January 2006-Domes Make Debut at 06 International Builders Show

Carol Lanham • Published • Press Release Library

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carol Lanham
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HURRICANE-RESISTANT DOME HOMES TO MAKE THEIR DEBUT AT THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL BUILDERS SHOW IN ORLANDO

Monolithic Domes in Gulf Coast Survived Recent Hurricanes with No Structural Damage

DALLAS (January 2006) – Monolithic Dome homes, steel-reinforced, all-concrete buildings that meet Federal Emergency Management Agency’s standards for near-absolute protection from hurricanes and cost up to 50 percent less to heat and cool than traditional buildings, will be making their debut at the 2006 International Builders Show in Orlando in January. Visit Booth S13122 to learn more about these unusual structures from the exhibitor, the Monolithic Dome Builders Association (MDBA.)

Dozens of Monolithic Dome buildings that were in the path of the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes doubled as disaster shelters, keeping occupants safe inside and sustaining no structural damage. Dome of a Home (pictured above), a Monolithic Dome in Pensacola Beach, Florida survived a direct hit from Hurricane Ivan with no structural damage as an NBC News crew reported on the fierce storm from the safety of the dome’s interior.
For more information about Monolithic Domes, visit www.monolithic.com.

Unlike their predecessor, the geodesic dome, which uses a complex network of triangular pieces to replicate the shape of a sphere, Monolithic Domes are one-piece structures with a smooth surface that is literally shaped like an egg. The materials used in the construction of Monolithic Domes, combined with their shape, account for their strength.

Foregoing hammer and nails, Monolithic Dome builders utilize giant fans, canvas tarps, and a liquid concrete similar to the kind used in swimming pool construction.

Construction begins with the placement of plumbing and special electrical conduits and the pouring of a circular foundation. This round foundation features special anchors around the perimeter that hold in place the Airform, an inflatable tarp made of tough, single-ply roofing material that creates the shape of the dome.

After inflation, construction moves to the interior. As fans keep the Airform inflated, the interior is sprayed with a polyurethane insulation material in several stages, finally totaling about three inches. A grid of steel rebar is then attached to the foam, making the inside of the dome look like a giant birdcage. Finally, the rebar grid is embedded in a 2- to 3-inch layer of the liquid concrete known as Shotcrete.

The result is a strong and permanent structure that meets FEMA criteria for near absolute protection not only from hurricanes, but from tornadoes as well.

The insulating foam combined with the thermal mass of the concrete means that domes cost significantly less to heat and cool than traditional buildings. Over the long run, domes actually pay for themselves in the savings derived from utility expenses.

The Texas-based Monolithic Dome Institute (MDI), which trains builders on the unusual construction method, has seen a surge in interest in its five-day workshops since the string of hurricanes hit the Gulf Coast. Many would-be dome owners have been calling for more information, including details on how to apply for the same type of FEMA grant that helped finance part of the construction of Dome of a Home.

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EXPERT LIST

The following contacts can provide more information about Monolithic Domes and their hurricane-resistant features.

Andrew South, President of Monolithic Dome Builders Association, 208-241-7232

David South, President of the Monolithic Dome Institute, Italy, Texas, 972-483-7423

Jim Kaslik, Cloud Hidden Designs, Asheville, North Carolina, 336-480-5581

Eric Crandall, Crandall Design Group, Mesa, Arizona, 480-833-3594