Builders

Yes. Eco Block meets the requirements of the Building Code of Australia. The 2000 and 2003 International Residential Codes have a section on ICF construction. ECO Block is also an approved masonry wall system by the Queensland State Government.

No. Electricians, Plumbers and Plasterers adapt quickly to working in a house with ICF walls. Many of them prefer it as it is soft, light and clean to work with, with no need to drill or grind when installing services. Chase cuts are made where services are required, and the EPS pulls away, allowing flush boxes and other fitting to be connected directly to the concrete core.

In a building’s life cycle (from construction to demolition), the most significant environmental impact is the amount of fuel needed to heat and cool the home. Insulating Concrete Homes are a preferred ecological choice because of substantial savings in natural resources required to maintain a comfortable temperature. Building with Eco Block (ICF’s) will reduce energy cost by 30% to 60%, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Radius walls are easily constructed by mitre-cutting the form at the proper angle and using foam to join the edges.

An ECO Block home will cost more to build than a similar–sized timber frame home. Any difference in the material costs will be recovered through significantly lower utility and energy bills via heating and cooling equipment downsizing. The labour cost should be reduced as ECO Block houses can be constructed up to 30% Faster. It is not uncommon for all exterior walls on an ECO Block house to be up and poured in two weeks.

Maintenance costs are much lower. ECO Block buildings are more moisture–resistant. There is no timber to rot or warp. Most wall and ceiling insulation in conventional homes is installed in a blanket form known as sag and becomes less efficient with increases in moisture, causing higher heating and cooling expenses. Eco Block is rigid and double insulated, providing constant home comfort for the life of a building.

Termite Protection in Australia is a multimillion-dollar industry. Media reports recently stated that 1 in 4 houses in Queensland are severely affected and will require significant work. Termites are attracted to the moisture content in timber and other porous building materials. ECO Block is made from high–density EPS and is impervious to moisture (stays dry). The concrete slab and solid concrete core in the wall prevent egress into the building at ground level. When completed, all of the EPS will be enclosed, providing a barrier to a substrate with no nutritional value. Local regulations require minimum protection, but there are no known cases of lost structural integrity through Termites in the history of concrete construction.