CIVIL STUDENTS SOCIETY BITS, Pilani AAC BLOCKS
THE NEW RED BRICKS IN INDIA
Civil engineering is one branch which will never get old because housing and infrastructure will always remain the top priority for the mankind anywhere. And so arises the necessity to keep it advancing with newer technology and easier means to sustain it. In this article I would like to introduce to the readers a building block which has now started replacing the conventional red bricks that have been in use for the time memorial. I am certain not many have heard of the ACC or AAC blocks that have come up recently in India to build malls or institutes. In my recent visit to a site in the central Delhi, where India’s largest police headquarters are being made i got to know about this alien material which will stand as high as 17 floors along with two floor basement.
Though AAC was introduced to the world in 1932 in Sweden however the Indians have got this in use in the 21st century. There are immense advantages of this material and has sure shorted beaten the old bricks in every corner and aspect regardless of its strength or durability or cost. Here below I list the factors which favour it in all respect:-
1. Eco-friendly & Sustainable o Makes productive use of recycled industrial waste (fly ash). o Non-polluting manufacturing process – the only by-product is steam. o Made of non-toxic ingredients. o Does not exude gases. o Total energy consumption for producing ACE is less than ½ of what it takes to produce other building material.
2.Lightweight o 3-4 times lighter than traditional bricks, therefore, easier and cheaper to transport. o ACE block weighs approximately 50% less than a standard CMU block. ACE panel weighs approximately 30% of standard cast-in-place concrete. o Usage reduces overall dead load of a building, thereby allowing construction of taller buildings.
3.Thermally Insulated & Energy Efficient o Tiny air pores and thermal mass of blocks provide excellent thermal insulation, thus reducing heating and air conditioning costs of a building.
4.Fire Resistant o Non-combustible and fire resistant up to 1600° C. o Can withstand up to 6 hours of direct exposure.
5.Acoustic Performance o Superior sound absorption qualities due to porous structure of blocks. o Offers sound attenuation of about 42 dB, blocking out all major sounds and disturbances. o Ideal for schools, hospitals, hotels, offices, multi-family housing and other structures that require acoustic insulation.
6.Easy Workability and Design Flexibility o Blocks can be easily cut, drilled, nailed, milled and grooved to fit individual requirements. o Available in custom sizes. o Simplifies hydro-sanitary and electrical installations, such as pipes or ducts, which can be installed after the main construction is complete.
7.Seismic Resistant o Lightweight blocks reduce mass of a structure, thus decreasing the impact of an earthquake on a building. o Non-combustible nature provides an advantage against fires, which commonly accompany earthquakes.
8.Precision o Available in exact sizes. o Results in smooth walls with perfect contact between different elements. o Reduces cement and steel usage.
9.Termite/Pest Resistant o Due to structure of blocks, Biltech ACE cannot be damaged or infested by termites and other pests.
10. Low Maintenance o Reduces operating cost by 30% to 40%. o Reduces overall construction cost by 2.5% as it requires less jointing and reduces need for cement and steel. o High-insulation blocks save up to 30% in energy costs. o Variety in sizes of blocks helps increase carpet area. o Wall painting and plastering last longer as almost nil efflorescence affects Biltech ACE. This translates into lower maintenance costs.
11. Faster Construction o Reduces construction time by 20%. o Different sizes of blocks help reduce the number of joints in wall masonry. o Lighter blocks make construction easier and faster. o Easy to install. Sets and hardens quickly.
The use of this AAC block is rapidly increasing and larger projects are eyeing to use this due to all the above listed benefits. Not many builders have the knowledge or the confidence in this hence its lesser popularity but I am sure of its immense use in near future after around 10-15 years in time where the high rise buildings will be using these blocks as the building block of their structures. Its high time that people get acclimated with this gift from the science and adapt to the changes instead of following the old trodden out-dated path which has been in existence for as long as the invention of fire. Only then can we as civil engineers can proudly stand before the world to showcase the greatness of the wonderful structures and eye-catching glances which we are capable of producing.
THE NEW RED BRICKS IN INDIA
Civil engineering is one branch which will never get old because housing and infrastructure will always remain the top priority for the mankind anywhere. And so arises the necessity to keep it advancing with newer technology and easier means to sustain it. In this article I would like to introduce to the readers a building block which has now started replacing the conventional red bricks that have been in use for the time memorial. I am certain not many have heard of the ACC or AAC blocks that have come up recently in India to build malls or institutes. In my recent visit to a site in the central Delhi, where India’s largest police headquarters are being made i got to know about this alien material which will stand as high as 17 floors along with two floor basement.
Though AAC was introduced to the world in 1932 in Sweden however the Indians have got this in use in the 21st century. There are immense advantages of this material and has sure shorted beaten the old bricks in every corner and aspect regardless of its strength or durability or cost. Here below I list the factors which favour it in all respect:-
1. Eco-friendly & Sustainable o Makes productive use of recycled industrial waste (fly ash). o Non-polluting manufacturing process – the only by-product is steam. o Made of non-toxic ingredients. o Does not exude gases. o Total energy consumption for producing ACE is less than ½ of what it takes to produce other building material.
2.Lightweight o 3-4 times lighter than traditional bricks, therefore, easier and cheaper to transport. o ACE block weighs approximately 50% less than a standard CMU block. ACE panel weighs approximately 30% of standard cast-in-place concrete. o Usage reduces overall dead load of a building, thereby allowing construction of taller buildings.
3.Thermally Insulated & Energy Efficient o Tiny air pores and thermal mass of blocks provide excellent thermal insulation, thus reducing heating and air conditioning costs of a building.
4.Fire Resistant o Non-combustible and fire resistant up to 1600° C. o Can withstand up to 6 hours of direct exposure.
5.Acoustic Performance o Superior sound absorption qualities due to porous structure of blocks. o Offers sound attenuation of about 42 dB, blocking out all major sounds and disturbances. o Ideal for schools, hospitals, hotels, offices, multi-family housing and other structures that require acoustic insulation.
6.Easy Workability and Design Flexibility o Blocks can be easily cut, drilled, nailed, milled and grooved to fit individual requirements. o Available in custom sizes. o Simplifies hydro-sanitary and electrical installations, such as pipes or ducts, which can be installed after the main construction is complete.
7.Seismic Resistant o Lightweight blocks reduce mass of a structure, thus decreasing the impact of an earthquake on a building. o Non-combustible nature provides an advantage against fires, which commonly accompany earthquakes.
8.Precision o Available in exact sizes. o Results in smooth walls with perfect contact between different elements. o Reduces cement and steel usage.
9.Termite/Pest Resistant o Due to structure of blocks, Biltech ACE cannot be damaged or infested by termites and other pests.
10. Low Maintenance o Reduces operating cost by 30% to 40%. o Reduces overall construction cost by 2.5% as it requires less jointing and reduces need for cement and steel. o High-insulation blocks save up to 30% in energy costs. o Variety in sizes of blocks helps increase carpet area. o Wall painting and plastering last longer as almost nil efflorescence affects Biltech ACE. This translates into lower maintenance costs.
11. Faster Construction o Reduces construction time by 20%. o Different sizes of blocks help reduce the number of joints in wall masonry. o Lighter blocks make construction easier and faster. o Easy to install. Sets and hardens quickly.
The use of this AAC block is rapidly increasing and larger projects are eyeing to use this due to all the above listed benefits. Not many builders have the knowledge or the confidence in this hence its lesser popularity but I am sure of its immense use in near future after around 10-15 years in time where the high rise buildings will be using these blocks as the building block of their structures. Its high time that people get acclimated with this gift from the science and adapt to the changes instead of following the old trodden out-dated path which has been in existence for as long as the invention of fire. Only then can we as civil engineers can proudly stand before the world to showcase the greatness of the wonderful structures and eye-catching glances which we are capable of producing.
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