Insulating Concrete Forms Performance Characteristics

ICF Performance Characteristics
	Conventional Wood Construction	ICF Construction	Comparison
Building Life Expectancy	80-85 years	200+ years	2-3x longer
Insulation type	Fiberglass R-19	Expanded Polystyrene	higher efficiency
R-Value of wall assembly – ASHRAE – infrared thermographic test	R-17 R-13 to R-15	R-20 - R-25 R-28 to R-50	30% higher 2x better
Air leakage – through walls –entire structure	high 0.35 Air Chg/hr	near-zero 0.09 Air Change/hr	virtually leakproof 4x better
Air changes due to leakage	8 times per day	2 times per day	4x better
Mass of 8 ft wall without coverings	32 lbs/ft	440 lbs/ft	14x more
Heat reservoir	9.2 BTU/hr/deg F	93.0 BTU/hr/deg F	10x greater
Heating/cooling cost of 1500 square-foot home	$820/year	$240/year	3x better
Sum of toxicity factors in fire (per ASTM E84)	50	less than 10 (self-extinguishing)	5x safer
Smoke generated	high	less than 170	superior
Sound insulating qualities	STC 32	STC 48	virtually soundproof
Environmental friendliness	poor	excellent	superior
Reference: adapted from Building Technology

Resources

Canadian Portland Cement Association (CPCA)
60 Queen Street, Ste. 1500
Ottawa, ON K1P 5Y7, Canada
613-236-9471 Fax 613-563-4498