Insulated Concrete masonry units provide high insulated thermal barrier, high heat capacity while providing energy use reduction. Insulated concrete masonry units can provide insulation values up to R-22. Insulated concrete masonry units are made of identical materials as conventional concrete blocks. Sand, gravel and Portland cement are the main components of ICMU’s, with a layer of insulation within the block structure.
Insulated Concrete Masonry Units
Insulated concrete masonry units are manufactured with no webs, or connections between the masonry faces. Although the unit is webless, it provide spaced to accept rebar, concrete, conduits and pipes as a standard brick wall. These blocks are finished on the inside face reducing the need for drywall and/or paint used for the interior finish, making them less expensive and more environmentally friendly. ICMUs are available in all masonry veneer finishes brick, stone, etc. They can also be customized to fit the project needs for color and texture as well.
The concrete masonry unit creates a high insulated thermal mass design, creating an energy barrier between the exterior walls and the interior core.
Insulated Concrete Masonry Unit Applications
Insulated concrete masonry units provide great thermal comfort on commercial, retail stores, office building, warehouses, day care, hospital and nursing homes. They can also provide great insulation values to single-family homes, condos and military barracks.
The resulting modular concrete masonry wall system offers great versatility and exceptional structural integrity in various applications, along with exceptional insulation value.
Insulated Concrete Masonry Unit Advantages
Insulated concrete masonry units, similar to regular concrete masonry units can offer several advantages, such as:
- Can Provide up to 60% of energy savings, using US department of Energy Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Surveys as a comparative baseline.
- Using Insulated concrete masonry unit can contribute to LEED points on several categories.
- ICMU saves labor and material costs.
- Insulated concrete masonry units can be reinforced horizontal and vertically without further modifications.
- Manufactured in variety of colors and finishes.
- No thermal bridges created
- Insulated concrete masonry units can provide an energy efficiency and quiet rating up to 53.
- Performance R-Value up to R-22.
- Insulated concrete masonru is offered as standard 10” and 12” width by 16” lengths and 8” height.
- Can be mixed with regular concrete masonry units.
- Non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or CFC's.
- ICMU offers improved moisture resistance allowing the flow of water behind the exterior face shell.
- ICMU can provide up to a four hour fire rating.
- Can be used as load bearing or non-load bearing applications.
Insulated Concrete Masonry Unit Installation
Insulated concrete masonry units must be laid with the faces leveled and plumbed. Joints must have uniform dimensions, 1/4” both horizontal and vertical, and must be tooled and straight. Insulated concrete masonry units shall be sized and installed following best masonry practices. Cut pieces shall be sized and placed appropriately to maintain consistency and bond. It is important to install control joints where specified by structural engineer.
ICMU must be cut for bonding, rough-in, boxes holes, etc, using motor driven masonry saws that could use abrasive or diamond blade. However, Insulated concrete masonry units must never be cut or split in halves.
Insulated Concrete Masonry Unit Mortar
Insulated concrete masonry units must be laid with full mortar coverage on head and bed joints, being sure that masonry cores are neither being filled nor block. Tool all mortar joints when thumbprint hard into a concave configuration. It is also important to remove all excess mortar from the face of the insulated concrete masonry unit before it sets. Tuckpoint the joints of scored units for proper appearance. All exterior scored units must be tuckpointed to prevent water penetration.
