LEEDS Contributing

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This Nova Scotia home had minimal impact on indigenous vegetation. Instead of excavating a full basement, eight holes were hand dug to pour Fast-Tube™ concrete columns.

LEED® CONTRIBUTING

Fab-Form Industries is committed to the research, development and manufacturing of eco-friendly fabric for forming concrete in the construction industry. Our energy saving technology is sustainable, conserves forests, has low environmental impact and is “GreenSpec” certified.

As fabric forms are 200 to 300 times lighter than rigid forms, and stay in place to prevent water wicking into the concrete; they contribute to LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) points on your project.

The tables below detail subsections of the LEED® Rating System (Version 2.2) where fabric forms contribute:

Fastfoot® & Fastbag®

Main section	Subsection	Detail	Explanation
Sustainable Sites	Prereq 1	Construction Activity Pollution Prevention	With conventional footing forms, concrete is poured directly on the ground, contaminating the water table with cement toxins. With Fastfoot®, the concrete is poured into a membrane, preventing all ground water contamination.
Materials & Resources	Prereq 1	Storage & Collection of Recyclables	Lumber formed concrete footings are not environmental because of transportation, storage, and waste. Approximately 35% of lumber forms are sent to the landfill. Fabric forms are very green: 300 times lighter and 1% the space of lumber, and stay in place to prevent ground moisture entering the concrete and causing mold and health issues.
Materials & Resources	Credit 2.1	Construction Waste Management: Divert 50% From Disposal	Fabric forms divert 100% of forming materials from disposal. Any lumber used is completely protected by Fastfoot® from concrete damage and is reused.
Materials & Resources	Credit 8 (Canada)	Durable Building	Fastfoot® prevents rapid hydration leading to stronger and more durable concrete. Lumber forms lead to excessive drying and weaker concrete.
Materials & Resources	Credit 8 (Canada)	Durable Building	Fastfoot® eliminates rising damp, thereby preventing the deterioration of the building structure and interior finishes from mold and dampness.
Indoor Environmental Quality	Credit 3.1	Construction IAQ Management Plan: During Construction	Fabric forms for footings stay in place to act as a permanent membrane, preventing rising damp through the concrete and into the building interior. Elevated moisture levels are linked to mold and the proliferation of other indoor air borne pathogens that directly affect human health.
Innovation & Design Process	Credit 1.1	For innovative performance not specifically addressed by LEED®	Fabric formwork for concrete footings is a dramatic innovation over temporary lumber forms. This technology is not only more efficient than lumber forms, but offers ongoing benefits to the building occupants for the life of the structure.

Fast-Tube™

Main section	Subsection	Detail	Explanation
Site Selection	Credit 1	Avoid development of inappropriate sites & reduce the environmental impact from the location	Fast-Tube™ fabric formed concrete columns can minimize the disruption of the foundation excavation on indigenous vegetation.
Materials & Resources	Credit 2.1	Construction Waste Management: Divert 75% From Disposal	Fast-Tube™ is weatherproof: unaffected by moisture. Cardboard column forms weaken with moisture, leading to jobsite waste. Fast-Tube™ comes on a 120' roll and is cut to an exact length without waste.
Materials & Resources	Credit 3.1	Materials Reuse: 10%	When the Fast-Tube™ is stripped from the column, it is used as an under slab membrane, preventing rising damp.