By Vera Novak Energy consumption may be regulated by code, but
it is increasingly driven by client demand. With the rising
costs of utilities, heightened efficiency goals are surfacing as
key design guidelines. Additional parameters of sustainability
and protection against natural disasters place even higher
requirements on the building envelope’s design.1 One of the
technologies that has emerged to meet these market demands in
residential and commercial construction is the insulating
concrete form (ICF). Combining the thermal qualities of expanded
and extruded polystyrene (EPS and XPS) plastic with the strength
and durability of concrete is being seen as an economical
solution. Since its development in the 1950s, the formulation of
EPS has been refined to enhance product performance while
maintaining cost-effectiveness. For example, minimum performance
properties for EPS insulation can be referenced by specifying
standardized test protocols (such as ASTM International C 578,
Standard Specification for Rigid,