Insulating Concrete Forms

ENR November 17 2003, (When It Comes To "Lego-Like" Concrete Forms, Military Builders in Florida Don't Kid Around) reports on a noteworthy use of of insulated concrete formwork (ICF), a system more commonly associated with residential construction. In this case, the Florida Army National Guard and US Army Reserve are constructing a 140,000 square foot, multi-purpose training facility using ICF. Purported benefits include speed of construction, high levels of "force protection", and energy and structural efficiency.

The ICF walls are made from 2 inch thick polystyrene foam forms surrounding 6- to 8-thick concrete walls. A 10% long-term costs savings is projected.

For more about ICF construction, see pages 512 - 513 in the textbook.