THE MECHANICS OF ICFS
Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are used as a forming system for steel-reinforced, poured concrete walls. They replace traditional wall assembly systems including poured and CMU (Concrete Masonry Unit) walls and are used for exterior, interior, load-bearing and separation walls in commercial and residential construction.
There is a wide variety of ICFs on the market, but generally, ICFs consist of two pieces of expanded Polystyrene (EPS) held together with plastic or steel ties. The forms are stacked to form a wall, strengthened with steel rebar and filled with concrete. The forms remain in place and become part of the wall after the concrete is poured.
Icon Structures specializes in ICF construction because there simply is no other wall system that even approaches the benefits of ICF walls for everyone from architect or designer, to engineer, to builder, to owner or developer.
ICF CONSTRUCTION PROVIDES:
- A value-added building that saves $$
- 40%-50% reduction in cooling tonnage requirement
- Decreased construction time
- Design flexibility — ICFs can accommodate any design feature
- Light weight materials and fewer worker injuries
- The economy of smaller crews and faster wall construction
Easy construction saves time and money
- With ICF's, the same crew puts in all exterior walls, the insulation, and the furring simultaneously, speeding up construction time.
- Factory molded 90° and 45° corners also cut construction time.
- With faster construction and less cleanup, the cost of your job site maintenance is reduced.
- The concrete in an ICF wall cures to 50% stronger than that in a standard poured wall.
- With ICF walls you can downsize your HVAC requirements by as much as 30%-50%
Safer and More Efficient
ICF steel-reinforced concrete walls will keep those who live and work in your buildings safe from high windstorms and fire. Since ICF forms stay in place and become part of the wall, the concrete within the forms continues to cure to as much as 50% greater in strength than the concrete in standard removable forms. Fire safety is another benefit of ICF construction. Many ICF brands have earned three-hour ratings, which exceed most building code requirements.
More Durable
The energy efficiency of ICF walls can reduce your heating and cooling costs by 25% to 70%. Your energy savings, combined with the possibility of lower insurance rates, and virtually no continuing maintenance costs, means that your life cycle costs will be much lower than with conventional commercial construction.
More Comfortable
ICF walls create a solid, continuous wall that eliminates air infiltration and uncomfortable drafts, hot and cold spots and wide temperature fluctuations. Since only controlled, filtered air comes inside, the people in your buildings will enjoy air quality that is virtually free of all airborne pollen, mold, mildew, dust and other allergens. And with a Sound Transmission Class rating of 49, ICF walls will ensure that the interior environment of your buildings is not only comfortable, but quiet as well. ICF walls reduce the noise of heavy equipment operating right outside, to the level of a whisper inside. Road and air traffic is virtually inaudible.