Conventional methods for constructing small to medium sized buildings are the same today as they were hundreds of years ago.  While other industries, such as those made in the auto, computer, and aerospace industries, have achieved substantial comprehensive technological advances, the construction industry lags way behind. 

“In-factory production” of buildings typically achieves little more than using conventional methods indoors, off-site instead of outdoors on-site.  Yet the final product once assembled is the same.

Typically, small to medium sized buildings are constructed with some form of loadbearing-walls of masonry or stick framing of steel or wood, supporting floor and roof stick framing.   Stick building leads to settling, earhquake and flood failures and masonry makes fire rated construction very expensive.

A NEW METHOD

Our technology is based on the inherent strength of triangular spaceframe geometry combined with the strength of standard steel and concrete raw materials, used in a unique way.  Once components are connected, the entire building is one unified structure, similar to a unibody car chassis, unlike the independant parts of conventional buildings.  The manufacturing process incorporates finishes, colors, life support systems, door and window openings, as well as the structure of the building. 

Basically, a steel wire spaceframe is welded together, and on both sides are placed a 2 inch thick layer of cellular concrete with a high density cement surface coating.  The configuration is the same for all wall, floor and roof components.  However, the wire diameter, depth and triangle size of the spaceframe,  and the design-mix of the cellular concrete is different for wall, floor and roof components to enable them to support the different loads required by their role in the building structure. The interior of components exposed to the elements are filled with  rated foam insulation. Combined with the insulating characeristics of cellular concrete yield the  high thermal performance of our wall (tested) and roof assemblies.

The spaceframe provides substantial ductility; resisting earthquakes, explosions and floods.  The two layers of of concrete provide 4 hours of fire resistance.  The unique characteristics of the cellular concrete enables a wide range of color, texture and architectural details to simulate wood, stone, and stucco finishes on the inside as well as the outside of buildings.

Market Segments
These characteristics provide unique marketing opportunities to sell to more than one segment within the Institutional, Commecial and Residential markets.

The target market segments include;

Institutional: Education, Group Housing (ie dormitories and prisons will benefit from our lower cost of required higher fire ratings), High Security Risk Buildings (high explosion performance of our buildings)

Commercial: Retail “Image” buildings (ie fast food chains, etc), Hotel and Resort Market, small office buildings, wall components for large framed buildings (superior energy performance), and highway noise barriers (superior sound attenuation due to double-wall and sound absorbing characteristics of cellular concrete).

Residential: Single Family and Multi-family new construction and additions (benefit from fire ratings, energy efficiency, flood resistance, etc.)

OVERALL COST AND PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES

The results of our technology are better buildings that cost less. IBI 's prefabricated buildings provide strong customer selling points and superior building performance. Costs are lower in both initial construction cost savings (25% average), and energy costs savings (75% average).