Insulated Concrete Form - Foam

The basic materials used in making a wall with insulated concrete forms are concrete, re-bar and expanded polystyrene forms. By looking these basic materials up in the ERG you can find diagrams of the materials breakdowns which were assembled above.

The resources needed for assembling and installing insulated concrete forms are simple. The only real piece of machinery that is used is a pump truck to pump the concrete into the forms. The rest can be done by laborers with simply a ladder.

• "The ECO-Block® building system does not contain CFCs, HCFCs, formaldehyde, asbestos or fiberglass. The EPS used in the ECO-Block® forms is completely stable and inert, and it will NOT break down over time."
• "ECO-Block® foam is hypoallergenic, which can be very important for those with sensitive skin.2 It does NOT produce any fumes or gasses once installed."
• "Building with ECO-Block® greatly reduces the air infiltration into a structure, thereby allowing for greater control of the quality of the interior air. There are no drafts or cold spots."

• "ECO-Block® buildings consistently save 25- 50% in monthly utility costs 1ver the life span of the structure, translating into fewer resources consumed for the creation of energy. Beyond the insulating qualities of the foam block (R-22), the thermal mass of the concrete acts as an energy reservoir, which helps maintain an even indoor temperature. Consequently, the HVAC system can be scaled down by up to 35%, offering another added cost savings."
• "There is no use of CFC or HCFC blowing agents that would escape into the atmosphere. This means ZERO Ozone Depletion Potential (O.D.P.). Since Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is expanded to approximately 50 times its original volume, it is a very efficient and economical use of basic raw material. ECO-Block® uses recycled material whenever possible. All of the embedded webbing and a percentage of the connectors are manufactured from 100% post-industrial recycled copolymer polypropylene. Concrete itself is inert, non-toxic, and produced from natural and recycled materials."
• "The ECO-Block® construction method involves minimal waste and all residual pieces can be recycled or reused in future projects. A structure built with ECO-Block® and concrete is more likely to withstand the ravages of fire, high winds, driving rains and earthquake. There is no wood rot or rodent damage and termites can't eat concrete; hence there is little maintenance or need to rebuild, improving the cost efficiency of the product over the lifetime of the building."

• "An average 2,000ft² home built with ECO-Block® can save up to 47 trees, which would have been cut for creating lumber."
• "Manufacturing waste is kept to less than 3%, which is generated in the set-up of the forms. Waste EPS material can be reground and reused in other EPS foam products"
• "ECO-Block® is 50% more efficient to ship and handle than other Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) since it is sold in flat panels that pack tightly, thereby shipping virtually no air space. A UV protective plastic wrap is used to contain a bundle of panels during shipping and storage."
• "ECO-Block® is manufactured in several strategic locations throughout North America, generally within about 500 miles of any job site. Concrete is always sourced locally. This both supports the local economy and saves on transportation costs."

• "LOGIX homes are airtight structures. This makes airflow and ventilation easier to control and monitor. The
  end result is a healthier, comfortable environment for occupants, and a reduction in HVAC capacity."

Source: Logix, Logix Brochure

• "The high R-value, along with high thermal mass and reduced air infiltration, allow LOGIX walls to deliver significantly higher performance levels."
• "Although the up-front construction cost of a LOGIX home may be slightly higher than a traditional wood-framed home, the actual ?overall living? cost is often lower when energy savings are considered."

• "LOGIX ICF walls conserve precious natural forest resources and their energy efficiency reduces fuel consumption."
• "The combination of the LOGIX continuous foam insulation and the thermal mass properties of insulated concrete provide a high thermal resistance wall system that reduces the peak heating and cooling loads on the building. This thermal envelope produces an airtight structure and reduces air leakage and energy use."

•  "Our ICFs improve thermal comfort by reducing air infiltration from the outside."

•  "Our ICFs help minimize energy use and optimize performance. Heating and cooling costs are reduced as much as 50% to 80%."
• "There are no CFCs, HCFCs or formaldehyde used in the manufacturing process"

•  "Because our ICFs are so light and because of our multiple plants, Reward forms require fewer fossil fuels to ship."
• "100% of the installation waste is recyclable"
• "and of course fewer wood products are used in our buildings."

• RISK "To protect against potential damage from wood-boring insects, some EPS foam used in ICFs contains borates, which are benign to humans and the environment; however, the brominated flame retardants used in most EPS foam have health and environmental risks that are generating significant concern."

     The claims made by these manufacturers must be taken with a grain of salt.  These claims may be true but there information may be presented to influence the potential customer. For example, the way a company measures an r-value may not be the same as another company, so comparing the r-values may be difficult. As suggested by greenbuilding.com try to look for the "steady state" r value when making comparisons.

     Another thing to consider is that the manufacturer's did not mention any risks involved with their system.  I found one risk associated with IFC's from greenbuilding.com which was giving information about the system and not trying to sell anything.