ICF Buildings
We are pleased to demonstrate the exciting structural applications that ICF can be used for and how we can help Homeowners, Builders, Architects and Developers to confidently incorporate it into their ICF building projects
ICF is already a game-changer new build housing estates, custom home designs, extensions, basements, retaining walls and swimming pools.
Planning to use ICF professionally? We are creating a new training course specifically for those new to ICF, covering history, design compliance, construction details and site management. Reach out to learn more!
ICF is an exciting future for architects
There is no doubt that the number of ICF Buildings will increase substantially over the next 5 years.
This rapid increase will result in many architects looking to build their reputation for using this exciting new system. ICF Buildings can incorporate dramatic cantilevers and wide wall openings without needing tons of expensive steelwork will appeal to anyone that wants to build an eye-catching property.
Need ICF Technical Advice?
Are you currently working on an ICF Builidng Project? Do you want to maximise its benefits and ensure best practices? Connect directly with our structural engineers for expert guidance. The drawing on the right illustrates how reinforced ICF walls can eliminate the need for steel columns and their costly foundations in an ICF Building.
Any build, better with ICF
Modern ICF Home Design
Many ICF Building projects incorporate very modern designs with large open areas and wide areas of glazing. ICF can be very useful in these circumstances because when it is reinforced the amount of structural steelwork required can be substantially reduced – especially if the Structural Engineer is experienced in the design of ICF.
Curved walls are extremely difficult to build in reinforced concrete or brickwork, but really easy using ICF. And those expensive steel and timber frames that are on 3/4 month delivery schedules can be omitted by using reinforced ICF building walls.
There are various techniques that make the construction of ICF houses more economic and quicker to construct. Find out more:
Versatile construction
Extensions, Garages, Basements & Pools
Unlock the benefits of using Insulated Concrete Formwork in your new building project, whether it’s an extension, garage, basement or pool.
Thinking about building under permitted development? Get the answers here.
Extensions
ICF is ideal for small or large single/double storey extensions and can be built very quickly at economical costs.
Garages
ICF’s inherent strength and durability provide extra protection for vehicles and stored goods. Offering comfortable working environments for hobbies or workshops.
Basements
The solid concrete core of ICF provides a continuous, watertight wall to provide superior protection from moisture, pests and extreme weather.
Pools
ICF creates a highly durable, insulated, robust pool structure. ICF is the most cost effective method to build high quality pools.
Superior construction
Flats / Office Blocks
Apartment blocks and office blocks are similar in most respects but every apartment has to be separated from the adjoining apartments and the common areas. ICF walls are ideal for corridors, staircase wells and lifts where firewalls are required in blocks up to 11m high – the current maximum allowed build height in an ICF structure.in England (It is 18m in Wales and Northern Ireland)
The fire compartmentation for offices is less onerous and in small office blocks normally only requires fire resistant floors and escape routes.
The structural design approach to ICF flats and office buildings is different, because of the fire requirements as ICF can act as vertical separation walls and support beam and block floors spanning between the separation walls.
In many instances there are requirements for retail premises on the ground floor with 4 or 5 floors of apartments above. ICF is ideal for these situations as a structural steel frame may not be required, even though some floors will need steel beams to reduce the spans.
Versatile construction
Retaining Walls
The strength of concrete, the efficiency of ICF: retaining walls redefined.
Need structural engineer guidance for your project? Find out more here.
Garden Ret. Walls
ICF can be used as an extremely economic and rapid way of building concrete retaining walls of up to 3m high, When used to build agricultural units the walls can retain crops such as sugar beet or grains and the steel rafters forming the roof structure can be bolted to the ICF walls so that steel stanchions and their expensive foundations are not needed.
King Post Walls in Restricted Spaces
In this instance, the wall can be designed as a king-post wall that will not even need to be reinforced. A series of post holes are drilled in the ground and a 152 x 152 Universal Column section is placed in each hole, lined up with all the others by stringline and then concreted in. 200mm core ICF forms are then placed over the UC sections to form the wall.
Styled in your own way
Wall Finishes
Any traditional wall finished such as a 100mm wide facing brick of stone skin can be provided in an ICF Building project. They will need bricklayers and masons but the interior of the dwelling can be worked on and completed at the same time as the wall finishes. Alternatively, timber or composite cladding can be used and is very easy to fix to the ferrule strips inside the ICF forms.
However, there is no doubt that a full skin brick wall will always be more expensive and slower to build than acrylic render applied on the surface of the ICF. Alternatively, brick or stone slips can also be used. These save a lot of time in an ICF builidng and the high shear strength of the Neopor Insulation in ICF allows heavy slip systems provided the adhesive is strong enough.
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