A new report published by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and the Insulating Concrete Forms Manufacturers Association (ICFMA) has confirmed that Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) wall systems comply with NFPA 285, a key fire safety standard for exterior wall assemblies.
This result marks a significant milestone for the ICF construction industry. As demand increases for ICF in multi-story and commercial construction, meeting this rigorous standard helps reinforce confidence in the use of foam-insulated walls in code-compliant buildings above one story.
What is NFPA 285?
NFPA 285 is the standard test method for determining the fire propagation characteristics of exterior wall assemblies. It specifically assesses how fire moves upward and laterally along a building’s facade. Meeting this standard is a requirement for foam plastic insulating materials used in buildings of two or more storeys in many jurisdictions.
The new test evaluated two different ICF wall assemblies:
- ICF wall assembly with a noncombustible standard brick veneer
- ICF wall assembly with a combustible aluminum composite material (ACM) veneer
Both assemblies passed the NFPA 285 test protocol, proving that ICF wall systems can be used in fire-resistive designs - even with cladding systems that would traditionally raise concerns due to combustibility.
ICF Fire Safety and Adoption
ICF systems are well known for delivering exceptional thermal performance, high R-Values, and air-tight construction - characteristics that align with today’s energy and sustainability goals. However, in mid-rise and high-rise construction, code officials and engineers also require stringent fire safety assurances.
This study validates that ICF assemblies not only deliver energy performance but also meet critical fire safety requirements, confirming that ICF can be both high-performing and fire-safe.
According to the NRMCA and ICFMA the results of this study provide a green light for engineers, architects, and developers to use ICF in a broader array of building types. From schools and healthcare facilities to multi-family developments, designers now have documented proof that ICF systems can meet fire performance requirements without design compromise.
Future of Fireproof ICF Construction
The success of ICF wall systems under NFPA 285 opens the door for expanded use through engineering judgment, allowing additional configurations of ICF and cladding systems to be developed. This flexibility enables architects to pursue creative façade treatments while maintaining compliance with fire codes.
For professionals in construction and design, the findings offer more than reassurance. They provide a pathway to push ICF adoption in taller, more complex structures. Alleguard’s line of Amvic™ ICF products, already recognized for strength, energy performance, and disaster resilience, now stands on even stronger ground with third-party validation of its fire-safe performance.
As sustainability and building resilience continue to shape the built environment, construction professionals need solutions that check all the boxes. With this latest NFPA 285 testing, ICF wall systems prove they can do exactly that - delivering performance, efficiency, and now verified fire safety.
Whether you’re an architect designing to code, a contractor meeting client demands, or a developer looking for long-term ROI, ICF fire safety is no longer a question, it’s a proven advantage.
To learn more about Alleguard’s Amvic™ ICF systems and fire-rated wall assemblies, contact your Alleguard representative or explore our ICF training and technical resources.