All building codes in the USA and Canada specify that plastic insulation (EPS) must be covered by a thermal barrier equivalent to 15 minutes of fire protection in habitable spaces. This is achieved with ½” gypsum board or an equivalent material. Fox Blocks has specific fire testing that proves regular ½” gypsum board with regular drywall screws fastened into the plastic webs remains on the wall for the required 15-minute time period.
ICFs provide a reinforced concrete wall which is designed to specific engineering principles. Typical residential construction, per the applicability limits in the building code, allows walls 10′ (3 m) high or less between lateral supports (floor and roof connections). Below grade walls must have a minimum 6″ (150 mm) concrete core. In some regions, an 8″ (200 mm) concrete core is the minimum allowed thickness for below grade walls.
The 4″ (100 mm) form cannot be used below grade as a foundation wall. The 4″ (100 mm) form may be used for above grade walls up to a maximum of 10′ (3.0 m).
The 6″ (150 mm) form, above grade, is limited to approximately 14′ (4.2 m) in height. Walls higher than 14′ (4.2 m) must use an 8″ (200 mm) or larger form.
Typical residential construction will use 6″ or 8″ concrete core size blocks. Project specific engineering may allow for some core thickness to span vertically higher than these proposed guidelines.
Traditional stucco has a thick cementitious base, typically installed over a metal lath. The metal lath is fastened directly to the Fox Blocks webs with screw or staples.
Fox Blocks walls are designed as reinforced concrete walls, with steel reinforcement bars specified to be installed vertically and horizontally, as the walls are built. Typical reinforcement bar sizes used are #4 or #5 (10 m or 15 m).