Insulated Concrete Forms Pass NFPA 285 Testing!
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ICFMA and NRMCA Publish ICF Fire Testing Study
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) 1065 Willow St. Pincher Creek, AB T0K 0A6 www.icf-ma.org ICFMA and NRMCA Publish ICF Fire Testing Study Alexandria, VA., July 29th, 2025 - The Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) are proud to publish the June 2025 report Investigating ICF Wall Construction Meeting the Requirements of NFPA 285. The report, authored by Arthur J. Parker, PE and Daniel A. Martin, PE, CFEI, CVFI of Jensen Hughes, details a joint research project to determine NFPA 285 compliance for exterior walls constructed of ICFs. NFPA 285 is a consensus developed fire test standard developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) referenced in the Building Codes to evaluate the surface burning characteristics of exterior wall assemblies containing combustible materials such as water-resistive barrier materials, foam plastic insulations, and combustible cladding materials. With support from NEx (An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Materials), the ACI Foundation, and the Concrete Advancement Foundation, the project included fire testing of ICF walls within various exterior wall constructions to determine wall assemblies which meet the performance criteria of NFPA 285 and the development of window opening construction [...]
Navigating Interior Finishes in Your ICF Home
If you're looking to mount a TV, kitchen cabinets, mirrors or artwork in your ICF house, you'll be pleased to know that Nudura ICF walls have built-in studs that simplify the process of attaching interior finishes. However, these aren't your typical wood studs, so finding and using these internal fastening strips is a slightly different process than you might be used to with wood-framing. Keep reading to learn how to securely attach your décor to Insulated Concrete Form walls, making your space both functional and fabulous! How Drywall Covers ICFs After the Insulated Concrete Form walls of your home are erected, the interior trades can begin. Drywall panels are screwed to the face of ICF walls using coarse-thread screws, which are secured into the built-in fastening strips. With Nudura, these strips are embedded within the ICF foam blocks and run vertically every 8 inches, providing a reliable anchor point for drywall and other hanging objects. Learn more here.
Build a Better Basement with ICFs
As the saying goes, a home is only as solid as its foundation. Concrete is well known for its dependability as a foundation building material, but Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) deliver a superior concrete wall with greater protection from the elements. So when it comes to choosing the material for your clients’ basements, here are four reasons why ICFs from Nudura® are the way to go. Durability When your customers hire you to build the home of their dreams, they want it to last. This is particularly important if you’re building in an area where wildfires, tornadoes and/or hurricanes are a risk. Nudura ICF foundations and walls begin with lightweight, stackable forms. Each form consists of two layers of 2 5/8”-thick expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation. Once stacked, the forms are filled with concrete that is reinforced with steel rebar. It’s also worth noting that, “ICFs are typically known for basements, but you can do so much more than that,” says Alberta-based builder Kody Horvey. “Any type of building can be built using ICFs.” The finished walls can endure wind speeds up to 250 miles per hour (400 kilometers per hour), equivalent to an F4 tornado, and can stand up to [...]
Building Safer, More Sustainable Schools with ICFs
As more schools seek sustainable design practices and strategies to decrease their maintenance and operational costs, Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) have emerged as the dominant construction method for new educational facilities. In this blog post, we’ll break down the applications of this building technology and how ICFs benefit school officials of all levels, the students and the community at large. What are ICFs? Insulated Concrete Forms are hollow blocks of foam insulation that are stacked, filled with concrete and reinforced with steel rebar. When the concrete cures, you’re left with a durable structural wall system that has continuous insulation on the interior and exterior of the building. ICF construction is used across residential and commercial applications for any project that needs greater strength or energy-efficiency. Continue reading full article here.
