What is the best way to stop thermal bridging between ICF walls and footings?
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What is the best way to stop thermal bridging between my ICF block construction walls and my footing?
Walter van den Broek
Sept. 18, 2020Last updated: Sept. 21, 2020
在ICF块体建筑墙体下的非绝缘基础可以使墙体的混凝土核心产生热连接，从而使储存在热质量中的能量渗入下方的土壤。这是在传统混凝土条形基础上建造ICF的问题之一。有什么方法可以阻止这种ICF建设的优势从字面上消失吗?
If you are looking toeliminate thermal bridging between the footing and foundation wall(as we all should), the best way to build a basement that we would suggest is tobuild a fully insulated raft slab first, then build ICF walls on top. See theGeo-Slab frost protected slab on grade by Legalettfor more information.
Legalett slab on grade form kits provide a seamless layer of insulation below the slab an on the exposed above grade portion of the slab. This way you are insulated from below seamlessly up to the point where you would install your ICF block wall, so both are integrated perfectly.
And this is in no way a sacrifice in comfort, strength or efficiency, a raft slab design is stronger than a typical footing and slab, so it eliminates any structural cracking.
If you are looking to improve the performance futher, see Legalett’sPassive House Certified Thermalwall insulation panelsdesigned to improve the R value and efficiency of ICF walls. Another weak spot is the door thresholds, so if you have a walkout basement you can includeThermaSill insulated door threshold forms.
If you've been through our site at all looking at foundation options then it would be no surprise that we aren't big proponets of basements, so if we were to build one, this is how we'd do it for performance and to eliminate the risk of mold. Below is a shot of what it would look like, hope that helps!
And if you're interested inthe history of ICFs blocks & ICF Construction, that's here.