Thus, they provide better moisture protection. See also: A guide to waterproofing your home. When it comes to small-scale building projects, red bricks may still find their importance. However, for large-scale residential, commercial and infrastructure projects, AAC blocks provide greater benefits and play a significant role in controlling the environmental damage caused due to construction using outdated building materials.
AAC blocks manufacturers are sought-after by construction companies in India, as this new-age building material scores over traditional bricks for numerous reasons.
Firstly, bricks are heavier and their use in building construction involves increased cost and wastage. Moreover, the rising price of kiln fuel can impact the overall cost. AAC blocks, on the other hand, are lightweight. Moreover, being environmentally friendly, AAC blocks ensure better durability and improved sound and heat insulation compared to bricks. Although AAC blocks are widely used in masonry units of high-rise RCC reinforced cement concrete framed buildings, they can be expensive when used for small load-bearing structures.
Buying a small number of blocks for such structures can cost more, as compared to ordering in bulk quantities for large projects. However, the material is lightweight and thus, contributes less to dead load and the requirement of structural steel can be minimised in RCC framed structures. Therefore, it can save on construction costs, when chosen for high-rise constructions.
Further, column foundations in RCC framed structures are designed for bearing the load of a building. Plinth beams are placed at the plinth level and AAC block masonry is raised on it. DPC or damp-proof course refers to material applied at the basement level, for restricting moisture flow through walls and floors. Load-bearing is used for low-rise structures. The thickness of the walls and finding the right size of AAC blocks, are crucial aspects, when it comes to load-bearing walls.
Moreover, the placement of these blocks requires expertise. It is important that the walls are designed by a qualified structural engineer. Levy has a tenant in the apartment above his garage who had been unable to remain healthy in conventional houses; she is sold on the benefits of the material. For applications where acute chemical sensitivity is an issue, cementitious, lime, or gypsum plaster interior finishes may be required, rather than acrylic coatings.
From an environmental standpoint, AAC is a mixed bag. One of the key ingredients, Portland cement, has a significant carbon footprint—though the lower-density of ACC makes it better than standard concrete or concrete block. Aluminum powder is energy-intensive to produce, but it is used in very small quantities: typically 0. When and if methods emerge for reducing the carbon dioxide emissions from cement production, the environmental footprint of AAC will improve.
The biggest drawback to AAC may be the lack of familiarity with it in the North American building industry. Builders and contractors are very conservative and resistant to new or unfamiliar materials. Another drawback is the need for a layer of insulation in most North American climates, though there is a German AAC product that could become available here with a sandwiched layer of lower-density higher-R-value AAC in the center.
With growing interest in resilience today, I believe that the prospects for AAC are bright; it could finally emerge as a common building material here. To keep up with his latest articles and musings, you can sign up for his Twitter feed. To receive e-mail notices of new blogs, sign up at the top of the page. Thanks for that, Alex. I share your enthusiasm for AAC, along with your urge to find something better than the stick framing that dominates North America.
However, there are two flaws of AAC to note:. Embodied carbon is rapidly emerging as a far bigger contributor to climate change than we had thought, and AAC shipped from Florida might not be so great in that regard. Thanks Bruce! I met Brent at your BuildWell Symposium in Are you still involved with Blue Planet at all?
I corrected an error in the original blog. I apologize for this error. I hope environment friendly and disaster resilient material like AAC can be used by a lot of people I would like to ask, is AAC suitable for tropical region like Indonesia?
Here we have wet rainy and dry drought season. Thanks before! Hey Alex, One of the best article I have come across in your blog. Thank you for sharing the useful information about resilient material. I would like to know more information about AAC plants. Keep sharing. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. AAC's higher cost keeps it out of the moderate-priced market, Poate says, because buyers are concerned about up-front costs.
AAC is already more popular than some predicted. The 80s' energy crisis revealed the need for an energy-efficient concrete product. When construction codes reflected that need, American builders started trying AAC. And now, says engineer Shuldes, "I'd say it's here to stay. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.
By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. By Jack McClintock. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. Photo by Rick Olivier With a pop, Chris Poate lights a pro-pane torch and moves the flame close to what looks like a double-thick slice of white bread. Thanks for signing up! Check your inbox for a welcome email.
As the slurry reacts with the expansion agent to generate air bubbles, the mixture expands. The heat helps the material to cure faster so that blocks and panels maintain their dimensions.
Reinforcement is placed within panels prior to curing. This manufacturing process produces a lightweight, noncombustible material with the following properties:. Density: 20 to 50 pounds per cubic foot pcf —this is light enough to float in water Compressive strength: to pounds per square inch psi. Sound transmission class STC : 40 for 4 inch thickness; 45 for 8 inch thickness.
There is no trade association currently representing the Autoclaved Aerated Concrete industry. We suggest you search the internet for dealer representatives that can assist you with potential product availability in your area. The benefits of using autoclaved aerated concrete AAC are numerous. Perhaps in testament to the versatility of AAC, the three residential projects described here are quite different—but share a common theme of safety. A large single family home in a forest, whose construction is being managed by the owner himself; a modest single family home on a wooded site, designed by an architect seeking environmentally sound and healthy living; and a large development along the Louisiana Gulf Coast requiring superior weather resistance.
Set in a southern Maryland forest, this large residence 6, square feet posed several construction challenges. So the owner, who is managing the construction himself, wanted a simple system. That turned out to be inch AAC blocks. The simplicity of AAC, he says, allows him, in one step, to construct a structural wall that is insulated, resistant to termites, and ready for finishing. Some years ago, when architect Alice Dodson selected AAC to build her own home, it was partly for health and environmental reasons.
A long-time sustainability advocate, she was also already following Bau-biologie. Relatively unknown in the United States, but well established in Europe among architects and health professionals, Bau-biologie is building biology or building for life. It resulted after rapid construction in post-war Germany led to what we now think of as sick building syndrome.
So then, as now, she sought healthy building solutions. To that end, she selected AAC blocks and panels to achieve breathable masonry walls that emit no volatile organic compounds VOCs. This creates an eco-friendly building, with a calming, quiet interior. And with her firefighter husband involved in the building process, having a noncombustible material was essential. The AAC envelope also provides good thermal mass and insulation.
The home can stay warm for two to three days even after a disruption in power. Dodson likes how the material can be sculpted with woodworking tools into various shapes and elements, like columns and fireplaces, and continues to be a proponent of AAC with clients, who appreciate its versatility and aesthetic potential. This success story occurred as a result of destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.
All walls, floors, and ceilings of these single family residences are made with AAC panels and blocks.
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