Benefits of ICF Construction

ICF Construction also offers the following benefits:

• Insulated Concrete Form walls create a thermal envelope including a airtight  structure which results in energy cost savings of 50% to 80% on heating and cooling.
• Insulated Concrete envelopes allow for a better air quality control procedure providing a healthier more comfortable environment including cost savings in downsizing of HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) requirements.
• Insulated Concrete Walls will not support mould or mildew growth,and walls also will not rot.
• Insulated Concrete Walls have a concrete core which makes them stronger and more durable greatly improving the life cycle of the building.
• During the building process there is less waste an from a ICF project reducing landfill impact. In most locations the ICF foam can be recycled.
• Integrating ICF with Solar or wind technology allows for the greater potential for a Net Zero  building project.
• Besides offering the above benefits,ICF construction also provides a safety feature that can provide savings to insurance costs. ICF homes are significantly stronger than wood frame construction ,they are built in tornado and hurricane areas due to their exceptional ability to withstand extreme weather. ICF walls have a fire rating of three to four hours far exceeding wood frame 30 minute to one- hour preformance.
• ICF construction also creates a quiet environment,the STC ratings varies from 44 to 51+. ICF beneficial for Media and Theatre rooms,Cold storage and Emergency Safe Rooms.

Green and Passive Buildings with ICF

ICF 's are inherently green from the raw materials to the installations, no CFC's, HCFC's or formaldehyde are used in the manufacturing process. Leeds - ICF Blocks Systems qualifies in four out of six for leed categories.

Green building is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource - efficient throughout a building's life - cycle from design, construction, operation and maintenance. Eliminating the negative impact of building on the environment and building occupants. 

Passive building:is a voluntary standard for energy in a building, which reduces the building's ecological footprint, it results in an ultra low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. It is a building standard. Passive House is considered the most rigorous voluntary, energy - based standard in the design and construction industry today, resulting in buildings that consume as much as 90 percent less heating and cooling energy than conventional buildings do. Applicable to almost any building type or design, the Passive House (Passivhaus) highperformance building standard is internationally recognized, science-based and proven.

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.