Traditionally, most ICF systems are known a primarily a “block system” or a “panel system”.
ICF block systems typically boast of labor savings on the job for the installer.
Panel ICF systems require their blocks to be assembled on-site but typically tout lower shipping costs and being easier for local dealers to stock and sell.
Element ICF offers both preformed blocks and site-assembled blocks. Both configurations are interchangeable with each other, and both add equal value to the innovative Element ICF system.
Thus, Element ICF is known as a Hybrid ICF system, simultaneously offering the balanced benefits of both approaches.
Element ICF Preformed Blocks
These are factory-molded blocks.
What Is Available?
Element ICF offers preformed standard and 90 degree corners blocks for 6” and 8” concrete cores across Canada and USA. Preformed taper top blocks (6” and 8” cores) will also be available in Western Canada and the USA.
Standards and 90 Corners are the most used blocks and 6” and 8” concrete cores are the most commonly specified, so installers will usually have the option of ordering preformed blocks for most of their jobs if they wish to.
What Are The Benefits of Element’s Preformed Blocks?
Quite simply, these blocks will not require any assembly on the job site.
Element ICF Site-Assembled Blocks
Element panels and flexties are used to make site-assembled blocks.
What Is Available?
The available panels are Standards, 90 Degree Corners, Taper Tops, Brick Ledges and XRV.
Flexties are available for 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” concrete cores.
What Are the Benefits of Element’s Site-Assembled Blocks?
- Local dealers can stock a wide variety of block and concrete core configurations so that local inventory for a wide variety of needs can be conveniently stocked.
- Lower shipping costs – the components for up to 1,296 site-assembled block can be shipped in a full truckload.
- These blocks are fast to assemble. Element’s patented flexties are not handed and have no top or bottom, so the blocks are assembled fast, up to 70 blocks assembled per man hour according to reports.
- All of Element’s Site-Assembled blocks can be permanently locked together top to bottom with “bridging flexties” to provide maximum strength when needed – common applications for this feature include at corners, around openings, the top course of wall or when high-slump concrete is being poured.
- Element panels can be cut on the horizontal cut lines to make fully supported half-height (8” tall) blocks and 4” tall height-adjusters.
Wrapping It Up
Element ICF is the innovative Hybrid ICF System – offering all the balanced benefits of full-featured and fully interchangeable Preformed and Site-Assembled blocks!
