13 Tips On Working With Icfs

摘要

On the lookout for ever more energy-efficient building envelope solutions, a growing number of Building Teams are turning to insulating concrete forms as an alternative to light-gauge steel frame, wood frame, brick masonry, and precast concrete construction in the nonresidential market. ICFs are 4- to 10-inch-thick concrete walls poured between expanded polystyrene (EPS) forms that stay in place permanently as an insulation barrier. The result is a highly insulated, virtually airtight wall system that offers a minimum insulation value of R-20. ICF walls can reach heights of 100 feet or more, making them viable for all types of commercial buildings, including hotels, condos, K-12 schools, movie theaters, retail stores, churches, student residence halls, and office buildings. Commercial work makes up a quarter of all ICF jobs and is the fastest-growing segment for the building technology, according to the Insulating Concrete Form Association, Glenview, Ill. Yet, despite their growing popularity, ICFs are still relatively new to much of the AEC community.