An insulated concrete former, or alternatively known as a building block, is a system of formwork for reinforced concrete that is typically made from expanded polystyrene (EPS). ICFs provide a permanent means of insulated shuttering, making it an ideal permanent interior and exterior substrate for industrial, commercial and housing developments.
First developed in Germany some 40 years ago, ICFs are widely used in Europe, USA, Canada and parts of South America too. Isolite has been manufacturing ICFs since 1993. Our ICFs come in three different sizes, namely: 1200 x 300 x 120 mm, 1200 x 300 x 150 mm, and 1200 x 300 x 180 mm.
The Isowall Group has been manufacturing and distributing Isolite Shape Moulded EPS since 1992. Isolite Shape Moulded EPS Products are manufactured using customised moulds providing a wide range of uses including insulation, lightweight fillers and semi-rigid cushioning.
Building with EPS ICFs is becoming increasingly popular in the construction industry due to the system providing faster erection and reduced building costs, and to add, EPS offers resistance to water and damp and the thermal insulation is significantly better than brick and block construction. This improves general living conditions and reduces costs associated with heating and cooling of buildings.
The installation process is simple: the ICFs need to be stacked and then filled with concrete and reinforcing bar. This simple process means that construction is generally faster than most other building methods. The simplicity of installation means that skilled bricklayers are not needed – unskilled labour can be trained in a couple of days.
