Miscellaneous

Insulated concrete form (ICF) construction enables incredible design versatility, with the blocks available in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them suitable for framing any style of building, from classic to contemporary, commercial to residential, and then finished with any cladding material.But buildings constructed with ICFs are also some of the most energy-efficient structures. With two layers of insulation on either side of the solid concrete wall, a standard-thickness ICF assembly is rated at R-23.59, with options available to achieve up to R-50. The continuous insulation creates an air-tight building envelope that eliminates the thermal bridging commonly associated with wood framing. This insulating power, combined with the thermal mass of the concrete, helps ICF walls regulate the interior temperature and reduce hot and cold drafts.It all adds up to a building that consumes almost 60 percent less energy for heating and cooling than wood-framed structures. This makes ICF construction the perfect solution for net-zero, zero-energy and passive house projects, while also earning LEED credits for energy performance, recycled components and indoor air quality.   Continue reading more here.

Hello, builders, contractors and building officials! In some municipalities there is some question as to if an ICF installer requires a certification (sometimes referred to as a Wallet Card). Well, here’s some good news: according to the key standards for ICFs like ASTM E2634, CAN-ULC 717.1, and even the national building codes, there's no requirement for ICF installers to be certified. That’s right – whether you're working under the guidelines of the IBC for commercial buildings or the NBC and IRC for residential projects, having a certificate in your pocket isn’t required. Let’s explore why this is the case and what it means for your day-to-day work. The Lowdown on ICF Standards and Building Codes First things first, the formal regulations – the prevailing standards that govern ICF construction, and the engineering specs derived under PCA 100, don’t require or even reference certified ICF installers. Even in situations where the IBC calls for special inspections, it’s not exclusive to ICF projects, and these inspections can be carried out by anyone deemed competent, certification or not. Why the Lack of Certification Requirement Makes Sense Keeping Costs in Check Mandatory certifications can drive up expenses and limit the pool of available skilled [...]

ICFMA Members Support NRMCA Build With Strength Future Schools Summit by D.C. Mangimelli, Business Development Advisor – Fox Blocks The ICFMA and several member companies participated in the recent Future Schools Summit, a resilient and high-performance schools symposium held at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This successful three-day event was held November 1st-3rd, 2022, and was organized by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), Build with Strength (BWS) coalition. The audience included; architects, design professionals, civil and structural engineers, school board members, general contractors, building envelope professionals, mechanical engineers, and several state NRMCA representatives. All desired to learn more and share experiences about the holistic approach of Net Zero Energy (NZE) or near NZE school buildings. These buildings are constructed utilizing updated modern building components like ICF as the basis of design for the building envelope. When discussing the many features and benefits that ICFs provide for school buildings, the speakers shared common experiences. Including First cost savings; cost performance when evaluated against Steel Frame or CMU; reduced construction timelines, long-term maintenance cost savings, extreme energy efficiency lowering utility costs; high sound attenuation (quieter) creating a less distracting learning environment; and increased life, safety and security [...]