Pouring an ICF Project

What you put inside your ICF walls is just as important as the forms themselves. Concrete makes ICF walls strong, but it can be unforgiving if you’re not prepared. This course covers five practices that make an ICF pour go smoothly — proper slump and mix, pre-pour prep, checking materials and walls, and pouring with a plan and a team. Free to access; register for the quiz and certificate. About 35 minutes.

Who this course is for

Installers and contractors preparing for their first ICF pours, and anyone who wants to avoid the common, costly mistakes that happen on pour day.

What you’ll learn

You’ll cover pre-pour preparation, how to perform and read a slump test (zero, collapsed, shear, and true slump), the right concrete mix and aggregate for ICF, ordering concrete, pouring continuously in four-foot lifts around the structure, consolidating with an internal vibrator, and handling corners and openings.

Frequently asked questions

What slump should ICF concrete be? Typically a 5–6 inch slump out of the pump. Concrete loses about ½ inch of slump under pump pressure, so account for that at the hopper.

What concrete mix is used for ICF? At least 3,000 PSI (20 MPa in Canada) with a 3/8-inch aggregate is the general recommendation. A wetter-than-spec mix over-pressures the forms; too dry won’t pump or consolidate.

What is a lift when pouring ICF? A lift is one continuous pass around the structure, adding about four feet of concrete height. You pour four feet at a time to manage pressure on the forms, consolidating each lift with an internal vibrator as you go.