. As the only system of its kind in the

world, FB Inc., has been rigorously tested and

analyzed for over 30 years by thousands of our

home owners, engineers, testing organizations,

and consumer publications. FB/HSA is one of the

few systems in the world estimated to produce structures with a usable life span(without major maintenance) of more than one century.

FB/HSA has designed and built more earth sheltered, green roof homes than any other

builder in the world. Our success is based on our system's ability to adapt to meet

current building standards as well as consumer demands. Our designers and engineers

are continuously evolving our building system to

maintain the highest standards and best

performance in the industry. FB/HSAs' patented

building system is designed to be built by anyone,

anywhere in the world. No unique contractor

skills or equipment is needed to construct a

FB/HSA home. We separate ourselves from others

in the industry. We are committed to each and

every one of our projects from start to finish. Our

staff assists home owners and their crews throughout the design planning and building

processes.


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The personal, economical, and environmentaladvantages that our homes offer, is vast and

unmatched. Our homeowners have security

from extreme storms as well economic changes.

Our FB/HSA homes have been exposed to

tornadoes, hurricanes and wild fires. All with

little or no damage.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), about 45% of your utility bill goes

directly toward heating and cooling your home. FB/HSA owners are routinely paying

90% less than conventional home owners to heat and cool their homes.

In addition to the added value, DOE reports that a home with energy efficiency is likely

to sell in half the time. It is a bit more difficult to estimate the immense savings in

maintenance costs these homes provide. Some have reported up to 800% less than

conventional.

A home is most likely the biggest investment that a family will make. Our belief is that a

home should create a safe place for the homeowner; both financially and physically. A

FB/HSA home is less dependent on outside influences and is designed to work with

natural elements of nature to create a comfortable lifestyle. We naturally utilize solarand geothermal properties without the immense and ongoing expense of the physical

systems.

Everyone should live in a green roof home for a list of reasons. For many, that goal is

out of their reach due to cost of "specialty construction" and building permit and code

restrictions. FB/HSA has made this goal very accessible to the general home builder and

Do-It-Your-Selfer. Our building system is so versatile that we can create beautiful,

natural lit homes that many do not usually associate with an earth sheltered home. With

all of the benefits at hand and building for the same dollar figure as conventional, the

majority of new construction should be FB/HSA green roof construction.

Our Chief Designer for FB/HSA , has served on the American Concrete Institute

committees for Shotcrete and Thin-Shell and has been a certified energy rater for the

Energy Star program. FB/HSA has received a number of citations and awards. Among

them, a Governors Citation for the state of Colorado and an award for Energy

Innovation issued by the U.S. Department of Energy.


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Our Chief Designer has extensive industry related background experience as a regional

design engineer and production manager. He also directed quality control and buildingcode compliance for manufactured/modular homes, including all phases of design and

construction (structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems). His experience

and knowledge has been instrumental in making the FB/HSA system merge a success.

The assistance we give our customer's is not limited to the structure itself, but

encompasses a thorough insight of HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other conventional

building sub-systems. As a result, designs reflect complete, thoughtful and workable

projects.

Please feel free to give us a call. We would be happy to discuss with you the possibilities

for your specific project. We can help you with the initial design. Our very versatile

structural/forming building system combined with our knowledge and experience can

give you the best opportunity to realize and enjoy a custom design and lasting

investment.

Design and Engineering

As the first step, we need to get a good understanding of the home that you are trying

to create. Since each structure is custom designed, we want to know the details of the

building site as well as your own personalrequirements and expectations. Once we have

this basic information in hand, we will be able

to discuss what might work best for your

project. There are an infinite number of

possibilities as to a configuration that a FB/HSA

structure can achieve. The structural system

and method of construction does not change

even though the size and shape can. Using

information about building site specifics

(topographic info, views, solar exposure, etc.) paired with your spatial and traffic flow

requirements, we can establish a configuration that allows you maximize all possible

benefits. See HOW TO GET STARTED SECTION (directly below) for a full listing of

information we need from you in order to discuss in detail about the possibilities for

your project.


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How to get started

All of our structures are custom designed to fit individual customer needs as well as the

building site itself. If we can get some information from you about the space that you

are hoping to create, we will be able to speak in detail about the possibilities for your

project.

Site Information that we need from you:

Building Site information, photos and/or video, noting access and direction. Include

any views that you would like to take advantage of. Topographic map (2' increment)

this will help us design a home that fits the site and takes full advantage of it. This will

also give us a good idea of earth coverage so that we can match the amount of cut and

fill to avoid any unnecessary and expensive earth removal or additives.

Spatial needs Square footage Number of bedrooms and bathrooms One level or two? Garage?

Basic ideas that you have as far as traffic flow (rooms in relation to each other) Any additional information that you have gathered that would help us realize

your wishes for your dream home.

Some links we recommend:

The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings

http://www.usgbc.org/docs/news/news477.pdf

Green Living: The Rise of Green Roofs

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/rise-green-roofs

International Green Roof Association: Benefits of Green Roofs

http://www.igra-world.com/benefits/index.php

Database of State Incentives for Renewable & Efficiency (DSIRE)

http://www.dsireusa.org/

US Department of Energy: Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency

http://www.energysavers.gov/financial/70010.html

Shotcrete

http://www.pjsconcrete.com/index.htm


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CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

Structural Forming System

The FB/HSA-System is the most advanced building system of its kind. The system is

designed to give the builder confidence in constructing one of the most technologically

advanced structures in existence. The bolt together skeletal steel system is a user

friendly system and can be erected by any home owner/contractor. It controls the shape

of the structure and provides the primary forming strength as well as controlling the

spacing and attachment of the reinforcing steel. The FB/HSA-System offers many

advantages over similar structures that are available today. Many of the advantages are

quite subtle but have been proven in the field to be faster to construct at substantially

less finished cost.

Our unique structural forming system consists of 4 primary components: Structural

Steel, Shotcrete, Water proofing, and Whole House Ventilation & Heat Exchanger

Systems.

Structural Steel

A FB/HSA-Structure typically takes the same amount of time to construct as a similarlysized conventional building. The building system controls the structural elements and

makes building simple, thus faster and less

expensive to complete. Every piece of steel is

marked for installation. The primary steel is

lifted into place manually or by lifts, then bolted

together. Once the steel beams have been erected,

the rebar is ready to be installed. The outer

flange of the steel has rebar receivers already

welded into

place. This

allows the

horizontal rebar to simply be placed in the open end

of the tab, creating the correct placement and spacing

without guesswork. Continuing the rebar from tab to

tab around the perimeter of the structure creates the

wire frame of the building.


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Once the rebar is in place, a Styrofoam liner is attached to the interior steel of the

structure to serve as both form and backstop for the Shotcrete. The Styrofoam isproperly spaced away from the reinforcing steel to allow for proper coverage of

concrete as required by building codes.

Shotcrete

The Shotcrete is applied from the exterior, which makes the job common work by any

Shotcrete crew around the country. A good Shotcrete crew is usually in and out in a day

or two depending on the size of the project.

Shotcrete is pneumatically placed concrete

sprayed under pressure through a hose and

delivered through a nozzle. The same process is

used to create concrete swimming pools. After

the Shotcrete has set, the temporary Styrofoam

liner is removed from the interior of the

structure, exposing a smooth concrete surface.

Because the

Styrofoam is used as the backstop, the resulting interior

concrete surface is very easily finished with a thin coat

of plaster. Add a little texture and paint and you'redone. With the Shotcrete complete and the foam liner

removed, the free-span structure is complete. The

remaining work is conventional to be done by sub-

contractors (framing, electrical, plumbing, finish work).

Waterproofing

The FB/HSA multi component waterproofing

system (Polysecure4) is user friendly and will

hold its integrity throughout the lifetime of the

structure. This advanced waterproofing

system, developed for the exclusive use with

FB/HSA Building structures, can successfully be

applied by the homeowner, laborers or any

contractor with assurance. It is a true

waterproofing that is applied directly to the

exterior concrete surface. A drain fabric is


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installed over the top of the waterproofing

material and serves to remove hydrostaticpressure and wick any water directly to the footer

drains. The Styrofoam material that initially

served as the form and back stop for the Shotcrete

will now be used over the top of the

waterproofing system to provide backfill

protection (eliminating the need for a select fill

material) and at the same time providing

insulation on the exterior. Our one-of-a-kind

Polysecure4 waterproofing system is absolutely the best performing material and

application for protection from water intrusion. This system is a multi-component

water barrier so that if any one step should fail, the system still holds its integrity. With

a structure that is designed to last hundreds of years, it is imperative that the

waterproofing system perform correctly for just as long.

Whole House Ventilation and Heat Exchanger System

This system is the icing on the cake. It is the final system that ensures that a FB/HSA

home operates at its full potential. Each structure designed by FB/HSA will have full

whole house ventilation and heat exchanger system detailed in the completed plans.The system we use recovers energy from the stale air and transfers it to the fresh air

brought in from the outdoors. This system is designed to increase the quality of indoor

air by removing gaseous pollutants like: carbon dioxide, smoke, radon, odors, excess

humidity, formaldehyde and other chemicals. Other air filtration systems are available

upon client request, such as a NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Air Filtration

System.

How it Works:

The exhausted stale air and the fresh ventilation air pass through multiple air passages

separated by an engineered composite resin partition plate. Heat transfers from the

warmer to the cooler air stream. Also, latent energy (water vapor) transfers from the

wetter to the drier air stream. The fresh incoming air is automatically pre-heated or pre-

cooled depending on the season. On a cold winter day, fresh outside air will be

tempered to close to room temperature and brought inside. The reverse will happen on

a hot summer day. The use of this system will minimize the size of heating and cooling

requirements and helps maintain an even more efficient structure.


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In Conclusion...

The fact that you're reading our website may give you the chance of a lifetime. You have

found a key to a successful future. There is a great deal of information that has been

written concerning earth sheltered construction. Unfortunately much of it is

inadequate, confusing, misleading, or just wrong. FB/HSA is the most successful and is

respected as the number one designer and builder of earth sheltered, green roof homes

and structures. Our homes are designed to meet the needs of future generations, are

superior in comfort, safety, enjoy very low maintenance and very low operating costs.

Simply the best.

No one has the experience and applied knowledge that our Team has used to develop

its building system. Our knowledge is not limited to the advanced structure, but

encompasses a thorough knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other

conventional building systems. As a result, designs reflect complete, thoughtful and

workable projects. Each project is the result of the ability to address and solve potential

building system problems before they occur. It's the proper application of intelligence

gained through knowledge and experience that allows us to create successful projects

and designs.

In recent years, FB/HSA has acted as a consultant for many home owners that have builtwith other earth sheltered or green roof dome homes. Because of the lack of support

other builders give them after the "shell" has been erected, they come to us with

problems or concerns that need to be addressed. Because of this experience, we have

learned a lot about the competition and their down falls. More importantly, it reinforces

why FB/HSA building systems are successful.

FB/HSA has evolved its structural system to create a workable system that addresses all

of these concerns to make the building process go up easier, using less labor, less

guesswork and less time. Once a customer has built their home they should just be able

to "sit back and smile".

Why the FB/HSA System is Superior

Outdated earth shelter systems utilizing spray on urethane foam on the exterior of the

concrete lead to many other mistakes. Concrete should be waterproofed directly on the

surface. The urethane foam is not closed cell material, not a waterproofing and therefore

has to be protected by another covering. Damage to the exterior covering results in the


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urethane basically becoming a sponge. Once moisture had penetrated, even the

insulating qualities were greatly reduced or lost altogether. Just as important is the factthat once a leak has occurred, the process of locating the source of the leak becomes

more complicated, if not impossible. That system removes the possibility of a Do-It-

Yourselfer waterproofing the structure. The spray on outer coating has a high risk of

delaminating and failure. Because the product is sprayed on, the risk for thin spots,

pinholes or lack of adhesion is very high. Any failure in the system produces a high

risk of having to dig up the entire structure to find and repair any leaks. Weak spots of

the spray on system occurs at all exposed edges. This lack of termination detail can lead

to ultraviolet degradation and breakdown of the material.

This type of building system made use of tabs that had to be individually bent at 90 to

the steel to allow for the installation of a wire mesh and burlap panel. There were many

disadvantages associated with that system. The burlap panels had to be installed before

the rebar. This made rebar installation even more time consuming and labor intensive.

The mesh itself had to be tied back to the rebar at approximately 1 foot on center. This

increases the number of ties required by four. The mesh and burlap were tied tightly

against the innermost rebar to provide the backstop for the Shotcrete process. As the

concrete was applied to the exterior, it could not properly encapsulate and protect the

first layer of rebar or provide strength advantages of properly installed and covered

reinforcing. It made it difficult, if not impossible, to inspect the concrete quality after itsapplication. In order to meet current building codes, there must be full encapsulation of

rebar in concrete. With that system this task is next to impossible. The burlap and wire

mesh panel has to be left in place and complicates interior finishes while making them

more expensive. This inherently weak forming system also mandated a virtual forest of

interior bracing to control shape of the concrete structure. The burlap fabric has a

tendency to deteriorate with exposure. This can lead to a series of blowouts during the

Shotcrete process. Formworks' Styrofoam liner is removable to expose a relatively

smooth concrete finish, and later, upon removal, it is re-usable on the exterior to

provide backfill protection for the waterproofing and additional insulation on the

exterior (where it should be). This Styrofoam is provided as a component of the

FB/HSA structural forming system. Outdated systems utilizing the burlap panels

require the customer to provide this insulation at their own cost.


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All Models Include:


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us

We


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Custom Plans

Each Structure is custom designed to fit individual client needs as well as the building

site.

Structural Only These plans are drawn from approved designs, cover only the

structural system, and are typically used by architects and contractors who design and

handle all the finish work on their own. Structural Only plans typically refer to garages,

shops, storage buildings, etc. Cost: $0.95/sf

Full Construction Drawings The complete set of drawings needed for building

permits. Includes floor plans, foundation plans, framing plan, stair details when

required, sections through the structure, elevation, steel, and electrical layouts. Due to

individual product variances, plans do not include **cabinet detailing, room finish

schedules, or detailed material schedules. Individual preferences and local product

availability are decided by the client. All structural designs are in complete compliance

with current building codes.

Cost: $1.25/sf

**Note: Items are not required for construction drawing approval but are needed for formal costing and appraisal.

Structural Engineer Certification

Average range is $750 - $3,000 depending on complexity and state certification required.

NOTES

Structural Only and Full Construction Drawings require certification from a FBInc. registered Professional Engineer.

Some Building Departments require a local Engineers certification and review.Please check with your local Building Department. If Certification is requiredlocally, please specify so that we can provide a price quote. FB/HSA has

associate Engineers in most states to minimize this additional cost.

One half of the total cost of custom plans and engineering is due with the plansorder. The balance is due upon completion of the plans before they are shipped.

All custom plans include four complete sets certified by a Structural Engineer.


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Design and Building Schedule

Client to provide Hardened Structures of America, LLC with site information(pictures, plats, topographic maps, videos) and desired building requirements

(square footage, room descriptions, special features, single or muliti-story,

general information on views, access, etc.)

FB, Inc. and Hardened Structures of America, LLC will review its extensive filelibrary and use FB, Inc.s 30 years of earth home design experience to create

plans, features, ideas, and configurations to develop a concept that works best

for your individual project.

FB, Inc. and Hardened Structures of America, LLC will provide design and costestimates, subject to your approval, prior to beginning drafting.

Structural and architectural drawings will be completed by a FB

Inc.s certified Designer.

Completed plans, per customer approval will be certified by a

Structural Engineer.

Place order for the structural forming system. Allow adequate delivery time tocoincide with building schedule. 6-8 weeks is needed for fabrication of the

structural steel. During this time, the customer will be laying the foundation

work for the structure, or having one of Hardened Structures of America

construction teams providing this service if selected by the client.

Construction manual will be provided with the structural system order.Ongoing inspection and correspondence will be provided throughout the

completion of the project.

Please contact Hardened Structures of America today with any questions you may have

about our superb FB/HSA Structural Systems. You may also contact us to request an

Assessment Form to begin the process for a project cost quote. Call Toll Free at 877-603-

7233 or Direct to 402-613-8290. Domestic and International Calls are Welcome!

Earth Covered Homes Brochure

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