ICF: what is it, history & pros and cons

ICF: what is it, main principles, and pros and cons.

What is an Insulated Concrete House?

Insulated concrete house (ICH) is a house that is made using insulated concrete forms, or ICF. ICF, in its turn, is a system of expanded polystyrene (EPS) rigid insulation blocks separated by plastic webbing. Instead of the traditional wood plank or plywood form, ICH is used to pour a concrete wall. 

In easy words – ICF is a way of building your house as a lego construction. 

They come in interlocking sections, like Lego, which makes them easy for construction and ensures a tight-fitting section of the wall. 

The blocks are laced with rebar and the space in between the blocks is filled with concrete. 

To be concise – ICH increases your home's comfort, reduces energy bills, and minimizes your environmental footprint.

But let’s take a closer look.

History of ICF

While it may seem like ICF is a new material, it’s mostly because it was not as widely used. Right now, because of the increased availability and the lumber price going up, building with ICF is becoming more and more common.

The first building that featured ICF walls was developed back in the late 1960s. The patent for a foam concrete form was filed by Canadian contractor, Werner Gregori, in 1966. However, a primordial form of ICF framework dates even further. The first “building-block” patent was submitted in 1907 by L. R. Franklin.

Since then, the adoption of ICF construction has only become more popular. It steadily increased in 1970, but was hampered for a while by lack of awareness and building codes. The confusion caused by differences in ICF designs from different manufacturers also didn’t do it any good.

Now, construction with ICF is a part of most building codes and is accepted in most countries worldwide.

What are the main benefits of ICF?

There’s plenty of benefits when it comes to building with insulated concrete forms, but today we’re going to take a look at the six main ones.

1. Saving construction costs

Combining the traditional six-step construction process reduces the loss of raw materials compared to wood-framed structured houses. ICF can be less labor-intensive and minimize material costs during the construction process.

2. Enhancing customization

The insulated concrete wall has higher plasticity and adaptability in the appliance of different building shapes; no matter if it is an arc or any unique wall shape, they can all be perfectly showcased by ICF

3. Eternizing longevity

The service life of the insulated concrete building can exceed 100 years, and the wall reaches up to four hours of fire resistance pre-testing. It also requires the least follow-up maintenance amongst various building materials.

4. Lifelong durability

ICH has a high tolerance for extreme climate changes. When traditional wood-framed houses encounter long and cold Canadian winters, they undergo significant thermal expansion and contraction, resulting in the deformation of the house’s structure. In contrast, ICF can prevent such situations and provide the building with higher durability.

5. Increasing insulation & energy efficiency

Insulated concrete walls can improve the energy efficiency of the building. The two layers of insulation walls provide high, continuous insulation and low air infiltration. Without the heat conduction effect, heat loss is significantly reduced inside the building.

6. Increasing the soundproof capacity

The insulated concrete wall is highly soundproof. With the 6” concrete core, the Sound Transmission Class (STC) can be rated 50 to 55. Compared to traditional wood-framed walls, only 20% to 25% of the sound wave can travel through walls.

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