In a partnership with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and the Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA), the report Investigating ICF Wall Construction Meeting the Requirements of NFPA 285 determines National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 compliance for exterior walls constructed of insulated concrete forms (ICFs). The report was authored by Arthur J. Parker, PE and Daniel A. Martin, PE, CFEI, CVFI of Jensen Hughes.
NFPA 285 is a consensus-developed fire test standard developed by NFPA that is referenced in building codes to evaluate the surface burning characteristics of exterior wall assemblies containing combustible materials such as water-resistive barrier materials, foam plastic insulations and combustible cladding materials. Contractors can download the full report at NRMCA.org.
With support from NEx (An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Materials), the American Concrete Institute (ACI) Foundation and the Concrete Advancement Foundation, the project included fire testing of ICF walls within various exterior wall constructions to determine wall assemblies which meet the performance criteria of NFPA 285 and the development of window opening construction details.
Following the fire testing, an engineering analysis was conducted to demonstrate other ICF wall assemblies with similar but different components, including a broad range of claddings that can be recognized as meeting the performance requirements of NFPA 285.
Airlite Plastics Sustainable Building Products Division Vice President and General Manager Michael Kennaw stated, “The implementation of this work will enhance the scalability and integration of ICFMA member systems in multi-story construction applications, facilitating broader adoption and increasing market penetration within the U.S. structural building sector."
“ICFs have long been recognized for their high-performance envelope and resilience to fire. The results of this study confirm code compliance and validate the application of ICFs in multi-story construction,” added NRMCA Senior Vice President, Codes and Standards, Shamim Rashid-Sumar, PE, FSFPE.
“This milestone study reflects NEx’s commitment to adoption of nonmetallic materials through collaboration, research and real-world validation,” said Jerzy Z. Zemajtis, executive director of NEx. “By supporting this fire testing study, we are helping pave the way for broader acceptance of ICF systems in multi-story applications, ensuring that they meet the highest standards for safety and performance.”
ACI Foundation Executive Director Ann Masek said, “We are pleased to have supported such a collaborative effort that will extend the use of concrete in exterior wall construction.”
Julia Garbini, president of the Concrete Advancement Foundation, noted, “We’re proud to collaborate with our partner organizations to fund this valuable study that demonstrates compliance with NFPA 285 – an important standard to protect both life safety and property.”
