News

INTEGRASPEC ICF EXTERNAL SUPERSTRUCTURE WALLING SYSTEM

20/07/2023

Insulated external solid wall construction methods like ICF can offer numerous additional advantages when compared to other traditional methods of walling. This tried and tested construction system has been around since the Second World War when a simple build method was needed for rebuilding various badly bombed European cities.

Today, the application method and materials remain largely the same. Typically, two panels of insulating material connect to create a building block structure (these are either a pre-moulded form or connected through plastic ties. Concrete is then poured into a cavity between the panels, which creates an incredibly airtight, energy-efficient, and resilient structure.

BUILDING WITH INTEGRASPEC ICF EXTERNAL WALLING

It is the simplicity of ICF that makes it particularly appealing and incredibly fast to work with. A standard, single-story structure can easily be constructed in as little as a few days!

The ICF blocks are stacked, like blockwork or bricks, but instead of needing a bedding material such as mortar, they instead lock via a raised profile along the edge of the formwork. The walls are usually built in stages, typically to a ground floor height at first, before concrete is poured into the blocks. The process repeats until full building height is achieved.

WILL ICF RESTRICT MY DESIGN?

IntegraSpec ICF blocks have the capability to create almost any design, from a traditional farmhouse to a contemporary home with bespoke shapes or curved walls. This gives your architect the opportunity to set your creativity free!

SUSTAINABILITY

When considering sustainability, a recent report by the Environmental Audit Committee, ‘Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction’ encourages the adoption of a Whole Life Carbon (WLC) assessment. This offsets the amount of carbon created during construction over the emissions created in heating or cooling the building.