1. Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF)
The bestmaterial onthe marketwithregardto thermal andacousticinsulation.
The heat required foraconstructionis< 5W/m2 if the inside –outside temperaturedifference is
40°C.
There are nothermal bridges:
no mould
no condensation
no bacteria
It isresistanttoearthquakesdue tothe structure of resistance formedbyalattice of reinforced
concrete beams.
Quickbuildingprocess:
4 workers+ 4 days= 1 half-finishedfloor(300m2 built)
modularelements200cm x 50 cm x 32 cm = 11 kg
no heavymachineryrequired
no qualifiedworkforce needed
Reducedprice comparedtootherconstructionsthathave a similardegree of insulation.
The ICF (InsulatedConcreteForms) modularelementsare blocksof polyurethanefoamwithan
average densityof 45 kg/m3.A buildingconstructedof ICFoffersahighlevel of thermal andacoustic
insulation,makingitsuitableforuse incivil engineering(houses,apartmentbuildings),industrial
buildings(warehouses),poolsandthermal stores.The constructioncanbe adaptedtodifferent
purposesbycoatingthe ICF wallswithmagnesiumoxideplates,plasterboard,etc.
Experience hasshownthat50 years afterthe firstpolyurethanefoam(BASF) wasmade,its
insulationlevelhasdroppedbylessthan1%.
The use of ICF modularelementsinconstructioneliminatesthermalbridges,whichleadstothe
eliminationof mould,condensationandthe possibilityof bacterial growth.
The thermal conductivityof the ICFmodularelementsis60% lowerthanthat of polystyrene.
A 100-m2 constructionhasa heatdemandbelow 1kW if the heatlossthroughwindowsisexcluded.
The thermal insulationof the wall isequal tothatof a 1.2 m thickwoodenwall orto that of a 6 m
thickconcrete wall.
The buildingprocessisstraightforward.The masonryisputtogetherlike aLego;the elementsare
centredandcombined,yieldingflatandprecise walls.Once the assemblingiscomplete,astraight
wall isobtained.Forfinishing,it requiresmagnesiumoxideplates,plasterboard,etc.
Thissystemcombinesthe precisioninbuildingwitharapidconstructionprocessandextremelyhigh
insulation.The estimatedlifespanof the buildingisatleast100 years.

2. In addition,the constructionobtainedisearthquake resistantdue tothe concrete pouredinthe
networkof channels.Once ithardens,itresultsinalattice-type networkof reinforcedconcrete
beams.
The ICF modularelementislightweightandeasytomanipulate,whichensuresashortperiodof
construction.Ittakesonly4 daysto bringone floorof the buildingtoasemi-finishedstate,witha
surface of 300 m2, having4 workers.
There isno needforheavymachineryandthanksto the simple assembling technique, there isno
needfora qualifiedworkforce.
Low price incomparisonwithothermaterialsthatallow fora comparable level of insulation.
The resultingconstructionisapproximately300% lighterthana buildingusingconventional
materials.
No residuesare leftfromthe buildingprocess(formworksorpackaging).