Energy Efficient R-Value testing
ICF constructed walls have excellent insulating value (R-Value).
What is R-Value?
How is R-Value measured? This test is usually preformed in a controlled environment by putting the test subject in the middle of a heat source and a measurement device to determine how many BTU's are transferred through the wall in a specified period of time.
There are three key factors why ICF walls outperform conventional construction.
R- Value
The R-value test is used to measure the ICF wall. The five inches of foam that the ICF wall is constructed of can be give a 4.5 R-Value per inch. This gives Insulating Concrete Form walls a total R-value of 20-22.
Air Infiltration – Air Leakage
ICF's, have superior control of air infiltration or air leakage of the walls. Air is the quickest way temperature is transferred between a barrier. Typical wood framed walls have a complete air turnover of new air to the old air once every two hours. Insulated Concrete Formed walls have a turnover rate of once every eight hours.
Thermal Mass
Thermal mass: is defined as how long it takes to change the temperature of a wall. It could also be described as how fast a wall becomes saturated. ICF, could be compared to a sponge held underneath a running faucet. The sponge is saturated when one drop of water goes into the sponge and one drops falls out the sponge. ICF wall systems become saturated when one BTU of energy comes into the wall and one BTU of energy comes into the living space of your home.
ICF walls’ Thermal Mass far out performs typical walls. The average wood wall can become saturated in just a few hours on a HOT or COLD day. The rest of the night or day your HVAC system fights back to regain saturation control of the wall. Many times on extreme temperature days radiant heat can be noticed coming through your walls into your living space reducing comfort. ICF walls take over nineteen hours before becoming saturated.
For instance:
Extreme Cold
In Canada you have many weeks of below zero temperatures. Your HVAC system is constantly battling for saturation control of your wall to keep the cold out and the heat in.
Extreme Hot
Or in mexico where you have weeks of above 100 degrees your HVAC will be constantly battling to keep the heat out for saturation control over your wall.
In either extreme Hot or Cold you will not receive the benefit of thermal mass.
In Wyoming, we have fluctuating temperatures between day and night. The walls in your ICF home will never become saturated with BTU energy. By living in Wyoming, the Effective R-value is much greater because the thermal mass effects of the ICF wall boost your Effective R-value.
After all factors are considered the Effective R-Value of Insulated Concrete Formed walls are anywhere from R-40 to R-52.