CAN I PLACE A WINDOW OR DOOR OPENING WITHIN 4 FEET OF A CORNER IN AN ICF WALL?
There is no such restriction in the USA, but the national building code of Canada 2015 does not permit ICF walls to have window or door openings within 4 feet of a corner.
This section of the NBCC, 9.20.17.3, unfairly targets ICF construction and the ICF industry is working to have this section of the code amended in future editions. Nevertheless, currently, in Canada, where openings are within 4 feet from a corner, engineering is required.
However, this engineering is now readily available on a prescriptive basis!
It’s contained in the first edition “prescriptive ICF design for part 9 structures” which is published by the insulating concrete forms manufacturers association. Click here to download this document.
Section 5.2.4 of this document addresses openings within 4 feet of a corner by ensuring adequate shear walls are provided. Click here to download a technical bulletin that provides greater detail and some examples of how this prescriptive engineering works.
So now in Canada, with this engineering, you can confidently and easily place a window or door opening within 4 feet of the corner in an ICF wall just as you can in the USA!
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