Insulating concrete form systems are gaining acceptance as energy efficient building envelopes for both residential and commercial construction, with more than 80 ICF products available. In order to deal with the varying quality of ICFs, ASTM International Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings has developed a new standard, ASTM E2634, Specification for Flat Wall Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Systems.

“In practical terms, ASTM E2634 will provide minimum quality standards and ensure that an ICF that conforms to the standard will meet the requirements of the building codes,” says Sheldon Warman, a member of Committee E06 and senior structural engineer, ARXX Corp.  Warman notes that the new standard will be used by building officials as an enforcement tool as well as by architects to ensure that specified ICF products conform to minimum standards. 

All interested parties are invited to participate in the continuing activities of E06.21 on Serviceability, the subcommittee responsible for ASTM E2634. “Contractors, design engineers, architects and building officials would be welcome participants to round out the group, which currently consists mainly of ICF manufacturers and raw material suppliers,” says Warman.

For technical Information, contact Sheldon Warman, ARXX Corp., Ontario, Canada (phone: 905-407-3262; s.warman@eco-block.com). Committee E06 meets April 19-22 during April committee week in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

ASTM International welcomes and encourages participation in the development of its standards. ASTM’s open consensus process, using advanced Internet-based standards development tools, ensures worldwide access for all interested individuals. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, please contact Stephen Mawn, ASTM International (phone: 610-832-9726; smawn@astm.org).

Release #8157/Jan09