Plastilock electrical boxes were developed exclusively to meet the unique needs of ICF construction. They provide many advantages for both the ICF contractor and ICF homeowner, mainly a chase for pulling wire. Frequently, much of the electrical wiring being installed in ICF buildings gets treated as an after thought. Many of the methods, retrofits and materials now being used to install electrical services are labor intensive and not well suited for code compliant installations. Once these wiring schemes get covered with stucco or drywall, no additions or upgrades can easily be made. This actually becomes a disadvantage for ICF jobs wired this way vs. stick framing, where future wiring can still be pulled inside wall voids.
Prior to the introduction of the Plasticlock electrical boxes, installing electrical services required extensive cutting of the finished foam walls. This type of "cut-in" electrical installation is slow, created a mess, and can reduce the R-value that ICF companies work so hard to promote. Boxes must be drilled into the concrete and securing the Romex wiring inside the carved out channels to meet minimum attachment and consistent depth distances required by Code can be challenging.
As ICF construction continues to gain main stream acceptance, new innovations developed with ICF's in mind are making the job easier than ever before. Plastilock electrical boxes are just such an innovation. In fact, they are the ONLY electrical boxes UL tested and Listed specifically for use in ICF systems!
Plans are marked out before the foam walls are constructed and installed before the concrete is poured.
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