Plumbing
1. Plumbing is installed in the same manner as electrical, by creating chases in the foam and using adhesive foam to secure any pipes in place.
a. Mark the route of the pipe on the foam before cutting.
2. Keep in mind that it isn’t possible to install pipes with a diameter larger than 2½” due to the thickness of the foam.
a. For larger pipe runs, choose an inside wood framed wall.
NOTE: 2” schedule 40 pipe has an approximate outside diameter of 2½”. This is the maximum size pipe that can be run in the ICF wall surface since the foam is 2 1/2″ thick.
BuildBlock does not recommend running plumbing inside the concrete wall unless absolutely necessary.
- Placing pipe in the void of an ICF wall and pouring concrete around it has a tendency to create voiding and consolidation issues and is unrecoverable should the pipe fail.
- If placing any plumbing inside a wall cavity, extra vibration is required to ensure proper consolidation.
When planning your project it is always wise to consult with any trade that an ICF wall will impact.
- This helps each trade prepare for their respective installations and alterations, if necessary, to follow their methods or materials more suited for ICF job sites.
