Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association

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ICF Installer Training Series: Introduction

Welcome to the BuildBlock ICF Installer Training Series. This 20 part video series is intended to be an educational walkthrough of the ICF building process. From the early planning phases to pouring concrete and finishing walls, this series will provide the basic knowledge you need to have a successful BuildBlock ICF build. In this brief introduction, we discuss the basic components of ICFs, possible design options, how ICFs are designed and made, and why ICFs are approved as a building material in North American building code. The videos in this series are produced as a companion to the BuildBlock Installation and Technical Manuals available for free download on the Publications Page or for purchase via the BuildBlock Online Store. You can view more videos in this series via the BuildBlock Blog or by subscribing to the BuildBlock YouTube Page. For a more in-depth training experience, you can take the free Online ICF Installer Training Course. Video Transcript Introduction Welcome to the BuildBlock ICFs Installation Training. In this short video, we will learn the basic components of ICFs, possible ICF design options, how ICFs are made, and why ICFs are approved as a building material in North American Building Codes. What are ICFs? Insulating concrete forms (ICFs) [...]

By |2020-10-15T10:52:02-05:00October 16, 2020|Video|
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ICFs and the Net Zero Design Push

The Building Science community continues to push for more stringent energy codes. Increases in insulation requirements and airtightness have become the primary mechanism to achieve higher performance. Buildings are required to use less overall energy, and where they require energy are asked to supply it themselves. Net-zero compliance is a hot topic in many North American markets. British Columbia has developed some of the strictest building code standards in the world and is leading the push towards net zero with the BC step code. The Canadian National Code is not far behind and is seeking to accomplish many of the BC step code requirements in a similar timeline. Interior During Blower Door Test The BC step code asks builders to increase the energy efficiency of buildings by a set percentage every few years. The code has a ten-year (10) target goal of every new construction project or retrofit meeting net-zero compliancy. The metric to track compliance is measured using blower door tests and specific product energy usage tests. The data from a blower door test along with utility usage from other appliances and fixtures allow for a complete calculation of energy used by the building. Each structure is then appointed [...]

By |2020-10-14T15:30:43-05:00October 14, 2020|Technical|
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Strength in the Storm: The Florida Beach House

The Florida Beach House Proves How Strong, Efficient, and Beautiful an ICF Home Can Be The ICF industry hangs its hat on a few defining benefits; energy efficiency, ease of construction, and disaster resistance. While we never hope that your home comes in contact with any kind of disaster (natural or otherwise) it is always encouraging to see our structures live up to the benefits we so proudly proclaim. The Florida Beach House is a shining example of just how strong and resilient ICF structures are as it survived a direct hit from Hurricane Irma. The design and strength of this house have helped to earn it one of the top spots at this year’s ICF Builder Awards. Project Information Name: Florida Keys Beach HouseLocation: Islamorada, FL Size: 7,972 square feet (4,501 livable) Square Footage of ICF Used: 17,672 The Home You Want, Without Compromises Located in Islamorada, Florida in the Florida Keys, this stunning 3 story beach house has everything you could want in an island oasis.  The home is airy, open, and bright with direct access to the ocean and stunning island views. The large windows throughout the house provide a great amount of natural sunlight and the [...]

By |2019-09-03T20:40:21-05:00September 3, 2019|Miscellaneous|
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ICF construction provides eco-friendly, sustainable development

With the present generations' increasing focus on saving planet earth, several key initiatives are being adopted to reduce our negative impact on the environment. One of the leading movements today is the focus on sustainable development. The expression might sound complex, but in fact, simply applies to any kind of development that meets today's needs without compromising those of tomorrow. In that spirit, construction with Insulated Concrete Forms - commonly referred to as ICF - follows the principles of sustainability to promote a better quality of life for present and future generations. ICF constructed buildings are sustainable, qualify for LEED certifications, and allow architects and engineers to come up with longer-lasting structures that use up less natural resources. In other words, ICF is synonymous with ecological efficiency. ICFs help reduce waste and emissions Not only do NUDURA ICFs allow for less waste and wastage on any given construction site, said Rector, but they also make for waste that is 100 percent recyclable. Indeed, the blocks require fewer natural resources such as gas, electricity, and wood. ICFs can generate as little as just 1 percent construction waste, and given they are produced without any CFC's, HCFC's, or chemicals, the blocks considerably [...]

By |2019-07-24T17:24:07-05:00August 22, 2019|Design|
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Looking to save on high energy costs? Build a new concrete home

The latest home-building technology is finally putting a major dent in the high cost of heating and cooling. If you are in the market to build the most energy efficient new home possible, experts recommend you should consider the many benefits of concrete. Concrete houses made using the latest advanced system of pre-fabricated, interlocking insulated concrete forms (ICFs) can help you save on energy consumption and cut your energy bills by more than half. “Our ICF system creates an envelope of superior strength, continuous insulation, conservation and energy efficiency,” explained Keven Rector at NUDURA, a leading name in building with insulated concrete forms. “They provide tighter construction and stronger insulation as the walls conserve heating and cooling energy in a muchmore efficient manner than traditional wooden-frame walls. Subsequently, monthly energy consumption bills are considerably reduced.” Concrete houses lead to an array of savings The Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) recently conducted third-party testing from CLEB Laboratories which highlights the energy savings of ICF when compared to conventional wood framing. The thermal study proves an ICF wall can achieve up to 60% energy savings and 58% greater R-value for home and building owners. How does it work? At the building [...]

By |2019-07-23T15:52:48-05:00July 30, 2019|Design|
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