Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
Insulated concrete forms (generally) are constructed with a stay-in-place polystyrene form and concrete placed into the center of the wall. The polystyrene acts as a form for the wall when the concrete is curing and then as insulation for the wall once the concrete has hardened. All ICF’s are not the same, (structurally-speaking) they can be lumped into one of three categories:
Flat-grid is basically a solid concrete wall. Waffle-grid is a series of horizontal and vertical concrete members with a thin concrete wall to fill the void between them. Screen-grid has horizontal and vertical members, but does not have any concrete between these members.
Manufacturer’s also differ in the way they construct the polystyrene forms. The dimensions of the form vary, some forms use less space in shipping, and others blend additional materials into the polystyrene.
ICF construction has some advantages over traditional stick frame (wood) construction. It is very long lasting, does not rot, has excellent sound attenuation, and is excellent at moderating a consistent indoor temperature.
At NorthStar Engineering we are familiar with ICF construction and have the expertise to work effectively and efficiently in the design of your building.
For additional information, feel free to contact us directly at (530) 893-1600
The following is a list of some of the manufacturers we have worked with in the past: Quad-Lock, Rastra, Arxx, Nudura, Royal Building Systems, Formtech, Eco-Block, Amvic and Logix.
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| Quad-Lock | Royal Building Systems | ARXX |
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| RASTRA | NUDURA |
