INSULATING CONCRETE FORMS LIGHT AND TIGHT
Poured concrete walls alone have very little insulating value. Yet concrete can last forever, or nearly so, if it’s protected from erratic moisture changes and freeze-thaw cycles. That’s what makes ICFs an excellent structural system. They enclose both sides of a poured cement wall within a water-resistant cocoon of rigid foam. Another advantage to ICFs is that their assembly is quite simple, and the completed walls have an average insulating value of about R-22.
INSULATING CONCRETE FORMS -
VIRTUES
> Very little air infiltration
> Lightweight forms— assemble easily
> Thermal mass of concrete slows temperature swings
CAVEATS
> Exposed foam may need protection
> Some brands require additional furring strips to attach drywall and siding
LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE BLOCKS LASTING VALUE
Lightweight concrete is a structural material that’s been around since at least the 1920s. To create these blocks, the manufacturer replaces a portion of the concrete with something lighter and better insulating, such as an industrial waste product like fly ash or petroleum-based polystyrene. Some companies such as Liteblok (
www.crescoconcrete.com) use a temporary agent that leaves nothing but air gaps behind. If a product does include fly ash make sure the manufacturer provides data showing that they have carefully tested and screened the material to keep heavy metals and other toxins out of the end product.
LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE BLOCKS -
VIRTUES
> Easy to handle
> Less energy intensive than concrete
> Durable and termite proof
CAVEATS
> May not be locally manufactured
> Contractors/masons may need training
> Waste components should be tested/ verified
GLOSSARY OF TERMS KNOW THE LINGO
> Dimensional Lumber
Wood that has been cut and shaped from a single tree, typically used for framing.
> Load-Bearing Wall
A wall that helps hold up the house. Interior walls may not be load bearing, but external ones almost always are.
> Engineered Wood Products (EWP)
Structural products made in the factory from industrial wood scrap or fast-growing species, assembled with resins under extreme pressure.
> Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
A type of engineered wood panel. The thickness of OSB used in most SIPs is 7/16”.
> Fly Ash
Controversial waste by-product from coal-fired power plants. Used as a filler in some—but not all—brands of lightweight concrete blocks.
> Sound Transmission Class (STC)
Refers to how well a wall partition attenuates sound. Products such as ICFs have high STC ratings and greatly reduce noise levels inside the home.
R-CONTROL SIPS
Made with OSB laminated on to a termite-resistant EPS insulation core, R-Control SIPs are state-of-the-art. The core is also treated with EPA-approved mold resistance. A 6 1/2” panel is a respectable R-23.
www.r-control.com
BOISE CASCADE CONDITIONED AIRSPACE HVAC FRAMING
Boise Cascade’s new framing system keeps mechanicals in conditioned space, removing a major source of household energy waste. A slick suite of software creates a custom plan for your project.
www.bc.com
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