Innovative and Sustainable
Construction Solutions

The Shorcom team are knowledgable in the construction process, identifying the best suited solution for your project.

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Innovative construction using insulated concrete formwork.

Insulated Concrete Formwork is an advanced and innovative building technology that meets New Zealand Building Standards and exceeds minimums required by code.

ICFs are hollow, lightweight, insulated forms that are erected at the construction site. The forms are easy to assemble due to their lightweight material and are stacked on top of each other on-site.

The forms are typically filled with 150mm of poured-in-place, waterproofed, reinforced concrete. Unlike traditional concrete forms, which are removed after the concrete cures, ICFs are left in place.

ICF insulated concrete formwork construction New Zealand

Excellent thermal efficiency from
thermal mass principle.

Due to the air-tightness and insulative materials of the ICF forms, the build provides excellent thermal efficiency with a high R-Value over 4.2, which exceeds New Zealand's standards.

ICF outperforms traditional timber framing methods. Air leakage in timber framed builds is a large contributor to energy loss, resulting in less effective insulation and higher energy costs.

ICFs reinforced, solid concrete in-between two layers of EPS foam creates an air-tight structure with continuous insulation on both sides of the wall and no thermal bridging.

Concrete core takes more than a season to change temperature - isolated thermal mass

Very stable temperature inside houses or apartments

Up to 80% energy cost savings for heating and cooling

Over twice council insulation requirements

Solving leaky home issues with waterproof concrete.

Poor weathertightness in residential construction is a large contributor to leaky homes in New Zealand. Waterproof concrete is a building material that shows fantastic weathertightness performance in construction.

A building's ability to keep water from penetrating through the external envelope is known as weatherightness. The wet and windy weather in New Zealand necessitates the use of appropriate building materials and techniques to prevent water damage. This is why we choose to fill our ICF forms with waterproofed concrete.

This concrete is made waterproof using a KIM mineral additive that has received Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) approval. This is the same material used for swimming pools in order to hold water without needing a waterproof coating.

Water is not able to penetrate through the concrete, therefore there is no absorption, swelling or cracking. Additionally, it is composed of inert materials, which prevents decay and degradation.

ICF sustainability and the
building life cycle assessment.

Building life cycle assessments are measured across four phases, analysing the environmental impact and level of energy consumption a building has across its entire lifespan. This data allows us to select solutions that will reduce the carbon footprint.

By conducting this assessment we are able to see that ICF performs very well when compared with alternative construction systems. The highest energy consumption in a build is during the use phase.

Because of the exceptional insulation qualities and thermal efficiency provided in an ICF build, the residents will be using much less electricity heating and cooling the home. Additionally, due to the structural integrity of an ICF build, there is very low ongoing maintenance required which again reduces energy consumption.

As a result, ICF shows to be a sustainable construction option that produces less carbon emissions across the entire lifespan of the building.

What are the
benefits of using ICF?

ICFs give you all the benefits that have made concrete the material of choice for buildings worldwide; solid, lasting construction that create a comfortable home due to the insulative qualities.

Concretes structural integrity will resist earthquakes, fire, wind, and the test of time. But ICFs do plain concrete one better - or rather, two better - by giving you two built-in layers of foam insulation.

This gives an ICF building some sizeable advantages over traditional building methods such as greater energy efficiency, and more peace and quiet. Living comfort all wrapped up in a solid, high-quality building package that gives an ICF home an utterly remarkable feel that really has to be experienced to be believed. This makes ICF an ideal construction method for shared walls in terrace housing and apartments - due to the above-code soundproofing qualities.

The Fino Casementi is a multi-level hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand that was constructed using Insulated Concrete Formwork. This building was designed with structural integrity and durability. After the devastating earthquake that occurred in Christchurch in February 2011 - the ICF constructed building remained standing.

DURABLE

The insulated forms are filled with reinforced concrete. The strength of the concrete and double layer of insulation is designed to withstand earthquakes & cyclones.

THERMAL EFFICIENCY

Warm in winter, cool in summer. The exceptional insulation properties of ICF provide comfortable living with an R-Value exceeding 4.2.

VERSATILE

ICF comes in many shapes and sizes & isn't limited to restrictive designs. The blocks can be cut to shape around windows and doors with a hot knife.

FIRE-PROOF

ICF are manufactured with fire retardant properties resulting in a smaller combustible material - the forms would melt, not ignite. They achieve a 4hr. fire rating.

LEAK-PROOF

Waterproof concrete is the best material for weathertightness performance. Water does not absorb into the concrete so it will not swell or crack.

SOUND-PROOF

ICF greatly reduces sound pollution making it an optimal material to build with for shared walls, with a sound transmission class (STC) rating of 55+.

SUSTAINABLE

ICF block waste can be recycled to create other blocks or be used as soil aeration material for plants, landscapes, compost heaps and drainage materials.

LIGHTWEIGHT

The lightweight blocks are easily assembled on site with their simple stacking design. The concrete is then poured in place by the team.

COST EFFECTIVE

Low costs, high quality. Quick installation due to the lightweight blocks reduces labour costs, this also removes the need for expensive assembly equipment.