Everyone Should Use These Concrete Forms
DIY and Pro Help With Your Home Projects
 Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) molded into lightweight foam blocks. The foam itself provides excellent insulation with an R value of R-21. The R-value of EPS remains constant. (R-values of traditional fiberglass insulation decreases when the material is wet or damaged.) IFC forms come in 6 inch and 8 inch depth and have an interconnecting stackable shape. They come in 4 standard shapes (Standard, Corner, Closed, and Pilaster) to allow various wall designs. Rebar is inserted into the cavity before the concrete is poured. Some ICFs have integral wire mesh to add strenght. This wire can also reduce the chance of a blow out while pouring the concrete. The greatest stress to most insulated concrete (ICF) walls occurs at the joints between blocks during the pouring of concrete. Blowouts can happen to this most vulnerable section of the form at this precarious time In addition to the inherent insulation value of the EPS foam, the thermal performance is enhanced by the thermal mass effect of the concrete and the absences of air infiltration in walls. The combination of the heavy concrete mass and the foam surrounding it stores heat in the winter. In the summer it moderates the rise in the indoor temperature as the outdoor temperature increases during the day. In the cool of the evening, heat stored in the concrete is radiated back to the outside atmosphere. Modified EPS contains no formaldehydes or toxic chemicals, and uses fewer resources to manufacture than other insulation products. EPS provides you with superior thermal performance to better insulate your buildings, and no harmful CFC?s have ever been used to manufacture it. You can now recycle your jobsite scrap through a network of manufacturers, re-processors, and retailers across the country. EPS is a valuable resource than can be remanufactured into foam packaging or made into an amazing array of polystyrene products. Once the concrete is cured, the polystyrene can be removed to allow for running electrical wiring. Some IFC also have a strips of thin steel inside the polystyrene. These strips are used as studs. Sheetrock can be screwed directly to the polystyrene for an energy efficient installation. Click here for more great energy saving articles. The information on this site is provided for reference only and is provided "AS IS", "AS AVAILABLE" with no guarantee of accuracy. Information comes with no warranties, express or implied. Use the information from this site at your own risk. See our disclaimer for more details. |