History
Early Research & Development
In 1950 Barry Beazley, the third generation of a family of successful builders in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, pioneered the idea of pre-cutting timber framework for wood homes. He observed "kit homes" as a solution for mass housing demand for post-war New Zealand and for nations whose anticipated population growth would place an enormous strain on natural resources. At the same time, he foresaw a future where forest conservation would be vital to protect dwindling supplies of timber. He embarked on a research program utilizing steel and earth related mineral composites to produce ecologically sound housing components.
The resulting prefabricated system could be built quickly using local unskilled labor. "Beazley Homes" was awarded major housing contracts in Papua New Guinea and Western Australia. Transporting tons of material over roadless terrain in tropical rainstorms and facing cargo losses of up to 20% fueled the dream of creating superior building materials. The seed for "Force 10" had been planted.
By 1973 the Beazleys had constructed well over 16,000 houses in New Zealand and completed many overseas contracts. In 1973 Beazley Homes was awarded the New Zealand Export Award of the Year. At the pinnacle of this achievement, Barry Beazley sold "Beazley Homes". However, he did not part with the results of his research and development, known then as the Mark 6 Panel System. This was the forerunner of the Force 10 System.
Research and Development 1974-1987
Barry Beazley had entered a 10-year "non-compete" agreement when he sold "Beazley Homes". With time on his side, he began to look for "the ultimate building system." He observed the weaknesses of other component systems and the inherent problems of building in many third world countries due to lack of infrastructure, lack of a skilled workforce, and vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
In 1984, with the expiration of the restraint of trade clause, the Beazleys were ready for the next step in developing the Force 10 System. Simplicity of manufacture became a key word. With a focus on tooling and machinery, enhanced by improving computer technologies, great strides were taken in 1986 and 1987. By late 1987 the prototype Force 10 System was ready for test production.
Force 10 in the Caribbean: 1993-Present
In December 1991, David Holzman, a designer and contractor with 20 years experience building in the tropics, read an article about Force 10 in Popular Mechanics titled "Hurricane Force House". Having experienced the wrath of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, which had laid waste to most of St. Croix and much of St. Thomas, he foresaw Force 10 as a viable solution to the unique building requirements of the Caribbean and Latin America. The Force 10 System was not only engineered to withstand hurricane force winds and earthquakes, but was also resistant to fire, termites, and rot, all problems that plague most conventional construction methods and materials used in the Caribbean.
Since 1993 over 250 homes have been built in the Caribbean. These homes proved themselves in Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in 1995, Bertha in 1996, and, most recently, Hurricane Georges, a storm responsible for billions of dollars worth of damage in the Caribbean in 1998. All Force 10 buildings, from large scale affordable housing developments to custom designed exclusive vacation rental homes, have received positive reviews from happy homeowners and government housing inspectors. The Force 10 homes have clearly demonstrated that they are easier to build, very cost competitive, less costly to maintain, cooler, and, of course, hurricane "safe." Force 10 is now being sought out in Caribbean and Latin American locations that are not even in the "hurricane belt" due to the speed of construction and lowered labor costs.
Whether you are a family planning your dream home, an architect designing a resort development or a housing administrator formulating a project budget, the Force 10 System can help you build stronger, faster and better for less money.
