Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Town Hall
Hornton Street
W8 7NX
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| Phone: | 020 7937 5464 |
| Email: | Information.services@rbkc.gov.uk |
| Website: | www.rbkc.gov.uk |
| Planning Department: | 020 7361 2079 |
Builders' Parking
dispensation scheme: |
020 7361 4238 |
| Population: | 158,919 |
Average life cycle of
planning application |
8 weeks |
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Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF)
Companies that are based within the UK and are specialists in ICF manufacturer and construction.
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What is ICF?
Insulating concrete formwork (ICF) otherwise known as permanently insulated formwork (PIF) is an insulated in-situ concrete system of building that is quick to construct and offers levels of performance significantly better than that available from slower, more traditional approaches to building. Popular in Germany where it was born in the early 50's, it is grown rapidly in North America starting as a basement construction and now has approximately 8% share of the low rise housing market in Canada and the USA. It has been growing in the UK self-build sector for some years with a performance far in excess of the Building Regulations but with the recent increases in performance demanded by Building Regulations, Eco-homes and now the Code for Sustainable Homes it is broadening into mainstream and is currently on trial with a number of UK housing associations and regional house builders.
ICF is based on hollow lightweight block components that lock together without intermediate bedding materials, such as mortar, to provide a formwork system into which concrete is poured. The block is formed of sheets of insulation materials normally expanded polystyrene tied together with plastic or steel ties or an integral web of the same insulation. The later is manufactured as a complete block whereas the forms with ties are formed from sheet material. Some systems are delivered complete and some with ties which are clipped together on site to make the 'forms'. These latter have the panels delivered flat packed. Some of the systems which are complete with hinged ties are also delivered flatpacked.
Fresh concrete is poured into the forms built up to 3 metre high as a complete wall. This is normally dome by pump. Once the green concrete wall is set, it becomes a high strength concrete frame structure with the formwork remains in place as thermal insulation, providing u-values ranging from the standard 0.30 w/m²k as required by the current Building Regulations down to 0.11 w/m²k - ideal for zero energy buildings Star Level 6 in the Code for Sustainable Homes. The building process is quick, tidy and precise, with lower equipment requirements than alternative methods and only semi-skilled labour.
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Quad-Lock Permanent Insulated Formwork gives you the best living environment because you can easily build safer, more comfortable & environmentally friendlier homes and commercial buildings. Quad-Lock serves to form solid, reinforced concrete buildings and stays in place to provide superior thermal and acoustic insulation. |
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| Aggregate Industries |
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01530 510 066 |
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| Kingspan Insulated Panels |
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0135 271 6100 |
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