Insulating Concrete Formwork or ICF is an in-situ concrete system of house building that is quick to construct and provides a highly insulated structure. It comprises lightweight EPS moulded blocks that lock together to provide a formwork system into which concrete is poured. Once set the concrete becomes a high strength structure and the formwork remains in place as thermal insulation, providing U values reaching as low as 0.11 W/m2K.              

This method differs to conventional brick and cavity systems and performs better in relation to thermal performance and thermal mass. This rapid construction process also produces minimal waste and has a much lower labour and equipment requirement. This method of construction has been growing steadily in the UK due to the increases in performance demanded by current Building Regulations, ecohomes and recently the introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Moulded from lightweight EPS, ICFs offer advantages to the designer, developer, occupier and the environment. Fast track construction, lower house running costs and superior energy performance are few of the advantages that construction with ICFs offer. 


                                                                                         Left : An EPS ICF prior to concrete pour