What Does
Lightweight Insulating Concrete (LWIC) Mean?
Lightweight insulating concrete (LWIC) is a combination of regular Portland cement and perforated or cellular foam with circular cutouts. The mixture may also be expanded with aggregate, such as vermiculite or perlite. A complete LWIC system typically consists of two or more inches of lightweight concrete cast onto a corrugated steel deck. It is used primarily for providing insulation.
Corrosionpedia Explains Lightweight Insulating Concrete (LWIC)
Lightweight insulating concrete, as its name suggests, is a type of lightweight material. The design consists of molded expanded polystyrene foam (MEPS) embedded in a concrete mixture (typically referred to as a slurry). A steel deck substrate is provided as the final layer to stabilize the hardened mix.
Unlike reinforced concrete, LWIC is non-structural, i.e., it is not used to carry significant loads or provide structural stability. This material is primarily used in roofing systems, where it acts as a roofing base, providing thermal resistance to industrial and commercial buildings with low-sloped roofs.