Pouring in Lifts
A LIFT: Is a specific height that concrete is poured to at any one time in a continuous pour until the full height is reached.
We recommend pouring your project in four-foot lifts. This height allows you to reach the bottom of windows during the first pass and ensures that not too much pressure is put on the lower forms. Once you reach four-feet, keep pouring without stopping another four-feet and repeat until the full wall height is reached. The pressure in the ICF forms is based on how high the concrete is poured at once.
By pouring in lifts, the first lift of concrete starts to set up slightly (slake) reducing pressure on the lower forms and providing a foundation for the next lift. If too much concrete is poured in one place at one time the pressure build up could become too much for the ICFs to handle. BuildBlock ICFs are VERY strong and block failure is rare, but do yourself a favor and don’t risk it.
