What are Insulated Concrete Forms?

Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are hollow foam blocks which are stacked into the shape of the exterior walls of a building, reinforced with steel rebar, and then filled with concrete. Insulated concrete forms combine one of the finest insulating materials, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), with one of the strongest structural building materials, steel reinforced concrete. The result is a wall system of unmatched comfort, energy efficiency, strength and noise reduction.  more

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are hollow blocks or panels made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) that construction crews stack into the shape of the exterior walls of a residential or commercial building. Reinforcing steel is than added and the gap between the two layers of foam is filled with concrete, which cures and hardens into a monolithic core. The EPS stays in place. This combination of concrete, steel and foam creates an incredibly strong and energy-efficient structure.

Insulated concrete forms are hollow molds made of polystyrene that assemble like building blocks to construct walls. The empty forms interlock in customizable patterns and are held together with connectors and rebar. Once laid out and assembled, the forms are filled with concrete. The new technology of insulated concrete forms unites the benefits of concrete with superior insulation, stability, and environmental friendliness. Those overseeing residential and commercial construction benefit from many advantages of choosing insulated concrete forms over wood framing. Of course, concrete is extremely solid and durable because it can't be devoured by insects, deluged by flood, damaged by fire, or deformed by humidity. Using molds streamlines the labor-intensive process of forming concrete walls. The insulated concrete forms themselves are made of recycled material, like plastic ties and foam cups, so they don't adversely affect the environment with deforestation. Most importantly, the ...  more

For new construction, pre-insulated foundation panels called insulating concrete forms (ICFs) can simplify the task while achieving superior performance. Sometimes referred to a "permanent forms," ICFs are hollow foam blocks that snap together to create formwork that doubles as insulation. The hollow core is filled with concrete to make a strong, well-insulated wall. There are now dozens of manufacturers. Answer excerpted from Eric Corey Freed's column, Ask the Green Architect on greenerbuildings.com.  more