Page 10 - GB Building Science Ebook 2019

01 A STRUCTURAL SHIFT

ICF COST VARIABLES

$5
$4

$3
$2
$1

$0
($1) Low Average High

Wall construction
Heating/cooling equipment
Net cost

HVAC Dividend. One way ICFs save on overall construction costs
is by reducing the need for larger capacity heating and cooling
equipment.

manufacturers can buy materials in bulk, they’re not as affected by
shortages of products such as oriented strand board (OSB).
By some estimates, builders may save as much as nine days of labor
per home on framing and inspection time on a 2,500-sq. ft. home
built with SiPs, compared with conventional framing, according to
the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA). The Association
compared SIP construction with typical stick framing, and found
that “the reduced time for framing, electrical, and insulation labor
Electric Ready. Precut chase cavities in this Premier SIP will save
electricians from drilling hundreds of holes through stud framing. saved $3,440 per home.”
The biggest learning curve for stick frame builders switching to
needs, and you may be able to reduce or avoid certain extras if the SIP systems may be the level of planning. To use SIPs most efficiently,
ICF maker has integrated a solution into the products. But the point is panels must be sized and built in the factory, and should include
that erecting and ICF home is not simply a matter of stacking hollow important details such as electrical and plumbing chases.
blocks and pouring cement. If your plan is to use unskilled labor, This results in a zero waste jobsite, and close tolerances for all parts
and switch to ICFs as a way to get around the labor shortage, you of the envelope. This in turn reduces the labor required to achieve
probably won’t achieve the immediate price parity or time savings the necessary air sealing for zero net energy performance. GB
over stick framing.
As your crews become more experienced, however, (based on the
experience of other builders), your labor hours should shrink, and
the ICF option becomes more efficient in terms of your scheduling Builders may save as much
and costs.
ICFs, like SIP systems (below), have done remarkably well in
major hurricanes, and insurers are beginning to take notice. Some as nine days of labor per home
companies now offer ICF homeowners insurance discounts. An
ICF home also has excellent soundproofing characteristics and the on framing and inspection
advantages of thermal mass to mitigate rapid temperature swings
indoors. time on a 2,500-sq. ft. home

SIPS: RESILIENT MATERIALS RISING built with SIPs.
In recent years, structural insulating panels have seen an upsurge in
interest, in part because they are naturally positioned to solve labor
issues, resulting in bottom line savings for builders. Also, because

10 BUILDING SCIENCE SPECIAL REPORT: SIX WAYS CONSTRUCTION IS CHANGING