FAQ – Private
SECTION FOR END CUSTOMERS
ICF Italia Panels
01
Soundproofing (ref. Condominium)
There are two types of noise that need to be managed when constructing a building: airborne noise and impact or footfall noise. In ICF-Habitat Group constructions, the attenuation of airborne noise, both from the external environment and between internal partitions of the building (on the same living floor and between different floors), is guaranteed by the thickness of the walls and floors made of reinforced concrete, as well as by the correct installation of windows and entrance doors with particularly high-performance characteristics. The noise generated by footfall, on the other hand, is managed during the installation phase of internal flooring, carried out with careful attention to the perfect execution of all phases that ensure the correct and high-performance result.
02
Earthquake
Buildings constructed with the ICF-ITALIA system are designed and built to withstand earthquakes of even high intensity, even greater than those historically recorded in earthquakes that have occurred in Italy over the decades.
The earthquake-resistant structure is based on load-bearing walls. To further increase internal seismic safety (partition walls), dry technology should be chosen, as it is the only one compliant with anti-seismic regulations. Dry internal walls are indeed integral with the structure and optimally resist the stresses due to multidirectional accelerations that develop during an earthquake. This should not be underestimated as the primary cause of death during seismic events is the explosion due to compression of internal partition walls and infill walls in beam and pillar structures. In the classification of limit states, buildings constructed with ICF ITALIA have the highest seismic safety: SLO Operational Limit State, which means that after the seismic event, once the natural fear has passed, after checks by the Fire Department and Civil Protection (in case of very intense earthquakes), it is possible to safely return home. Government Buildings considered STRATEGIC are ALL constructed with load-bearing walls.
03
Atmospheric events (tornadoes, hail, etc.)
In the United States of America, the only constructions considered safe and that pass the tests required for verifying resistance to tornadoes are those made with ICF systems. In Italy, force 5 tornadoes with winds at 220 km/h cannot occur, and therefore ICF ITALIA constructions are very safe. Regarding hail damage, from previous experiences, we can state that damage to external walls is non-existent, provided that an external finish of adequate thickness and strength is applied (reinforced coatings, reconstructed stone, natural stone). As for windows and their shading parts, however, it depends on their specific characteristics chosen during the purchase and installation phase.
04
Mold
Buildings constructed with ICF ITALIA systems are designed in such a way that all thermal bridges of the building are totally and correctly resolved, conforming to the most restrictive prescriptions – linear thermal bridge, for change of direction, and three-dimensional, so mold cannot form inside. It is advisable to install mechanical controlled ventilation (MCV) systems to ensure proper management of internal relative humidity, regulating it for maximum living comfort.
05
Infiltrations Settlement cracks
Settlement cracks in a structure made with load-bearing walls in reinforced concrete, such as buildings constructed with ICF ITALIA systems, are very rare as the foundation system is a slab and the box-like structure allows for compensations. Different is the issue of waterproofing underground parts, which is beyond the construction type with which the building is made and must be executed with the technology most suitable for the characteristic situation of the place where the building is constructed and installed according to best practices.
