INSULATED CCONCRETE FORMS (ICF) are forms or molds with built-in insulation for accepting reinforced concrete. Initial patent application for an ICF was registered in the late 1960’s since then, and particularly in the last decade, ICF construction is gaining huge popularity in the mainstream construction as the preferred as the contemporary building product worldwide.

These large, hollow blocks are stacked right off of the truck and filled with reinforcing bar and concrete. The end result leaves you with a high-performing wall that is structurally sound, insulated, strapped, has a vapor barrier and is ready to accept final exterior and interior finishes.

During the past decade, insulating concrete form (ICF) construction has accounted for an ever-increasing share of the overall construction market. Architects and designers throughout the world have found that ICFs meet their design and technical challenges easily and economically, while providing value-added structures to their customers.

iFORM

iForm is acknowledged as the most technologically advanced ICF in the industry, because of its innovative design and technical features that set it apart from other ICFs. iForm has become the ICF of choice for commercial projects ranging from small strip malls to multi-story condominiums, hotels and theaters, schools, churches, assisted living and nursing homes, as well as a wide range of residential projects.

iForm is designed to function as the formwork for a cast-in-place concrete wall. The formwork stays in place as insulation on the exterior and interior face of the wall assembly, and also serves as attachment for exterior and interior finish systems. It forms a solid flat steel-reinforced cast-in-place concrete wall of 10 cm, 16 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm ", or 12” thicknesses that is the structural component of the wall assembly.

iForm is used in commercial and residential construction for exterior and interior, load bearing and non-load bearing, above grade and below grade walls. Specific applications include frost walls, basement walls, storm shelters, demising walls, slab on grade walls, non-load bearing walls on post tension floor slabs, and single story to multi-story walls. iForm is a modular and easy to assemble form that is stacked together in running bond creating a concrete cavity of various thicknesses. It has two faces or panels of EPS material 6.6 cm thick that are held together by plastic ties spaced on center at specified widths and in uniform distance.

iForm Types

All iForms made of Gwalls are available as modular type. The type and size of product is determined by structural requirements, fire and sound rating requirements and designer or owner preference.

iForms are available in different types to make the construction process more efficient. The 90-degree and 45-degree corner forms eliminate the need for special miter and bracing corners. The ledge form is available for creating a ledge to support brick or stone or to support an intermediate floor system. Taper top forms are available to provide additional concrete bearing for specific applications such as supporting precast hollow core plank floors or demising walls. A T-Form makes the construction of a two intersecting walls very efficient.

Check out the step-by-step guide of insulated concrete form (ICF) construction below. Reward has many resources available to builders and designers in order to have a successful ICF construction project from start to finish. Want to learn more details on ICF Construction? Access our ICF Product Manual for in-depth technical building process information.