Faswall
Faswall is an insulated composite concrete form (ICCF) made from 85% mineralized wood chips and 15% mineral binders (clay, lime, cement). Manufactured in Oregon by ShelterWorks Ltd. since 2007, the system produces vapor-permeable, mold-resistant, fire-rated walls with R-25.5 steady-state insulation and high thermal mass. In production since 1987 with tens of thousands of buildings completed across North America, Europe, and Asia.
About
After World War II, amid rubble and wood waste across Europe, builders discovered clay-wood composite walls that had lasted 700+ years without decay and at the same time that they could mineralize wood waste, to neutralize the natural sugars, bond them with lime-cement, and form building blocks that lasted centuries. That insight became Faswall.
Manufactured by ShelterWorks Ltd. in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Faswall blocks are 85% mineralized wood fiber and 15% mineral binders (clay, lime, cement)— nothing else. No polystyrene. No foam. No VOCs. The walls they build are vapor-permeable and breathable, which means no trapped moisture, no mold, and no need for the vapor barriers that lock toxins inside conventional homes. With a 4-hour fire rating, R-25.5 insulation, and 12 inches of reinforced concrete thermal mass, these walls are designed to outlast the people who build them.
Photo Gallery
Key Features
Faswall delivers the structural permanence of reinforced concrete with the breathability and non-toxicity of natural materials — a combination that conventional ICFs and wood framing simply cannot match. The system has been in continuous production since 1987.
85%
Recycled Mineralized Wood Content
R-25.5
Steady-State Insulation Value (with Poly-Iso)
4-Hr
Fire Rating
200+
Year Design Lifespan
30+
Years in Production (Since 1987)
Why Choose Us
Most insulated concrete forms are made from expanded polystyrene — the same material as disposable coffee cups. Faswall replaced the plastic entirely with mineralized wood chips, creating a wall system that breathes, doesn't off-gas, resists fire, and stores thermal energy. It's the ICF for people who don't want plastic entombed in their walls.
Zero Polystyrene, Zero VOCs
Unlike conventional ICFs, Faswall contains no foam, no plastics, and no chemical additives. Just mineralized wood chips and cement. The walls don't off-gas — period. You can plaster directly onto them without drywall, paint, or adhesives.
Vapor Permeable — Walls That Breathe
Faswall's wood-cement composite is naturally free-draining and vapor permeable, regulating indoor humidity and eliminating the moisture traps that breed mold. No vapor barriers needed — which means fewer layers of materials that can off-gas.
200-Year Durability
Reinforced concrete cores inside mineralized wood-chip forms. Tens of thousands of buildings built with this technology across Europe, Asia, and North America since the system's origins in post-WWII reconstruction. These walls are legacy construction.
4-Hour Fire Rating
Superior fire resistance — critical for wildfire-prone regions. Faswall walls don't burn, don't melt, and don't release toxic fumes. Active blog content on wildfire rebuilds demonstrates real-world fire performance.
DIY-Friendly Construction
Blocks weigh under 30 lbs, dry-stack without mortar using interlocking tongue-and-groove ends, and can be cut with standard wood saws. Owner-builders across the country have built their own Faswall homes with support directly from the Oregon plant.
Services List
Faswall Block System
- Faswall ICCF Wall Form Blocks
- Residential Home Walls
- Foundations & Basements
- Commercial Building Walls
- Agricultural & Winery Structures
- Greenhouses & Outbuildings
- ADUs & Tiny Houses
- Fire-Safe Rebuilds
Technical Support
- Block Pricing & Estimation
- Product Data Sheets
- Design Ideas & Detail Drawings
- Installation Manual
- R-Value Documentation
- Engineering Details
- Owner-Builder Support
- Financing Options (Synchrony)
Service Area
Manufacturing Plant
PO Box 1311 Philomath, Oregon 97370
Markets Served
Coverage
Manufactured in Philomath, Oregon and shipped direct nationwide. Sold exclusively from the ShelterWorks plant — not available through retailers. Tens of thousands of buildings completed across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Founding Member
Healthy Building Alliance
Manufacturer ·