America is burning. Construction practices utilizing wood frame construction in low to mid rise buildings are fueling fires in multi-story buildings nationwide. The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s (NRMCA) Build With Strength campaign is educating architects, engineers and specifiers on alternative design methods- specifically the utilization of insulated concrete forms (ICFs) in the construction of low to mid-rise residential and commercial buildings. 
Connecticut Concrete Promotion Council 's Executive Director Dominic Di Cenzo comments,” The Connecticut Ready Mixed Concrete Association (CRMCA) is part of a nationwide Build with Strength campaign to educate construction specifiers and those involved with the design and engineering of multi-story and commercial office buildings on the use of insulated concrete forms (ICFs). ICF’s offer considerable energy cost savings, reduce building sound transmission and provide storm and fire resistance. These ICF properties, when combined with concrete, produce a building that far surpasses a wood frame building as far as longevity, durability and environmental friendliness.”
Ric Suzio, of Suzio-York Hill Concrete, and Committee Chairman of the CRMCA’s Build With Strength committee, comments on the Build with Strength ICF campaign that, “We are finding that housing authorities, fire marshals and building officials are more receptive to the concept of utilizing ICF’s in their building designs. In particular, ICFs offer increased thermal resistance, fire resistance and durability. Safety buildings such as firehouses and police stations or disaster refuge buildings are ideal for ICF construction- providing a secure, fire and storm resistant construction. ICF’s, when utilized in a system with ready mixed concrete, are becoming a basic building technique for multi-story residential, municipal and commercial buildings due to their strength, energy efficiency and ease of construction.”
