The New Industry-Led National ICF Training Designed to Modernise Building with Concrete
While Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) has now become popular among small builders nationwide, there hasn’t typically been any standardised third-party training for installing ICF products. The National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas, Co. Offaly, is establishing a programme, with support from the major Irish ICF manufacturers, to introduce best practice in maximising the use of ICF systems.
Of all scheme housing developments in Ireland commenced from July to December 2025, 7% used Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF). That's thousands of residential projects across the country now utilising the innovative building system. This coverage is mostly made up of regional contractors using a system developed by one of Ireland’s four major ICF manufacturers: Altherm ICF, Amvic ICF, Castleforms, and Thermhouse.
While this is a good news story for ICF, there is no third-party, accredited best practice for installing these building systems, with contractors currently trained by individual ICF manufacturers. The National Construction Training Campus, run by the Laois & Offaly ETB, has taken steps to address this, working with the Irish manufacturers to develop certified ICF training. This gives contractors a recognised qualification to ensure the quality of ICF system integration and installation stays consistent across construction developments.
The ICF training is nearly finalised, with a launch before the end of March 2026 and Mount Lucas accepting expressions of interest from Irish construction professionals.
The course will run over five days at the National Construction Training Centre in Co. Offaly, with half a day of theory and reviewing technical specifications of the different systems on the first day. From there, the focus is on practical installation skills in different contexts, including windows, parting party wall sections, and other uses. The course is open to anyone interested in building with ICF, whether they are trade-qualified or not.
John Kelly, Manager at the National Construction Training Campus, discussed the critical timing of launching this training programme.
“When Mount Lucas was nominated as the MMC Demonstration Park for Ireland, the Government tasked us with showcasing the potential of the primary MMC systems: light gauge steel frame, timber frame, and Insulated Concrete Formwork. We want Mount Lucas to be at the forefront of any construction-related learning in Ireland, be thought of as the number-one place for hands-on training. Standardising and teaching best practice for installing ICF systems is first step towards that goal.”
Manager at the National Construction Training Campus
The Mount Lucas team started to develop the content for this programme by first engaging the Irish ICF manufacturers, to review their technical manuals and section drawings.
Mount Lucas trainers Paul Egan and Phelim Guinan (with a combined 40 years’ experience in construction) also started visiting sites using ICF to see the system in practice.
“Our first exposure to ICF onsite was a project in Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare. The contractor, Innovative Construction Solutions, was very supportive in our learning and we were guided through every part of the installation, from the pour to setting. A as a qualified Carpenter, I saw a lot of overlap with my skills, and the time and energy efficiency benefits of using ICF.”
Trainer at Mount Lucas
Following this first foray into building with ICF, many Irish manufacturers invited Paul, Phelim, and other stakeholders from Mount Lucas and the LOETB to sites around the country deploying their proprietary ICF system. This culminated in the first dedicated MMC Training Unit for ICF in Ireland being set up at the National Construction Training Centre. Representatives from Altherm ICF, Amvic ICF, Castleforms, Thermhouse, and StaxICF were then invited onsite to offer technical guidance on a condensed version of the course.
“It was very important to include everyone in gathering feedback on the various ICF systems. We got great insight from the ICF representatives, and to be fair they worked brilliantly together as well.”
Manager at the National Construction Training Campus
As for the expected impact of the course, the Mount Lucas team is confident the certified ICF training will ‘attract new people into the industry’ while also acting as a resource for construction companies to identify new talent.
“We can connect learners straight to the contractors. They want people to come to site and be able to work to a high level of quality and precision straight away. It’s brilliant to see such innovative training being brought into the mainstream.”
Trainer at Mount Lucas
As for the ICF manufacturers themselves, they are pleased that concerted effort is being made to introduce third-party, accredited training. Ensuring their proprietary ICF systems are integrated with existing building technologies and optimised during installation is in their interest. We gathered comments from the four main ICF manufacturers on the move to establish a certified ICF programme at the National Construction Training Campus.
“Anything that helps to attract more people into the construction industry is a good thing. And this training programme will help to expand the knowledge of different ICF products and align best practices on installing these systems nationwide.”
Damien Gleeson, Development & Specification Executive at Thermohouse
“The team at Mount Lucas identified the need for training in ICF years ago and have been proactive in contacting the Irish manufacturers for input. We reciprocated by bringing the LOETB team to our live sites and opening up our technical manuals. As the longest-standing ICF manufacturer in the country, we needed to be involved and helping to develop a nationally recognised qualification for those coming into ICF.”
Andrew Butler, Senior Technical Manager at Amvic ICF
“ICF has proven an innovative solution to many of the challenges that can be encountered in traditional construction. The product offers superior energy efficiency, structural durability, and is easier to install than concrete blockwork. With this third-party training, as an industry we can more easily control the quality standards of installers and ensure ICF is utilised in the most effective way.”
Tom Maher, Managing Director at Castleforms
“We want more people in the construction industry trained in the best practice of installing ICF systems. We are satisfied this Mount Lucas training programme will give builders the necessary appreciation of the technical specifications of our product, and how to use ICF to construct more energy efficient buildings quicker.”
Neville Champ, General Manager at Altherm ICF
The ICF training course at the Mount Lucas Training Campus will soon launch, with expressions of interest from Irish construction professionals now being accepted.
