Performance Under Pressure:

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Walls

Program for Resource Efficient Communities | School of Natural Resources and Environment | www.energy.ufl.edu

Building a More Durable Home

One way of ensuring a new home’s safety is to
build it using durable, hurricane-resistant
construction systems. A great example is the
insulating concrete form system (ICF). ICFs are
permanent forms for cast-in-place concrete
walls. By leaving the forms in place, a
homeowner can reap extra benefits from the
insulating materials. The three most common
ICF systems are flat (ICF panels create
uniformly thick concrete wall), grid (ICF waffle
pattern creates concrete of varying
thicknesses), and post-and-beam (ICFs create
Since 1851, 31 major hurricanes (Category 3 discrete horizontal and vertical concrete
and higher) have crossed paths with Florida.
(Source: www.orlandosentinel.com)
columns).
Our case study home in the Madera subdivision
A History in the Cross-Hairs… of Gainesville, FL used the flat ICF system
offered by ECO-Block. ECO-Blocks are made of
During the 20th Century, Florida was second expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels with snap-
only to Texas in the number of hurricane direct in-place polypropolyne bridge connectors filled
hits suffering 57 total categorized storms with with cast-in-place monolithic reinforced
24 of those being major storms (categories 3, concrete. Like many ICF systems, ECO-Block
4, and 5 with winds 110 mph and higher). That can form walls of various thicknesses,
means homeowners somewhere in Florida were depending on your local site conditions and the
hit by a hurricane every other year. desired structural qualities of your home.
More importantly, major storms, which account
for only 20% of all tropical storms yet cause 80%
of property damage, came every four years.
Some scientists believe the North Atlantic
Ocean is in the beginning of a more active
phase in the long-term cycle of hurricane
activity - much like the active phase from 1926
to 1970. If so, we can expect to see nearly
twice as many major storms as during the last
three decades of the 20th Century. The 2004 Flat Grid Post-&-Beam
hurricane season brought 4 major storms to
The three most common ICF wall systems: flat walls,
Florida and dramatically demonstrated that waffle/grid walls, and post-and-beam walls.
coastal and inland residents should make (Source: Fine Homebuilding #128, pp. 74-81)
preparations to secure their property.
This fact sheet, developed by Hal Knowles, was made possible through the support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Southeast Regional Office,
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs, and Building America.
 Page 2 Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Walls

Madera Model (1-Story)

Performance Under Pressure
Location | Gainesville, FL Sure, Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) walls sound like a durable
Builder | Carter Construction building system, but how do they perform in the high wind load
conditions of hurricanes and tornados?
Living Space | 4/3 @ 2,919 ft2
Total Under Roof | 3,410 ft2 In laboratory testing conducted by the Wind Science and
Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University ICF walls
Price | $380,000 were far superior to both conventional wood and steel framed
HERS Rating | 94 walls when wood stud debris “missiles” were fired at the walls in
Wall System | ECO-Block conditions simulating a tornado with 250 miles per hour winds (a
speed greater than 99% of all the tornados spawned in the United
FL Approval | # FL2253 States and considerably higher than the 155 mph and higher wind
Miami-Dade | # 00-1024.02 speeds of Category 5 hurricanes). In these conditions a piece of
Concrete | 3,000 psi (6” slump) wind-borne debris would travel up to 100 miles per hour. An
excerpt from this study is shown below.
Vert. Rebar | #5 @ 30” O.C.
Wall Test Wall Description Speed of Results
Horiz. Rebar | #4 @ 32” O.C.
Type Debris
Tie-Down | Simpson Strong-Tie
Wood 5/8” gypsum board 109.0 mph The debris “missile
Frame interior finish, 2 x 4 wood perforated completely
studs at 16” o.c., 3-½” through the wall
batt insulation, ¾” assembly. Little
plywood sheathing, vinyl damage to missile.
siding exterior finish
Steel 5/8” gypsum board 103.5 mph The debris “missile
Frame interior finish, steel studs perforated completely
at 16” o.c., 3-½” batt through the wall
insulation, ¾” plywood assembly. Little
sheathing, vinyl siding damage to missile.
exterior finish
ICF Block ICF foam forms, 6” 103.8 mph Debris penetrated vinyl
thick flat concrete wall, siding and foam form.
#4 vert. reinforcing bars, No cracking, front face
12” o.c. vinyl siding scabbing or back face
spalling of concrete
wall observed.
(Source: www.cement.org/homes/brief07.asp)

Beyond the missile test, ICF walls have proven to provide safe
haven from other damaging forces resulting from high wind
conditions. NOTE, this data is for demonstration only and not
to be used for design purposes.
ECO-Block ICF Wall vs. 2” x 4” Wood Stud Wall with ½” Sheathing
Test Conditions: ICF @ 60 psf, Studs @ 28.9 psf (~125 mph storm)
6” Concrete Wall Wood Stud Wall
Axial Compression 6,000 lbs/ft 400 lbs/ft
Bending Moment 1,000 ft-lbs/ft 350 ft-lbs/ft
ECO-Block ICF wall being installed in Shear 4,100 lbs/ft < 400 lbs/ft
the Madera Model embedded rebar (Source: Goldsmith Engineering, Inc. and Will Swanson. ICF wall features used to
and Termimesh subsurface poison- obtain these capabilities = 3,000 psi concrete, 145 lbs/cf concrete density, 60 ksi steel grade,
free termite barrier visible. #4 @ 24” O.C. vert. rebar in middle of wall, #4 @ 32” O.C. horiz. rebar staggered side to
(Source: University of Florida) side, 8’ high by 16’ long wall, Simpson HEATL20 connecting truss to wall typ. 24” O.C.)
Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Walls Page 3

Variables Affecting Performance

The strength of any insulated concrete form (ICF) wall system comes from
the combination of the concrete itself and the reinforcing steel utilized,
NOT the insulating forms. It is important to remember that an engineer
should be used to design any ICF wall system. There are a few important
variables to take into consideration when designing ICF walls.
1. Height of wall
2. Thickness of concrete wall (inside the form)
3. Size and placement of steel reinforcing and tie-downs Simpson Strong-Tie
4. Size, placement, and quality of windows and doors embedded truss anchor
(META installed with TSS).
5. Slender wall buckling (Source: www.strong-tie.com)
6. Shear transfer to perpendicular walls (floor and roof diaphragms, X bracing, etc.)
Furthermore, the Florida Building Code’s Chapter 19 on ICF wall systems (Section 1916) is often
misunderstood. This is a prescriptive standard with very restrictive requirements that often cannot be
met for many homes due to the local wind zone and the unique specifications of the building. Many
different types of ICF systems have received Florida’s Certificate of Product Approval for use
statewide (see website below). Utilizing an engineer to design your ICF home is allowed per the
Florida Building Code’s Chapter 19, Section 1918. This gives builders the flexibility to create
innovative structures with performance characteristics beyond the code’s prescriptive ICF standards.
To discover more about ICFs and the systems approved for use in Florida, visit the following websites:
• Florida Department of Community Affairs Building Code Information System - Product Approval
Search Page
o www.floridabuilding.org/pr/pr_srch.asp
• Portland Cement Association – Insulating Concrete Forms: A Better Way to Build a Better Home
o www.cement.org/homes/ch_bs_icf.asp

Cross section detail of ECO-Block wall to roof connection. Cross section detail of ECO-Block foundation to
(Source: ECO-Block, LLC) wall connection.
(Source: ECO-Block, LLC)
Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Walls Page 4

Other Benefits of ICF Walls and the ECO-Block System

Energy Efficiency and Comfort
• ICF walls have a high thermal mass, which reduces home energy costs by decreasing the energy
transfer between the outside and inside of the walls. These walls create more comfortable
homes by minimizing interior temperature fluctuations and drafts.
• ICF walls often have R-values about 2x higher than conventional wood frame construction. ICF
walls typically range from R-18 to R-35 while wood frames range from R-12 to R-20.
• ICF walls can help homeowners pursue Energy Star® ratings and energy-efficient mortgages.
Noise Suppression
• Due to the insulating capabilities of ICFs and the properties of concrete walls, these systems
also reduce noise transmission.
Class A Fire Rating
• An ICF system with a 6” solid monolithic concrete
wall offers 3-hour fire protection.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
• ICF walls resist moisture, mold, and mildew.
Durability
• ICF walls are virtually termite and rot proof.

Sources Diagram of ECO-Block thermal properties.

(Source: ECO-Block, LLC)
ECO-Block – Promotional Materials
• www.eco-block.com
Florida Department of Community Affairs Building Code Information System – ECO-Block Product Approval Page
• www.floridabuilding.org/pr/pr_detl.asp?IPT=2253&RV=0&fm=ROSrch
Goldsmith Engineering, Inc.
• Engineering calculations for the ECO-Block wind-load performance data
NOAA - National Hurricane Center: U.S. Mainland Hurricane Strikes by State, 1990-1996
• www.nhc.noaa.gov/paststate.html
Orlando Sentinel – Long-term Storm Cycle Puts State at Risk
• www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-asechcycle10101004oct10,1,6168197.story
PATH Technology Inventory – Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) In-Depth Analysis: Summary
• http://www.toolbase.org/tertiaryT.asp?DocumentID=2011&CATEGORYID=1081
Portland Cement Association – Insulating Concrete Forms: A Better Way to Build a Better Home
• www.cement.org/homes/ch_bs_icf.asp
Portland Cement Association – Technology Brief 7: Concrete Homes: Built-In Safety
• www.cement.org/homes/brief07.asp
SBCCI Public Safety Testing and Evaluation Services, Inc.
• Report No. 9845A (ECO-Block, LLC)
Simpson Strong-Tie - META/HETA/HHETA/HETAL/TSS Embedded Truss Anchors and Truss Seat Snap-In
• www.strongtie.com/products/connectors/META-HETA-HHETA-HETAL-TSS.html

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity - Affirmative Action Employer authorized
to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to
race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations.
For information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office. Florida
Cooperative Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences / University of Florida / Larry R. Arrington, Dean.