What is a Cempo form?

Cempo Forms is a building system comprised of a mixture of Portland cement and recycled polystyrene creating a stay-in-place concrete form. The name Cempo stands for CEMent POlystyrene. A series of channels run horizontally, vertically and diagonally throughout the forms. The channels, spaced 16 inches on center, are filled with structural concrete grout and rebar effectively creating a post and beam matrix inside a "sandwich" of the composite, giving it many energy efficient and design effectiveness features.

Why is Cempo construction better?

The Ancient Romans built a wide variety of structures that incorporated stone and concrete, including roads, aquaducts, temples and palaces. However, their mixing of cement, quality control and construction methods were lost for nearly 2,000 years until an inventor in Portland, England. He mixed together stone and clay, heating the mixture to very high temperatures then reground the material (Klinkers) into what has become known as Portland cement--now a worldwide standard. Portland cement, mixed with aggregates, sand and water, when poured into various forming methods creates structurely sound modern day engineering feats such as dams, sky scrapers, bridges and the common wall for commercial and residential construction. The most promising of these form systems is called Cempo Forms. Using Cempo to build eliminates an extraordinary amount of wood previously used to form and shore up walls while they set curing. Cempo stays in place, allowing all labor and material expended while building to remain within the wall, creating very little waste, becoming cost effective.

What are the advantages of a structure built with Cempo Forms rather than a "conventional" wood structure?

1. Building Codes. Cempo Forms by virtue of their material and design exceed average building codes.
2. Pest Resistant. The best way to deter termites is not to give them a food source--structures built with Cempo Forms don't use wood. Insects and rodents are unable to use these structures for migration or nesting because the concrete grout placed in the channel penetrates the surface of the form, fusing the two materials together eliminating a channel into the main structure.
3. Fire Resistance. Walls built with Cempo Forms survive fire. Cempo's composite form walls will maintain a resistance to high temperatures.
4. Wind and Earthquake Resistance. The fusing of the grout and the form creates a solid wall able to withstand high winds and earthquakes.
5. Energy Efficient and Sound Absorbing. Cempo Forms create highly effective and efficient insulation that is both energy efficient and sound absorbing. Cempo Forms structures are shielded from outside noise and create sound-resistant rooms perfect for a home theatre.
6. Long-Term Equity. Because structures built with Cempo Forms are structurally more sound and can last up to four times longer than a stick home, they provide a lasting legacy for your family.
7. Lower Insurance Costs. Your insurance bill will be substantially less because of the fire and wind resistant qualities of the Cempo Form as compared to a wood frame structure.
8. Environmentally Friendly. Polystyrene waste, one of the worst things to put in a landfill because it's bulky, light weight and doesn't break down to the environment. However, these qualities make recycled polystyrene a perfect building solution. By building with this material, which uses no wood, you are reducing the demand for trees. You're also reducing tons of polystyrene from the landfills. Cempo Forms are non-toxic.

Who can build with Cempo Forms?

If you can build a conventional structure, you can build with Cempo Forms. Cempo Forms are easily shaped because of their flexibility prior to grouting. General contractors will have no difficulty using the Forms--a Cempo Form structure is no more complicated to build than any other. For information about tools, supplies or estimates, take a look at our estimating guide. If you need a local distributor, click here.