CLEB LABORATORIES Thermal Study Proves BUILDING WITH INSULATING CONCRETE FORMS Can Achieve UP TO 60% in Energy Savings for Home & BUILDING owners
Ottawa, ON., June 1st, 2017 – The recent study published by CLEB Laboratories produced surprisingly revealing data; confirming dramatically superior ICF energy-efficiency providing up to 60% in energy savings for home and building owners.
For decades, the ICF Industry has been asked to provide definitive proof that thermal mass, the air-tightness and continuous insulation features of ICF walls deliver real, quantifiable benefits. Many studies have been conducted in the past by the Portland Cement Association (PCA), the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) all of which were either based on limited field comparisons or thermographic computer modelling. This is the first time a fully SCC & IAC Accredited, and international recognized testing facility has been commissioned to evaluate a realistic side-by-side comparison of the two types of wall assemblies within a single study.
The tests were conducted in strict accordance with ASTM C1363-11 “Standard Test Method for Thermal Performance of Building Materials and Envelope Assemblies by Means of a Hot Box Apparatus”. The reported results comparing the two wall assemblies prove the ICF assembly took nearly 324 hours to reach steady state performance under an exterior air temperature of -31 degrees F (-35 degrees C) whereas the wood frame wall reached steady state within 60 hours of the start of the test. CLEB’s studies have clearly illustrated when comparing the amount of energy required to maintain both walls at steady state over this same 324 hour period, the wood frame wall consumes 149% more energy than the ICF wall. Even AFTER both walls attained steady state under the test conditions, the ICF wall consumed 60% less energy than the wood framed wall specimen to maintain temperature.
What does this mean for consumers? Consider two typical 2,000 square foot wall area homes – one constructed in wood frame to permitted code minimums, the other constructed to the same wall area using ICF technology and subjecting both to the same test condition. In terms of average kWH value for all of North America, this study proves that during the most extreme cold conditions an ICF wall could end up saving up to 60% per month in equivalent electrical consumption over any traditionally constructed wood frame wall.
A PDF of this report can be found online at icf-ma.org/thermalstudy or by contacting Natalie Rodgers, Marketing Committee Chair at [email protected].
###
About the ICFMA.: The Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) is the North American
non-profit trade association for the Insulated Concrete Form industry and was founded in 2014 by a dedicated group of manufacturers with the interest of improving the quality and acceptance of Insulated Concrete Form construction.
Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA)
Suite 460, 11-300 Earl Grey Drive,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2T 1C1
