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ICF Walls have Excellent Fire Resistance |
Of all construction materials, concrete is one of the most resistant to heat and fire. Experience shows that concrete structures are more likely to remain standing through fire than structures made of other materials.
Concrete, unlike wood, does not burn. Unlike Steel, it does not soften and bend. Concrete does not break down until it is exposed to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit - far more than is present in the typical fire. The foams in ICF are manufactured with flame-retardant additives. This prevents the expanded polystyrene foam from burning.
Flame Spread
The "Steiner Tunnel Test" measures how much a material can carry fire from an outside source. In the test, technicians line a tunnel with the particular material, run a fire at one end, then measure how far the flame spreads. The flames travel about one-fifth as far down a tunnel lined with ICF foam compared to a tunnel lined with wood.
Fire Resistance
These fire ratings have been confirmed in fire-wall tests. In these tests, ICF walls were subjected to continuous gas flames and temperatures of up to 2000° F for as long as 4 hours. None of the ICF walls ever failed structurally. In contrast, wood frame walls typically collapse after only one hour.
Contact ICF of Florida today for more information.
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