One of the biggest changes with the adoption of the new IRC is the greater emphasis on energy efficiency. While this may cost builders a little bit more, a house with an insulated basement is more energy efficient and may add a greater perceived value to home buyers. Many people today wish to use their basements as additional living space, and a fully insulated basement lends itself to this purpose. The ability to finish a basement can even influence the sale of a home. Superior Walls' foundations contain built-in insulation to meet this challenge. Our smart stud cavities also make it easy to add even more insulation without additional studding, insulating up to R-24 for colder climates. With Superior Walls, your foundations will always be warm, eliminating your code compliance worries.

Recent events have created a renewed focus on safety and efficiency in the event of an emergency such as a fire or natural disaster. While much of this is focused on larger buildings, residential building codes have also been affected in some ways. Currently, it is required that every basement containing habitable space must contain a means of egress. Simply put, this is a way to escape or be rescued in an emergency. This may require builders to install egress windows and make sure that window wells are large enough for a person to exit. Superior Walls are made to builder specifications, arriving on-site with custom openings for windows and doors and making it easy to meet IRC requirements.

According to the 2000 IRC, detached one and two family dwellings located in Seismic Design Categories (SDC) A, B, or C are exempt from seismic evaluation in the code. However, such buildings constructed in SDC D1 and D2 must follow the provisions of 2000 IRC whereas such buildings constructed in SDC E shall be designed in accordance with the 2000 IBC, which requires seismic analysis. Other building types must be designed according to the IBC provisions, as well. Superior Walls steel-reinforced 5,000+ psi concrete walls have a 4,000 lb per linear foot working load capacity, and a 10,000 lb load capacity at each solid concrete stud.

The IRC addresses two types of soil loads; load-bearing pressures and backfill lateral load pressures. Load-bearing pressures may be determined by either a soil load test or by consulting Table R401.4.1 of the IRC for presumptive values. Depth of stone beneath the foundation wall can be adjusted to compensate for soil capacity. Backfill loads are determined by either the same soil test or by classifying the soil type (see Table R405.1 of the IRC). Superior Walls provide 60 pounds per cubic foot lateral load strength for its 8 and 9 foot height walls, and 45 pounds per cubic foot for 10 foot height walls.

Foam plastic insulation is usually required to have a thermal barrier of gypsum board installed to separate it from the inside of the building. In the Superior Walls system, however, the concrete wall is bonded directly to the foam insulation during the pouring process and no gypsum board is necessary to meet fire safety regulations. The concrete redirects the heat from a fire and reduces the oxygen fueling it from the back. Therefore, installation of a thermal barrier is not required. Additionally, the DOW ® insulation we use surpassed regulations in a fire test, recording a flame spread rating of 5 (IRC max is 75) and a smoke developed rating of 165 (IRC max is 450).