Modular
An ancient technique for the most innovative constructions.
How did it come about?
It is not unknown that the soil-cement technique is already used in buildings. The Great Wall of China, for example, was built with this concept more than two thousand years ago. This is proof that even the weather does not affect its structure as the soil-cement is resistant and extremely reliable. Since then, many studies have improved this technique, and in the 1950s, it was disseminated throughout the world. Many hospitals, road pavements and even airports were built with soil-cement.
Soil-cement
The basic granulometric composition of the soil is clay and sand. When the soil comes into contact with water by complete immersion, the clay particles, being smaller and lighter, take longer to settle, so clay deposits tend to be rich in water resources and vegetation. The conventional clay brick uses this clay as a raw material, which after being beaten in the form, dries in the sun to acquire the initial resistance necessary to transport them to the large kilns that mostly burn wood to stabilize and resist the high temperatures.
Ecological bricks are produced using a technique similar to concrete blocks. The mixture is made with the soil (clay + sand) + cement and water, then pressed and cured in the shade. The cement is mixed with the fine clay particles, and they fill the smallest spaces between the sand particles, creating a solid structure. As it is pressed by 6 tons, it results in a dense brick, more resistant and waterproof, compared to a conventional brick. This clay present in the mixture is also important to give initial resistance to the newly molded bricks.
Soil-cement bricks represent an alternative fully in line with sustainable development guidelines. They require low energy consumption in the extraction of raw materials, they do not generate any type of pollution or waste in their production process, they dispense with the need for burning which generates great energy savings and also minimizes deforestation as 6 to 9 trees per thousand bricks are preserved. Moreover, in the execution of the work, the need to cut the walls for electrical and hydraulic passages is eliminated, which generates a substantial decrease in the volume of debris generated and still reduces the consumption of settlement and leveling mortars.
Bearing wall
A load-bearing wall or bearing wall is a wall that is an active structural element of a building, that is, it bears the weight of the elements above said wall, resting upon it by conducting its weight to a foundation structure. The ecological brick is a great ally in this type of construction as its structure and alignment allow the holes of the bricks to overlap in the settlement, forming several small columns of reinforced concrete (grouts), reducing waste, providing greater speed in the construction process, and making savings in materials and labour.
Optimize the Structural Masonry process:
More benefits
- Hydraulic and Electrical Installations - All the piping is embedded in the holes of the bricks, eliminating the need to break the walls, as is done in conventional masonry;
- Direct coating on the brick, such as texture, plaster, graffiti or plaster;
- Laying the tiles directly on the bricks;
- There is no waste. In the conventional method, 1/3 of the materials goes to waste;
- Easier and faster settlement, up to 30% less construction time;
- Cleaner work without debris;
- Economy of concrete, laying mortar and hardware - with built-in reinforced concrete columns, the weight of the work is evenly distributed over the walls;
- Relieves the burden on the foundation, avoiding unnecessary expenses with deeper piles and larger shoes.
Clean and debris-free work
Abnt standards
If you have Ecoterm, you can trust it.
The ecological brick is constantly undergoing rigorous tests, and is already regulated in Brazil and in several other countries. ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards), has already published some standards on the manufacturing and quality control methodology of ecological bricks.
ABNT NBR 8492 - Soil-cement brick - Dimensional analysis, determination of compressive strength and water absorption - Test method
ABNT NBR 10833 - Manufacture of brick and soil-cement block using a manual or hydraulic press - Procedure
