From The Ground Approach

Compressed Earth Blocks

Benjamin Ainsworth 15051392

Kevin Dylan Reddie 10687638

Laurence Mowatt 14072638 

Introduction to Compressed Earth Blocks

Humans have a right to use the lad to its full potential however it is also our responsibility to use the land in a sustainable way and environmentally friendly way . Every day new technologies are developed, it is our responsibility to choose products and services that are not only good for us but also the environment.  Compressed Earth blocks is a product that has great potential to benefit both the built environment and the natural environment.

This review will cover:

• ·         What a Compressed Earth Blocks is.
• ·         How it is made.
• ·         The Pros and Cons of Compressed earth blocks.
• ·         Where compressed earth blocks can be used.
• ·         Weather the compressed earth block is a viable product for our business.

What is a Compressed Earth Block(CEB)?

A CEB is a innovative substitute for the concrete brick currently used in the construction industry today. The blocks are made from compressed soil held together by a watery soil slurry.

 

How is a Compressed Earth Block made (CEB)?

They are bricks that are made from damp soil mixed with 6%-10% Portland cement for added stability. The water and clay content of the soil in the mixture are important aspects as this determines the final strengths and durability of the blocks. This mixture is then compressed at high pressures in  a hydraulic press to form the bricks. The bricks are then wrapped in plastic and cured for 7 days. They will gain full strength as well as water resistance after 28 days.  

The Pros and Cons of Compressed Earth Blocks.

Pros:

• ·         CEB’s are 20% cheaper than conventional cerement blocks. 
• ·         The use of the soil slurry to hold the blocks together make for a quick installation time.
• ·         Depending in the quality of the soil the CEB’s can be up to five times stronger than concrete blocks.
• ·         CEB’s are ten times more thermally efficient then concrete blocks.
• ·         Produces less Kg of CO₂ PER M³ of wall then Kiln Fired Brick.
• ·         Consumes up to four times less energy to make then a Kiln Fired Brick.
• ·         Recycled building material such as inert construction martial can be used in the constructions of theses blocks thus reducing the waist destined for landfills.

Cons:

• ·         Quality of the CEB is determined by the quality of the soil. The higher the quantity of clay in the soil the better the quality of the brick.
• ·         Block can only be of a specific size.
• ·         The amount of people able to uses and build with this material is limited at the moment.
•         Currently construction using this technology is limited to single story structures

What can be built with Compressed Earth Blocks?

• 
  
  There are a wide range of structures that can be built using the CEBs in place of the conventional masonry units. A few of these are:
  ·         Dwellings
  ·         Public buildings such as; schools, churches, clinics
  ·         Commercial and industrial buildings
  ·         Military applications such as; barricades, security walls
  ·         walls and linings for canals, dams, rivers, drains and erosion protection
  ·         Storage facilities for waste and toxic materials
  ·         Mining applications
  ·         Disaster relief
  In South Africa at the moment CEB's are only allowed for use in the building of single storey buildings, but many organisations are advocating for them to be used in other types of buildings. Some of the buildings built in South Africa so far are found in KwaZulu-Natal and include single storey dwellings, an orphanage in Shongweni for the New Horizons Trust, a recycling centre in Howick for Wildlands Conservation Trust,  demonstration houses in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, as well as site offices and workshops. The biggest use of  compressed earth blocks so far will be used in the R30 million waste beneficiation centre planned for Hammarsdale.
  
  

  Is this a viable product for business?

  
  
  Compressed Earth blocks is an up and coming building material which will help save money, energy, and the environment.  At this point  its popularity is quite limited but more and more companies are starting to realise the benefits that compressed earth blocks have. Use-it are currently the main distributors of the techniques as well as machinery required to implement this technology today. Therefore I suggest that  companies look further into Compressed Earth Blocks by using them on suitable sites at first and then decide to go further by perhaps researching ways of adjusting the blocks to further benefit its usability.
  
  

  References

  Institute, A. E. (2015). Earth Architecture . India: UNESCO Chair Earth Architecture.
  Use-it. (2015). Compressed Earth Blockes. Durban.