Pest and fire barrier system for insulating concrete forms

Abstract

A barrier system for use with a structure having a wall formed of a plurality of insulating concrete form blocks. The barrier system includes a support member having a web, a first flange, and a second flange extending from opposing ends of the web to define a pair of panel receiving cavities on opposing sides of the web. The first flange has a first wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the first flange, and the second flange has a second wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the second flange. The support member is positionable on the top end of one of the insulating concrete forms with a top end receivable in one of the panel receiving cavities, and a bottom end of another insulating concrete form is positionable in another one of the panel receiving cavities. One of the first wing and the second wing extends towards the concrete receiving cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier system for use with a structure, the structure having a wall formed of a plurality of insulating concrete form blocks interconnected with one another, the insulating concrete form blocks having a first foam panel and a second foam panel supported in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to form a concrete receiving cavity, each of the first panel and the second panel having a top end, a bottom end, a first end, and a second end, the barrier system comprising:
 a support member having a web, a first flange extending from one end of the web, and a second flange extending from an opposing end of the web, the web, the first flange, and the second flange cooperating to define a pair of panel receiving cavities on opposing sides of the web, the first flange having a first wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the first flange and the second flange having a second wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the second flange,   wherein the support member is positionable on the top end of one of the panels with the top end receivable in one of the panel receiving cavities,   wherein the bottom end of another panel is positionable in another one of the panel receiving cavities, and   wherein at least one of the first wing and the second wing is extendable into the concrete receiving cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first wing and the second has a width and wherein the width of first wing is different from the width of the second wing. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier system of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner conformable to one side of the web, an adjacent portion of the first flange and the second flange, and an adjacent side of the first wing and the second wing of the support member. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier system of  claim 3 , wherein the liner is a flexible, stainless steel liner. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier system of  claim 4 , wherein the liner includes a first side, a second side, and an adhesive positionable on one of the first sides and the second sides for connecting the liner to the support member. 
     
     
         6 . A barrier system in combination with a structure, the structure having a wall formed of a plurality of insulating concrete form blocks interconnected with one another, the insulating concrete form blocks having a first foam panel and a second foam panel supported in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to form a concrete receiving cavity, each of the first panel and the second panel having a top end, a bottom end, a first end, and a second end, the barrier system comprising:
 a support member having a web, a first flange extending from one end of the web, and a second flange extending from an opposing end of the web, the web, the first flange, and the second flange cooperating to define a pair of panel receiving cavities on opposing sides of the web, the first flange having a first wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the first flange and the second flange having a second wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the second flange,   wherein the support member is positioned on the top end of one of the panels with the top end received in one of the panel receiving cavities,   wherein the bottom end of another panel is positioned in another one of the panel receiving cavities, and   wherein at least one of the first wing and the second wing extends into the concrete receiving cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first wing and the second wing has a width and wherein the width of first wing is different from the width of the second wing. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the barrier system further comprises a liner conformed to one side of the web, an adjacent portion of the first flange and the second flange, and an adjacent side of the first wing and the second wing of the support member. 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the liner is a flexible, stainless steel liner. 
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the structure further comprises a material extending along an exterior surface of one of the insulating concrete form blocks, wherein at least one of the first wing and the second wing is embedded in the material. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the material is selected from a group consisting of brick, stone, stucco, and a brick and mortar combination. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the structure further comprises a floor support member having a top and a bottom, wherein one of the first wing and the second wing extends along one of the top and the bottom of the floor support member. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the structure further comprises a floor support member, wherein one of the first and second wings is embedded in the floor support member. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a barrier in a structure having a wall formed of a plurality of insulating concrete form blocks interconnected with one another, the insulating concrete form blocks having a first foam panel and a second foam panel supported in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to form a concrete receiving cavity, each of the first panel and the second panel having a top end, a bottom end, a first end, and a second end, the method comprising:
 positioning a support member over the top end of one of the panels, the support member having a web and a pair of flanges extending from opposing ends of the web to define a lower panel receiving cavity and an upper panel receiving cavity on opposing sides of the web, the first flange having a first wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the first flange and the second flange having a second wing extending outwardly and perpendicularly from the second flange;   positioning the bottom end of another panel of another insulating concrete form block in the upper panel receiving cavity; and   forming a concrete core in the concrete receiving cavity in a way that at least one of the first and second wings is embedded in the concrete core.   
     
     
         15 . The method claim of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning a flexible liner on at least a portion of the top end of one of the panels. 
     
     
         16 . The method claim of  claim 15 , furthering comprising securing the liner to at least a portion of the first wing and the second wing. 
     
     
         17 . The method claim of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning a flexible liner over at least a portion of the support member. 
     
     
         18 . The method claim of  claim 17 , furthering comprising securing the liner to at least a portion of the first wing and the second wing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a material on an exterior side of one of the insulating concrete form blocks in a way that at least one of the first wing and the second wing is embedded in the material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a floor support member having a top and a bottom on an exterior side of one of the insulating concrete form blocks in a way that at least one of the first wing and second wing extends along one of the top and bottom of the floor support member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a floor support member on an exterior side of one of the insulating concrete form blocks in a way that at least one of the first wing and the second wing is embedded in the floor support member.