Pictures and small items
An X-shaped picture hook is enough. The nail passes through it at an angle, so it can't break out of the plaster. For heavier items, use a hook with two or three nails.
up to 4 kg per nailA home that insulates from the very first block.
Insulating Neopor® formwork blocks slot together and are filled with concrete. The result is a solid wall insulated on both sides – and the shell stands in 8 days on average.
- 30+ yearsproducing Neopor® blocks since 1990
- 5,500+ projectsdelivered to partners across Europe
- 1,100+ self-buildershave built their shell with VHG
- Ø 8 daysfor a self-built shell
Certification and quality
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Passivhaus Institut Darmstadt
Certified component suitable for passive houses in the two coldest climate zones.
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ETA
European Technical Assessment of the formwork block system under ETAG 009.
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Made in Germany
We manufacture every block ourselves, under our own brand and without intermediaries.
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Neopor® by BASF®
Only proven raw material, plus a voluntary quality inspection every year.
Three layers in one wall
The block is both formwork and insulation. It stays in the wall permanently after pouring, so the shell is built and insulated in a single step.
Try building the wall yourself.
From design to finished shell
The blocks fit together like a construction kit. After a short briefing, even a beginner can do it.
Design
Our architects prepare the drawings and a DIN cost breakdown. The structural engineer provides structural and thermal calculations.
Delivery
We produce the blocks for your project and deliver them to site just in time, with no storage needed.
Assembly
The blocks interlock course by course, for walls up to 3 m high. Our construction assistant guides you at the start.
Pouring
The walls are reinforced and filled with concrete using our loaned pump. The insulation stays in the wall for good.
With you all the way
You get far more than material. A whole team supports you from design to finished shell.
Architect and structural engineer
Our architects prepare the drawings and cost breakdown you need for your planning application. The structural engineer handles the shell's structural design and the actual thermal performance certificate.
Construction assistant
At the start of every build, our assistant looks over your shoulder until you know exactly what to do. If you don't self-build, the support is even more extensive.
Blocks, concrete and floor slabs
We manufacture all material for your project and deliver it to site exactly when you need it, so nothing gets damaged in storage.
Pump and props
A concrete pump with hose worth over €100,000 is yours to use free of charge for as long as the shell takes. Our assembly props were developed specifically for our blocks.
Support throughout the build
Experts are on hand by phone and in a dedicated WhatsApp group, with an answer within 24 hours at the latest.
What the wall gives you
One building system for homes of any shape, from the first course to the roof.
High insulation values
With a thermal conductivity of λ ≈ 0.032 W/mK, Neopor® insulates the wall without extra cladding.
No thermal bridges
The insulation is continuous throughout the shell, including corners and junctions.
Low energy costs
Owners save at least €2,000 a year on energy compared with other building systems.
Stable indoor climate
The material does not absorb moisture and dampens sharp temperature swings in summer and winter.
Fire safety
Fire resistance REI 120 for load-bearing walls. Neopor® granulate contains a flame-retardant additive.
Sound protection
The wall meets sound insulation standards, often outperforming conventional masonry.
Any house shape
No standard house types. The simple modular grid gives you complete freedom of layout.
Faster and cheaper
The shell costs around 30 % less and the house stands 3–6 months sooner on average.
Durable and resistant
No steel components that could corrode, and resistant to mould, algae and insects.
Kinder to the planet
The material is largely recyclable, and lower energy use reduces the home's carbon footprint.
How the VHG block compares
Anyone looking at kit houses soon comes across aerated concrete. The VHG system works on a fundamentally different principle.
| VHG block | Aerated concrete (e.g. Ytong) | |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Permanent Neopor® formwork with a concrete core | Aerated concrete block without a concrete core |
| Load-bearing element | Reinforced concrete core | The block itself |
| Thermal conductivity | λ ≈ 0.032 W/mK | λ ≈ 0.08–0.12 W/mK |
| Sound insulation | Higher | Lower |
| Compressive strength | Higher | Lower |
What about a prefab house?
Most prefabricated houses use timber-frame panels assembled on site. They go up quickly, but they are not solid construction. A VHG house is built from concrete on your plot, with better sound insulation, a longer service life, full freedom of layout and stronger long-term value.
Technical data
Key figures for architects, structural engineers and builders.
| Wall type | Inner shell | Concrete core | Outer shell | Total thickness | Wall weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm | mm | mm | mm | kg/m² | |
| Standard | 50 | 150 | 50 | 250 | 362 |
| Iso block | 50 | 150 | 150 | 350 | 364 |
| Iso block | 50 | 150 | 250 | 450 | 366 |
- Fire resistance
- REI 120 load-bearing and EI 120 non-load-bearing walls, with a core of at least 150 mm and concrete class C16/20 or higher
- Thermal conductivity of Neopor®
- λ ≈ 0.032 W/mK
- Wall height
- up to 3 m
- Passive house
- certified by Passivhaus Institut Darmstadt for the two coldest climate zones
- Corrosion
- the system contains no steel components
- Biological resistance
- resistant to mould, bacteria, algae and insects
Block range
| Element | Dimensions (L × W × H) |
|---|---|
| E02 · standard block 25 cm | 125 × 25 × 25 cm |
| N21 · standard block 35 cm | 125 × 35 × 25 cm |
| N22 · façade formwork block | 125 × 35 × 25 cm |
| N22 + HCE3 | 125 × 45 × 25 cm |
| N23 · façade lintel block | 125 × 35 × 25 cm |
| N23 + HCE3 | 125 × 45 × 25 cm |
| N31 · passive block 45 cm | 125 × 45 × 25 cm |
| E03 · façade lintel block | 125 × 25 × 25 cm |
| E04 · façade formwork block | 125 × 25 × 25 cm |
| E05 · height adjustment | 125 × 25 × 3.5 cm |
| HCE3 · insulation adapter | 125 × 10 × 25 cm |
| N12 · end element | 16 × 5 × 25 cm |
We also produce U and L blocks, end sliders, firewall blocks and basement blocks with a 20 cm concrete chamber.
How to hang things on the wall
Behind the plaster sit 5 cm of Neopor® insulation and then the concrete core. Choose the fixing method by the weight of what you're hanging.
- plaster
- Neopor® insulation
- concrete core
Shelves and small cabinets
A standard wall plug is anchored into the concrete core. Because it passes through 5 cm of insulation, load it to only about 30 % of its rated capacity.
≈ 30 % of plug capacityRailings and suspended walls
Cut an opening in the insulation and fit a timber wedge. The screws bear on the wood, so they won't snap. Cover the area with mesh before plastering.
4 × 6 cm timber wedgeWashbasins and heavy cabinets
Use heavy-duty anchors. For shear loads, set them in assembly cement in the recessed insulation so they can't break.
anchor + assembly cementA floor slab in 5 days
The VHG floor slab system: factory-made edge elements, three layers of XPS insulation and pouring without extra formwork. Three people built this passive-house slab in five working days.
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Day 1
Gravel subgrade, drainage pipes in the crushed-stone base and a stainless foundation earth electrode. Made-to-measure elements delivered, first insulation layer and all edge elements with frost apron laid.
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Day 2
Second and third insulation layers laid to plan, 3 × 10 cm in total for a passive house. The 24 cm edge elements fit to the millimetre.
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Day 3
Damp-proof membrane, spacers for the bottom reinforcement and an earthing strip fixed to the mesh to DIN standards.
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Day 4
Top reinforcement including additional bar reinforcement. Structural sign-off by the site manager and approval to pour.
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Day 5
Pump and mixer truck arrive on time. The whole slab is poured without formwork, levelled and power-floated.
Pools, too
Neopor® formwork blocks are also ideal for building swimming pools. The insulation helps keep the water warm and significantly cuts the energy needed for heating.
Production lines and partnership
We have been producing ICF elements since 1990 and also supply complete production systems. Our modern, automated lines make blocks for single-family homes, apartment buildings and commercial projects.
- Complete service package: planning, design, commissioning and training for your team
- Materials, equipment and technical support from a single supplier
- Become a VHG contract partner
- VHG Beton-Pumpen-Service concrete pump hire
What we stand for
What we offer
- Neopor® blocks in German brand quality from our own production
- A voluntary quality inspection every year
- Just-in-time production to prevent damage
- Above-average insulation values, certified for the two coldest climate zones
- Support throughout the entire build
- A DIN-standard construction cost breakdown
- Equipment worth over €100,000 at no extra charge
- A build time 3–6 months shorter
- Savings of up to €100,000 on the shell alone
What we avoid
- Standard house types
- Commission-based sales agents
- Storage costs
- Detours and unnecessary transport
- Middlemen
- Nasty surprises on the invoice
- Inflated prices followed by minimal service
- Poor insulation or lower quality from low-density elements
- Incomplete quotes or extra charges from faulty quantity take-offs
Builders who made it happen
More than 1,100 self-builders have already realised their dream of an affordable home.
If I, as a complete beginner, could build my family home and office building in 3–4 weeks, you can do it too.
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The Nils G. family
Idar-Oberstein
Watch video (German) -
The Daniel N. family
Geichlingen
Watch video (German) -
Y. and J. Koch
Langendorf
Watch video (German)
What you'll need
Time and helping hands. The system only works with your own effort: we show you the way and we're always reachable, but you walk it yourself.
What you won't need
A bricklaying apprenticeship. Just be ready to follow our construction assistant's instructions and you can get started.
Frequently asked questions
Can we really build it ourselves?
Yes. The system is designed so that almost anyone can build with it. Practical skills help but aren't required. All you need are your own two hands and one or two helpers to speed things up.
Who will help us?
Depending on which of the three options you choose, the support can be very comprehensive. We'll discuss what fits your plans in a no-obligation conversation.
How do we stay on budget?
Our quote is valid for 4 weeks, and we offer a 6-month price guarantee on materials because we produce and transport them ourselves. The planner's cost breakdown serves as the baseline. We recommend tendering all follow-on trades, and we're happy to help.
How much can we save?
The more work you do yourself, the more you save. Our customers have typically saved around a third of the construction cost. For a 130 m² family home that means €25,000–50,000, and up to €100,000 depending on the project.
How long does the shell take?
8 days on average for a full self-build with 2–3 helpers. No drying times, no complicated junctions, a clear sequence of work, proven in more than 5,500 projects across Europe.
Is the house really solid construction?
Yes. Once filled with concrete, the wall is a full reinforced-concrete wall. Structural, acoustic and fire performance meet the requirements for conventional solid construction.
How is it different from aerated concrete?
An aerated concrete block carries loads itself, without a concrete core. In the VHG system the concrete core carries the load while the Neopor® remains in the wall as permanent insulation. The result is better sound insulation, higher compressive strength and better thermal insulation.
Does it qualify for energy-efficiency funding?
Neopor® insulation with λ ≈ 0.032 W/mK meets the energy requirements for efficient homes, for example KfW Efficiency House 40 loans in Germany. Check the funding conditions in your country before construction starts.
Can we build a bungalow?
Yes. Bungalows are particularly well suited to the VHG system: single storey, free layout and step-free from the outset.
What if we don't want to build the shell ourselves?
No problem. You can build together with the VHG team or have us erect the complete shell for you.
Planning to build a home?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation. Together we'll find out which of the three options suits you best and review your construction budget.
Book a consultation- Free hotline 24/7 (Germany)
- 0800 80 600 44