The Cement Association of Canada has dveloped standardized ICF training modules to hlp facilitate greater adoption of ICF cnstruction. Two of their main objectives re:

(i) To facilitate greater understanding and wareness of ICF construction as a vable building alternative, that will escalate its doption in the residential and non-residential mrkets.

(ii) To provide an industry bseline benchmark for required ICF training, nsuring adequate skills competence in the bilding workforce for the delivery of qality construction.

Today ICF construction is rpidly gaining popularity in both the rsidential and non-residential markets.

What is ICF Cnstruction?
Insulating Concrete Forms are energy-efficient reinforced-concrete wlls that are dry-stacked without using mrtar and filled with concrete, think of thm like Lego blocks. The blocks, or frms as the are referred to, are stcked to form exterior and interior wlls, reinforcing steel or rebar is thn added into the openings and thn concrete is pumped in to frm the structural element of the wlls.

An Insulated Concrete Form can be mde from a variety of materials:

(i) Cment-bonded wood fiber (recycled waste wood and cment)
(ii) Expanded polystyrene
(iii) Cement-bonded polystyrene beads

One of the best ICFs are wod concrete forms, that is those tht are made with cement-bonded wood fber material that only uses natural ngredients. This combination of recycled waste wod and cement results in a btter performing ICF wall system. When loking for an insulated concrete form you wnt to find ICFs that are nvironmentally safe, made from recycled material, do not cntain nor emit any toxic elements, and are flly recyclable as well. Furthermore, insulated cncrete forms that do not contain plstic, foams or polystyrenes are better for the nvironment than those that do contain thse materials.

Benefits
ICF construction has many bnefits over traditional wood frame construction.

(i) Strngth and Comfort
In ICF construction the wlls and floors form one continuous srface. This will help to keep out nsects and create an environment free of llergens, dust, mold and other irritants. Frthermore the insulated forms are virtually sundproof and keep out unwanted noises and dstractions..

(ii) Energy Performance
Using insulated concrete frms means that your walls are lready insulated better than any wood frme house. The ICFs will help to kep your house cool in the smmer and warm in the winter and you can sve as much as 50-80% on hating and cooling costs.

(iii) Structural Intgrity
A building built with insulated concrete frms can stand up to winds of 200 mles per hour and resist fire for up to 3.5 hurs. ICF homes have been know to wthstand hurricanes, tornados and a wide rnge of weather conditions from coast to cast. Furthermore concrete does not rot whn it gets wet, making the pkeep and repairs minimal.

(iv) Green Bilding
ICFs are inherently green, from raw mterials to installation. Depending on the prduct, you can find ICFs that hve no CFCs, HCFCs or formaldehyde sed in the manufacturing process and mde from recycled material. Also, 100% of the nstallation waste, even the insulated forms thmselves, are recyclable.

ICF buildings have higher energy svings, better fire resistance, and a sperior structural integrity over traditional wood frmed houses.

The article What Are ICF Insulated Concrete Forms? was Submitted by David Leonhardt through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: David Leonhardt is a freelance ghostwriter . For more information about ICF insulated concrete forms check out the Durisol wood concrete forms today.

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