Session 4: The Continuity of the Enclosure With ICF

The house as a whole, or system, is the new language of designers and builders. With advanced energy efficiency comes the need for a finely balanced approach to every choice; from fenestration, to mechanical, to thermal layers, and the continuity of the planes of protection. ICF is a robust and highly durable building system and can be more forgiving when exposed to excessive environmental loads, but too much of anything one element can quickly have a very negative effect on affordability and even performance. This session will dive into continuity of the planes of protection and discuss balanced approaches to the whole house design. This will highlight some very interesting and somewhat unexpected changes in how we design and built these homes.