Home » Glossary
Glossary of terms used within the ICF industry
BRE
The Building Research Establishment at Garston-Watford. Responsible for providing certification for innovative building materials and systems.
www.bre.co.uk .
BBA
British Board of Agrιment. Responsible for providing certification for innovative building materials and systems.
www.bbacerts.co.uk
Brick & Block
construction same as Traditional construction.
Buck
see Stop-end.
Concrete
the concrete used in ICF construction is normally a pump grade mix with 10mm maximum aggregate size, or a proprietary ICF mix, from a QSRMC or BSI quality controlled factory member of the British Ready-mixed Concrete Association.
www.brmca.org.uk
EPS
expanded polystyrene (construction grade) is the normal main component making the panels of the form and sometimes the web (or connection) between the inner and outer panels. It provides the insulation of the finished wall giving U-values from 0.3W/m2K down to 0.11W/m2K.
Forms
the units of the ICF system that, when stacked/fixed together, form the ICF wall. These are either supplied as complete h
ollow blocks or as a pair of insulation panels and clips, which are made into the individual forms on site.
Furring
the inbuilt vertical fixing strips within the EPS walls of the forms into which self tapping screws can be inserted to take plasterboard, battens etc.
ICF
Insulating Concrete Formwork
ICFA
Insulating Concrete Formwork Association.
Lightweight frame construction
this includes
timber frame, SIPs panel systems and steel framed systems. They are referred to as lightweight because they do not use masonry or concrete blocks, which are regarded as heavy-weight.
Stop-end
the horizontal or vertical closure around an opening that is made of either wood or vinyl. It is used to prevent the concrete flowing out of the forms round an opening when the wall is being filled with concrete. Sometimes call a Buck.
Tie
a metallic or plastic clip system that joins the inner and outer walls of an ICF together whilst maintaining the exact gap needed for the concrete core
Timber frame
see lightweight frame construction.
Traditional construction
a construction method that uses two leaves of bricks and concrete blocks with a cavity between (normally part or fully filled with insulation) to build the external structure. Cement or lime mortar is used between them for both the bed joints (horizontal) and perpend. joints (vertical).
Furring
the inbuilt vertical fixing strips within the EPS walls of the forms into which self tapping screws can be inserted to take plasterboard, battens etc.
ICF
Insulating Concrete Formwork
ICFA
Insulating Concrete Formwork Association.
Lightweight frame construction
this includes
timber frame, SIPs panel systems and steel framed systems. They are referred to as lightweight because they do not use masonry or concrete blocks, which are regarded as heavy-weight.
Stop-end
the horizontal or vertical closure around an opening that is made of either wood or vinyl. It is used to prevent the concrete flowing out of the forms round an opening when the wall is being filled with concrete. Sometimes call a Buck.
Tie
a metallic or plastic clip system that joins the inner and outer walls of an ICF together whilst maintaining the exact gap needed for the concrete core
Timber frame
see lightweight frame construction.
Traditional construction
a construction method that uses two leaves of bricks and concrete blocks with a cavity between (normally part or fully filled with insulation) to build the external structure. Cement or lime mortar is used between them for both the bed joints (horizontal) and perpend. joints (vertical).