The Beco Wallform ICF system uses insulating blocks as a permanent formwork for a concrete pour – giving you built-in thermal protection
One of the common misconceptions about conventional brick and block construction is that the gap between the inner and outer leafs was designed to accommodate insulation. In fact, cavity walling was developed as a way of preventing moisture penetrating porous brick or stone and damaging the structural fabric. It does this by providing a space for water to safely drain away.
It’s only in relatively recent times we have thought about filling the cavity with insulation in order to improve thermal performance. Even as late as 1996, houses could be built without insulated cavity walls that achieved a measly U-value (a measure of heat loss) of just 0.6 W/m2K.