The Advantages to Using Insulated Concrete Forming in Construction

NATIONAL REPORT—Over the past several years public awareness of climate change has lead to a significant shift in the way we all live our lives. This public awareness has also lead to a groundswell of support for green facilities design that supports the desire to save the planet by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and natural resources like forest timber. One integral component in green facilities design is the method of construction, and the method of construction that is the greenest is insulated concrete forming (ICF). ICF is widely used and recognized and has been used successfully for both residential and commercial/institutional applications for more than 20 years.

Quite simply, the concrete forms used to pour the concrete into are an insulating material, usually polystyrene, which are left in place after the concrete sets, becoming the insulation cast on the inside and outside of the monolithic concrete wall. Different thicknesses of polystyrene on the inside and outside of the concrete give one different insulating R Factors (2 inches of polystyrene on both sides of an 8-inch-thick concrete wall is a solid R20 for example). So how does this ICF method of construction contribute to green and the bottom line?

Poured monolithic concrete walls coupled with cast in place insulating forms create an air tight insulated building envelope that dramatically reduces air leakage, energy use and HVAC requirements. Savings on energy consumption can be enormous, up to 50 percent in some cases. For a smaller facility that can be a significant savings but as the facility size increases the energy savings year over year become astronomical. In most cases heating and air-conditioning equipment can also be sized smaller, resulting in capital equipment savings. Even if existing facilities design utilizes concrete or block systems, the cast in place insulation adds an automatic insulation layer inside and out. The insulation factor is consistent and complete.

Improvement in Indoor Air Quality

Air quality is a concern in all structures. ICF construction dramatically improves indoor air quality when compared to conventional building methods. Essentially air tight ICF structure allows for a “neutral” interior air space allowing efficient engineering of ventilation systems for better air flow primarily because there are no drafts, air leakages or convection currents.

ICF limits the infiltration of pollens and dust from the outside. Low-emitting ICF materials eliminate harmful offgassing and VOCs within the structure. These harmful contaminants are typical in most structures but the ICF materials are inert and do not give off these types of gases. ICF reduces or removes organics such as wood and plywood, eliminating food sources for mold and mildew. ICF construction dramatically reduces the effects of mold and mildew.

ICF construction eliminates the usage of already dwindling natural resources such as wood. It has been said that a typical 1,700-square-foot structure can use up to an acre of forest timber during its construction. ICF buildings have extended lifecycles, contributing to sustainable architecture. Materials used within ICF are typically recycled plastic and Styrofoam panels which are recyclable. The system design allows for minimal waste and the minimal waste produced is recyclable which means no material ends up in landfills.

Construction cycles on commercial facilities can be lengthy. What if you could reduce the construction cycle time so that your facility could open sooner? What would that be worth to you? In most cases ICF structures can be put up more quickly, cutting down on the lead time of a new facility. ICF construction is cost effective when compared to other methods of erecting a commercial building. Cost comparisons of typical block or tilt up structures to ICF usually end up being favorable to the ICF system.

More Reasons to Consider ICF

The following are some additional advantages to using ICF:

• Poured and cured concrete is virtually indestructible.
• In tests conducted, wind speeds as little as 70 miles per hour (mph) are enough to send a projectile through a conventionally framed wall while that same projectile at 103 mph will not penetrate an ICF wall.
• Steel reinforced concrete ICF walls have far more resistance to the shear forces of an earthquake than framed construction.
• ICF walls dramatically reduce noise due to wind, weather, traffic and other outside noise sources. It is said that only one-fourth to one-eighth as much sound penetrates a concrete structure as compared to a wood framed wall.
• ICF structures provide maximum protection for families and businesses.
• Concrete walls do not allow the passage of flame, and in tests conducted heat conduction through a concrete wall can be four times less than a conventional framed structure.

Which ICF system will provide the best overall performance? As mentioned previously, ICF has been around for a long time. Traditional ICF systems on the market today are a block or “Lego” type system. Although these systems give you the benefits of an ICF structure, the problem with using them is that they are more expensive and complex than they need to be.

There is one ICF on the market today, a patented, proven system that uses a more familiar, simple vertical panel rather than the other more complex block systems. It is called the TF System, a vertical insulated concrete form (VICF) that has been in limited use in the U.S. Midwest for more than 16 years. The TF System changes the game in ICF construction by eliminating some of the expense and quality issues that have plagued the block ICF systems for years.

Assembly of the VICF TF System is 25 percent to 30 percent faster than traditional ICF systems, making speed to completion for commercial facilities even faster. On large complicated facilities this is extremely significant and can sometimes be measured in months. With the TF System complex architectural features such as tall walls, round walls, odd angled and odd height walls are no problem and can be quickly and effectively constructed.

Think seriously and strategically about future facilities requirements, and consider TF System Vertical ICF, a cost effective alternative to more traditional methods of commercial construction. It can be a major contributor to making your facilities green and at the same time more profitable.

Mark Hicks is co-owner of GreenForm Systems Inc., a provider of best in class, cost effective, environmentally friendly building solutions for residential and commercial applications. Located in historic Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada, GreenForm serves the Canadian and Northeastern United States marketplace. Mark can be reached at mhicks@gbscanada.com.