Fox Blocks
Airlite Plastics Co.
6110 Abbott Street
Omaha, NE 68110
877.369.2562
www.FoxBlocks.com
Cabinet Attachment
Fox Blocks stay-in-place insulating concrete forms (ICFs) are used in all types of residential and commercial
applications. Fox ICF walls provide unparalleled energy efficiency, safety, durability and comfort.
Fox Blocks ICFs features a flat interior configuration. It contains plastic polypropylene ties or studs that hold the form
together during concrete placement and later serve as the furring strips for fastening interior and exterior finishes.
The Fox Blocks studs are spaced vertically 8" (203.2 mm) on center and are 1 1/2” (38.1 mm) wide and 0.23" (5.8 mm)
thick. The studs are recessed 5/8" (15.9 mm), but are clearly marked with a raised expanded polystyrene (EPS) bead on
both sides of the stud. This makes it easy for the baseboard installer to find the studs to fasten to. The Fox Block
installer stacks the forms in a running bond pattern aligning the studs so that they create a continuous vertical furring
strip.
On the Fox 45 and 90º corner forms, the closest studs to the apex of the corner on each return are centered at the
following distances from the corners:
90-Degree
Inside Return
90-Degree
Outside Return
45-Degree Inside
Return
45-Degree
Outside Return
9 1/4"
11 1/4"
13 1/4"
15 1/4"
17 1/4"
(235 mm)
(286 mm)
(336 mm)
(387 mm)
(438 mm)
1" and 9”
1" and 9”
1" and 9”
1” and 7”
1" and 9”
(25.4 and 228.6
mm)
(25.4 and 228.6
mm)
(25.4 and 228.6
mm)
(25.4 and
177.8 mm)
(25.4 and
228.6 mm)
10", 6”, 2 ½”
12", 6”, 2 ½”
14", 6”, 2 ½”
16", 6”, 2 ½”
18", 6”, 2 ½”
(254, 152, 63.5
mm)
(305, 152, 63.5
mm)
(356, 152, 63.5
mm)
(406, 152, 63.5
mm)
(457, 152, 63.5
mm)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
2” and 10”
2" and 9”
2" and 10”
(51 and 254mm)
(51 and 229
mm)
(51 and 254mm)
2” and 6"
2” and 6"
2” and 8"
(51and 152 mm)
(51 and 152 mm)
(51 and 203mm)
All of the 45 and 90 degree corner forms have a corner bracket molded into the 90-degree corner forms. This corner
bracket provides a 1 1/2" (38.1 mm) wide continuous fastening strip right in the apex of the corner. There is another 1
1/2" (38.1 mm) wide continuous vertical furring strip that is centered 6 inches (152.4 mm) from the corner’s apex.
Additionally there is a 1 1/2" (38.1 mm) wide fastening strip running perpendicular to these two vertical strips. This
horizontal strip will be staggered vertically and located approximately every 7 to 9 inches (177.8 to 228.6 mm). All of
the fastening strips are recessed 5/8" (15.9 mm) beneath the face of the EPS foam face. Therefore, the 9 ¼” will have
Fox Blocks
Airlite Plastics Co.
6110 Abbott Street
Omaha, NE 68110
877.369.2562
www.FoxBlocks.com
continuous fastening strips located 2 1/2 inches, 6 inches and 10 inches (63.5, 152.4, and 254 mm) from the outside
corner, the 11 1/4" will have continuous vertical fastening located 2 ½” inch, 6 inches and 12 inches (63.5, 152.4. and
305 mm) from the outside corner, the 13 1/4" iForm will have a fastening strip located 2 ½” inch, 6 inches and 14
inches (63.5, 152.4. and 356 mm) from the outside corner, the 15 1/4” will have a fastening strip located 2 ½” inch, 6
inches, and 16 inches (63.5, 152.4, and 406.4 mm), and the 17 1/4” will have a fastening strip located 2 ½” inch, 6
inches, and 18 inches (63.5, 152.4. and 431.8 mm).
15-Minute Thermal Barrier Requirement. All model building codes require that the interior face of the foam
insulated wall for all buildings be finished with an approved 15-minute thermal (fire) barrier, such as minimum ½" (12.7
mm) thick regular gypsum wallboard attached to the plastic studs. This requirement includes unfinished basement areas
and some crawl spaces. Other building materials documenting the ASTM E-119 fire index rating of 15 would be
acceptable.
Hanging Cabinets
Planning for attaching cabinets to Fox Block walls should begin as soon as the walls are installed and before the drywall
is attached. Always consider the length, type, size, weight of the cabinets, and weight of the contents during the
planning phase.
Begin by laying out the cabinet area and marking it on the ICF wall. Next, install the plywood ½" to 1" (12.7 to 25.4
mm) short of the perimeter of the cabinet area, so that the drywall will inset behind the cabinet. The thickness of the
plywood must be the same as the thickness of the drywall.
Instead of fastening the plywood backer directly overtop the ICF wall surface, an optional method would be to remove
the EPS foam to the thickness of the plywood so that it is flush with the EPS surface. With this method the drywall
can be installed behind the cabinets. Do not use OSB.
Once the area where the plywood is going to be fastened is laid out, you can fasten it to the wall by using any
combination of compatible construction adhesive, course threaded drywall screws and concrete fasteners (tapcons).
The combination chosen should include a minimum number of concrete fasteners. Finally, fasten the cabinet directly
to the plywood backing. Again, the fastening and installation method decision should be based on the size and weight
of the cabinet and contents.
An alternative method is to fasten a 2x material horizontally or vertically to the concrete wall using tapcons after
removing the EPS foam so that the 2x material is flush with the EPS surface.
Lighter and smaller cabinets can be fastened directly to the plastic stud and concrete in the Fox Blocks wall. Use a
course threaded screw every 6 inches (152.4 mm) on center both above and below the cabinet in addition to a minimum
number of concrete fasteners.
Screws
Fox Blocks recommends course sharp point thread drywall screws for fastening the wood backing to the Reward wall
because of their greater pullout strength. The screws are fastened to the plastic studs molded into the forms. Drive the
screw into the plastic stud to snug tight and then stop to prevent stripping out the plastic stud. Use a cordless drill
Fox Blocks
Airlite Plastics Co.
6110 Abbott Street
Omaha, NE 68110
877.369.2562
www.FoxBlocks.com
instead of an electric drill, and keep it at the lowest power setting. Follow the local building code jurisdiction regarding
the fastener schedule.
Adhesives
Some drywall contractors may decide to use a combination of screws and adhesive when installing the cabinets. This
method is acceptable as long as they are compatible and approved for use on EPS foam materials. Petroleum or
solvent-based products will deteriorate the foam.