Method of constructing an insulated shallow pier foundation building

Abstract

A method of constructing a shallow pier foundation building that includes a) placing a plurality of insulating pier forms along a perimeter of the building; b) placing a plurality of insulating concrete forms between the insulating piers to form a continuous insulating surface to the surrounding soil and a continuous forming surface to provide a slab form; c) placing a concrete composition in the insulating piers and insulating concrete forms and allowing the concrete composition to cure and harden; and d) placing a concrete slab composition in the slab form and allowing the concrete composition to cure and harden.

1 . A method of constructing a shallow pier foundation building comprising:
 a) placing a plurality of insulating pier forms along a perimeter of the building;   b) placing a plurality of insulating concrete forms between the insulating piers to form a continuous insulating surface to the surrounding soil and a continuous forming surface to provide a slab form;   c) placing a concrete composition in the insulating piers and insulating concrete forms and allowing the concrete composition to cure and harden; and   d) placing a concrete slab composition in the slab form and allowing the concrete composition to cure and harden.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating pier form comprises
 (A) a first panel member comprising a first end and a second end:   (B) a second panel member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the second end of the first panel;   (C) a third panel member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the second end of the second panel; and   (D) a fourth panel member comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the second end of the third panel and the second end is connected to the first end of the first panel;   wherein the first, second, third and forth panels maintain a spatial distance therebetween for defining a molding chamber generally having a rectangular cross section.   
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating concrete form comprises
 (A) a first panel member comprising:
 (1) a first outer panel side including a first wall surface area extending generally vertically thereon; 
 (2) a first inner panel side positioned oppositely from said first outer panel side; and 
 (3) at least two first slots in the first inner panel side adapted to accept a connecting member; 
   (B) a second panel member comprising:
 (1) a second outer panel side including a second wall surface area extending generally vertically thereon and facing oppositely from said first panel member; 
 (2) a second inner panel side positioned oppositely from said second outer panel side and facing said first inner panel side of said first panel member; and 
 (3) at least two second slots in the second inner panel side adapted to accept a connecting member; and 
   (C) at least two connecting members detachable and securable with respect to said first panel member and said second panel member adapted to maintain a spatial distance therebetween for defining a molding chamber therebetween, the connecting members comprising:
 (1) a first flange detachably and securably extending within said first slot of said first panel member; 
 (2) a second flange detachably and securably extending within said second slot of said second panel member; and 
 (3) a mid-section portion. 
   
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulating pier form and the insulating concrete form comprise an expanded polymer matrix. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the expanded polymer matrix comprises one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of vinyl aromatic monomers; copolymers of at least one vinyl aromatic monomer with one or more of divinylbenzene, conjugated dienes, alkyl methacrylates, alkyl acrylates, acrylonitrile, and/or maleic anhydride; polyolefins; polycarbonates; an interpolymer of a polyolefin and in situ polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers; and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises carbon black, graphite or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the first panel member and the second panel member each have a male end comprising a tongue edge and a female end comprising a female groove edge that facilitates a tongue and groove union between corresponding members. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the connecting member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of plastics, metal, construction grade plastics, composite materials, ceramics, and the like. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concrete comprises one or more cements selected from the group consisting of Portland cements, pozzolana cements, gypsum cements, aluminous cements, magnesia cements, silica cements, and slag cements. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concrete is light weight concrete. 
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the concrete comprises
 8-20 volume percent cement,   11-50 volume percent sand,   10-31 volume percent expanded thermoplastic particles,   9-40 volume percent coarse aggregate, and   10-22 volume percent water;   wherein the expanded thermoplastic particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.02 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein rebar is placed in the molding chamber prior to placing the concrete. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein rebar is placed in the molding chamber prior to placing the concrete. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the expanded thermoplastic particles comprise polymers containing polymerized residues from one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of styrene, ethylene, propylene, and methyl(meth)acrylate; an interpolymer of a polyolefin and in situ polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers; and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a water impervious fabric is placed over the outward facing continuous insulating surface. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a top edge of the water impervious fabric is above grade. 
   
   
       17 . A building constructed according to the method of  claim 1 .