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Elements
of Green Building
Elements of Green
Building : Structural
Elements : ICF Concrete Walls
ICF Concrete Walls
What is
it? –
First,
ICF stands for Insulating or Insulated Concrete Forms. Basically, these
are
stay-in-place concrete forms used to build exterior walls of homes or
buildings. The forms consist of a middle section, which many times
houses metal
webs used to stabilize and strengthen the concrete that will eventually
be
poured into this section to fill all gaps. Each side of the form, which
will
ultimately be the interior and exterior of the walls, consists of
insulating
material. Many times this insulator is two to four inches of foam
insulation.
So, in the finished product, your exterior walls have a concrete core
wrapped
with insulating foam.
Applications
–
ICF
systems
are most often used for exterior walls only. There are a few reasons
for this.
First, there is not a need for thick, insulating interior walls.
Second, if you
want to reconfigure interior walls, this would be a huge chore if your
walls
were reinforced concrete. There has been a trend, however, in building
a
"safe room" on the interior of a home or office which is housed by
concrete walls on each side. This room can be used for a storm shelter
or safe
haven like that in the movie, Panic Room.
- ICF systems can
be applied above or below grade
(AKA basements and storm shelters). They can also be used in
multi-story
applications.
Advantages –
Energy
Efficiency — The most common sited benefit of ICF wall
systems is
that it is superior in energy efficiency. Not only does it keep the
cold or hot
outside air from coming in, it keeps your air conditioned or heated air
from
going out. Suddenly, your air conditioner and heater barely have to run
to keep
your interior air at your optimal temperature. What does this mean for
you? You
can save 50-80% on your energy bill, depending on the doors, windows,
roofing,
etc.
Healthy—ICF
systems prevent draft and air infiltration, meaning they
prevent airborne contaminants. This is great for a homeowner because
not only
does it reduce allergens but dust, as well.
Strong- ICF wall
systems are rated to withstand extreme weather
conditions, including tornados and hurricanes. They can endure winds in
excess
of 140 miles per hour. In addition, they are rated safe for earthquake
zones
(up to zone 4), as well.
Durable—These
walls will not settle, crack, warp, rot, mildew, rust of
even vibrate when you slam a door. They do not provide food for insects
(like
termites, for example), mold, or vermin.
Quiet—ICF
wall systems decrease the amount of sound that comes in from
the outside by over half. It is the quietest building material on the
market.
Comfortable—ICF
wall systems result in an even temperature distribution
throughout the house from floor to ceiling. There is less than two
degrees
Fahrenheit variation in an ICF home, compared to conventional homes
that vary
anywhere from five to ten degrees Fahrenheit. According to ASHRAE
(American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers)
points to
uneven temperature distribution as a leading factor in people feeling
uncomfortable. The "feel" of an ICF home is unsurpassed in comfort.
Environmentally-Friendly—Aside
from it reducing energy consumption due to
heating and cooling, it also reduces construction waste. Each and every
form
will remain on the home or building. There is no construction waste
resulting
from this system whatsoever aside from the small amounts of packaging.
So, not
only are they a pleasure to you, but they are a benefit to the
environment.
Fire
Retardant—ICF systems can resist fires for up to four hours.
Even
when it starts to burn, the smoke is less toxic than burning wood.
Bullet
Proof—Standing behind a concrete wall will shield you from
any
flying objects, including bullets. Sure, the chances are slim, but this
is an
added bonus.
Premium
Reductions—Many insurance companies offer a premium reduction
for
homes with ICF system walls.
Disadvantages
–
Too Air
Tight – It is likely that you will need to install some kind
of air exchange
system. In our
constructions, we bring in
fresh air and filter it with Temperature Modification Air Exchangers.
The
air in the home will be cleaner than the air outside.
So, with this added feature, sealed homes
mean healthy air and energy efficiency.
Since when is that a bad thing?
Hard To Add
On – Concrete walls can make it more difficult for
do-it-yourselfers and “stick
and brick” contractors to add on to your home. But, just call and ICF
contractor, and they
can get the job done.
Expensive
–
ICF systems are one of the most expensive structural systems, but they
also
out-perform most other systems as well.
Misconceptions
–
Ugly - The ICF
walls are faces with
traditional building materials, including brick, rock, siding, drywall,
etc.
Therefore, you cannot tell the difference between ICF walls and
traditional
walls aside from wall thickness.
Limited in
Options - Absolutely not!
Forms are made for all sorts of shapes and sizes. Arches, curved walls,
odd
angles, etc. are all possible with ICF systems. If your builder says it
isn't
possible, insist they look at different form manufacturers or switch to
a
builder that can do these things for you. Also, these walls are great
for high
ceilings and multi-story applications.
Can't Build in
Cold Temperatures -
Wrong. The insulating foam actually allows you to build in cold
weather. Also,
in Texas, any temperature is suitable for building these walls. The
only time
you might consider time of year is in sub-arctic areas where
temperatures get
extremely low.
Limited Floor
Plan Options - Wrong
again. You can take any floor plan and have it engineered for ICF wall
systems.
Also, there are many floor plans available that are already engineered
for ICF
systems.
What makes
it “green”?
-
Reduces
construction waste because forms are not removed. They remain
to maintain the insulation and structure of the home or building.
The manufacturer also, at our request, limits the amount of
packaging that the forms come with.
-
Energy efficient
because the home is completely sealed (assuming the roofing and attic
is sealed, which it will be in one of our constructions).
Also, energy cannot penetrate the thick insulated walls
easily, leaving your home at your opportune temperature longer and with
less strain on your air conditioning and heating units.
- Because the
forms and concrete emit no VOCs and the home is sealed, the home is
extremely healthy. In our constructions, the air inside the
home will be healthier than the air outside the home.
- This structure
will last for over 100 years without needing to be replaced.
This means less waste over time rebuilding what wasn't
adequately built to begin with.
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