ICF Bracing and Alignment Review

This lesson identifies the four basic components of an ICF bracing system and the three jobs that system does: aligning the walls, supporting them during the pour, and providing a safe work platform.

Be sure that your project plan incorporates the ICF wall bracing and alignment system. Braces are placed every four to six feet to align the walls and help them withstand wind during construction. Plan extra bracing around corners, openings, bulkheads, and vertical seams so you have enough on site. Most systems also form a scaffold or platform for workers and equipment as the wall rises; install vertical safety bars once the platform reaches sufficient height. Erect bracing after the third or fourth course so it’s in place before stacking and rebar placement get difficult—and brace earlier if it’s exceptionally windy.

Our example, the BuildBrace Bracing and Alignment system, consists of four parts: The strongback, anchor foot, outrigger, and safety rail. The strongback is the vertical upright that attaches to the wall. The anchor foot sits on the ground, staked into dirt or sand or temporarily fastened to concrete with Tapcon screws (if in-floor heat prevents screwing, glue a 2×6 plank to the slab with low-expansion foam, attach the brace to the wood, then remove and scrape the slab clean afterward). The outrigger connects the foot to the strongback diagonally and includes an adjustment to move the wall in or out of alignment. The safety rail—wood or metal, or the optional BuildBrace steel rail—is required by OSHA to protect workers from falling off the walk boards.

Ensure that you’re using the correct attachments for ICF bracing. Fasten the strongback with coarse-thread removable duplex screws, which won’t strip and are reusable job to job. Place the screw at the top of the slot and leave it slightly loose: the forms compress and settle as concrete is placed, and a screw at the top of the slot can travel down with them. A screw at the bottom of the slot can’t move, so pressure transfers to the brace—making the wall hard to align and risking a bow. BuildBrace is designed to align with BuildBlock’s hard points; attaching there isn’t required but is recommended, since it prevents stripping right where you need to align and support the wall. Don’t overtighten. Straight, plumb walls make everything that follows—other trades and finishes—go smoothly.