ICF blocks: the formwork stays on as insulation.
Insulated concrete formwork. Forms are dry-stacked, reinforced and filled, and never struck, staying as insulation to both faces of the wall.
In Oman's climate the wall is a cooling bill. The summer peak reaches 48 °C and most of a building's lifetime energy goes on cooling. An ICF wall puts EPS on both faces of a reinforced concrete core, cutting the heat that crosses the wall every year the building is in use.
In a Muscat field study, an ICF villa was monitored against a conventional block villa through July, August and September using Muscat Electricity Distribution Company billing. The ICF villa used 20–40% less electricity month on month, with 36% lower annual cooling demand and a wall U-value of 0.40 W/m²K against 1.81 for the block villa. The GCC regulation limit is 0.74.
On site the forms are dry-stacked to the set-out, reinforced, and poured in lifts. Electrical services are chased into the foam and the wall is rendered over mesh.
ICF Blocks
U-value 0.40 W/m²K
Measured against 1.81 for a block wall; the GCC limit is 0.74.
20–40% less electricity
Muscat field study, July to September, from utility billing.
One system, one pour
Formwork, insulation and wall in a single operation; no striking.
Site guidance
IB supervises the first lift where that helps the gang establish the laying rate.
What is an ICF block?
Insulated concrete formwork: hollow EPS forms that are stacked, reinforced and filled with concrete. The EPS stays in place as insulation on both faces.
How much energy does ICF save in Oman?
In IB's Muscat field study, an ICF villa used 20–40% less electricity than a block villa from July to September, with 36% lower annual cooling demand.
How are services run in an ICF wall?
Conduits are chased into the foam before render, and the wall is rendered over mesh.
Does ICF meet GCC insulation requirements?
The monitored ICF wall reached a U-value of 0.40 W/m²K, inside the GCC regulation limit of 0.74.
Send us your drawings.
Send the slab or wall details and IB will return a grade recommendation, a cutting schedule and a quantity take-off.
- +968 9730 9462