ICF & Strength

What You Should Know About ICF

A guide by the Insulating Concrete Formwork Association

How does insulated concreted formwork strength compare to other building methods?

Building a strong home might not be the first item on any homeowner’s wish list, yet the advantages it can bring to a property should never be overlooked. We explain how insulated concrete formwork strength can bring unseen benefits to your build.

Benefits Of A Strong Building

To start with, when you correctly design and construct a strong building, it will usually extend the lifespan of your property. Yet, choose your strong building material wisely and it can also increase the durability of your property, making it a suitable choice for areas at a high risk of natural disasters such as flooding.

Concrete is one such tried and tested method that for centuries has delivered on strength. Yet, the method used to construct your concrete building can help enhance the material even further. Go with ICF and each element and process of the systems plays a part in creating a strong and durable structure. A build system that works just as well above the ground as it does below and can be ideal for large openings or supporting walls.

What Is ICF?

To create a wall with ICF it requires the block, also known as formwork, which is made from either expanded polystyrene (EPS) or woodcrete. These blocks stack and interlock through a raised profile on the edge of the form. This removes the need for mortar. You then pour concrete into a central cavity in the formwork.

It is the insulating material of the ICF blocks that offer additional advantages to a structure. The blocks provide the optimum conditions for the concrete where it can set quickly but cure very slowly.

Your Project – 3 Main Benefits
Curing Process

Firstly, it is the slow curing process of the concrete within an ICF block that enables it to develop additional strength. Tests have shown that an ICF block typically has a structural strength that is around 35 newtons. This strength is greater than framed systems and traditional blockwork

Disaster Resilient

Secondly, the strength of the concrete makes ICF an ideal choice in areas at risk from the elements. The walls can easily withstand winds of up to 250mph. Under BS 85500:2015 Flood Resilient Construction guidance, ICF is recommended as an external wall-build method for homes in high flood-risk zones.

Security

Lastly, the structure also creates a fire suppression system. The concrete will not burn. That means it can withstand very high temperatures and compartmentalises the fire to prevent it from spreading internally or externally. This makes ICF a safer and cost-efficient solution that provides security and reassurance to occupants living in their homes. Most ICF walls offer a fire protection rating of up to 4-hours.

Designing a Strong Building

While concrete provides strength, it’s the ICF building blocks that provide a high level of flexibility to any project. Depending on the system and supplier you choose, ICF formwork is available with a range of supporting details. You can also cut the blocks to meet the design of a building. That enables you to create everything from curved walls to modernistic homes.

The same system can also be used for the entire build. Whether you need to build above ground or combine the ICF with steel rebar to increase overall strength for structures such as basements, supporting walls or cantilever elements. Third-party certification confirms that ICF ‘systems are satisfactory for use in loadbearing and non-loadbearing walls as permanent formwork for in-situ dense aggregate concrete.

Strong Building

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