What is Fly Ash? It is a powder containing toxic metals like mercury, arsenic, antinomy, chromium, etc. These metals create a very negative impact on our environment and are one of the things that go into the making of Fly Ash Bricks.

In this blog, we shall highlight the 7 major disadvantages of using Fly Ash Bricks in your construction project.

Let’s Begin With – What Is Fly Ash Bricks?

Fly Ash Bricks is a building material made using class C or class F fly ash and water. Fly ash is a byproduct from coal-fired power plants that are frequently used as an admixture in concrete to replace a portion of the Portland cement.

Read : Top 7 Types Of Bricks Used In Indian Construction

Disadvantages Of Using Fly Ash Bricks

Fly ash in concrete is believed to improve performance in some ways, however, it has some evident disadvantages. We’ve highlighted a few disadvantages of using Fly Ash in concrete below:

1. Slow Strength Gain

Once concrete changes to a solid state a few hours after pouring, but its curing process takes longer. After its initial setting period, It continues to gain strength for weeks. The addition of fly ash can increase the length of time concrete takes to reach its full strength, this can be a big issue as slow strength gain directly affects the speed of construction.

2. Longer Setting Times

Fly ash admixtures can increase the time concrete takes for settling. Occasionally this could be desirable, mostly in hot weather where concrete set times are hustled, but during other times it can be a matter of inconvenience as it can delay construction. In such scenarios, other admixtures could be needed to adjust the set time of the concrete. Again, this proportion of admixtures could depend on the percent fly ash in the mixture and the outside temperature.

3. Poor Air Content Control

Concrete is vulnerable to damage from freeze/thaw cycles if it does not contain air. Here, tiny air bubbles can be created in concrete by using air-entraining admixtures which cause the concrete to foam in the mixing and pouring stage. Fly ash reduces the amount of air entrainment, and concrete mixtures high in fly ash often require more air-entraining admixture.

4. Seasonal Restrictions

Now, the winter season is very problematic for concrete pouring, and mixtures high in fly ash are even more prone to low temperatures. As we highlighted before, low temperatures increase the setting times and cause slow strength gain even in concrete mixtures without fly ash. And, when fly ash is added it can exaggerate these problems.

5. Color Inconsistency

While the structural effects of fly ash in concrete are more critical, it also has some cosmetic concerns. If there is fly ash in concrete it becomes more difficult to control the color. Fly ash can also cause many more visual inconsistencies on the finished surface, like dark streaks rising due to carbon particles.

6. Size limitations

Fly Ash Bricks face major limitations in size. Also, only modular size bricks can be produced. Large size bricks face the danger of getting more breakages or cracks.

7. Restricted Suitability

Not all fly ash is suitable for construction, only those produced in power plants are usually compatible with concrete. Other fly ash may need beneficiation. It is very important to use only high-quality fly ash otherwise it can have negative effects on the structure.

Let’s Summarise

Smaller builders and housing contractors may not be very familiar with fly ash products, that can have different properties depending on where and how the fly ash was obtained. Also, fly ash applications can face resistance from traditional builders who are well aware of its tendency to effloresce along with the concerns about thaw/freeze performance. Other prominent concerns of using fly ash bricks include:

• Slower strength gain
• Seasonal limitation
• Increased need for air-entraining admixtures
• Increase of salt scaling produced by higher proportions of fly ash

Alternatively, Walls made with Porotherm Smart Bricks i.e. has the power of Clay provides the home builders with a lifetime opportunity of building strong, comfortable, and healthy homes during all seasons.

The perforated design of the brick ensures excellent thermal insulation that keeps indoor temperatures cool at all times. The best thing about the blocks is that they are entirely made of clay making Porotherm a Natural walling material, rated by the Green Building Council of India.

The large size of the blocks promotes savings in mortar consumption since one Porotherm 8″ block is equivalent in area to 9 small bricks. Another spectacular feature of Porotherm is the precision in design. The blocks are highly dimensionally tolerant making Porotherm a one-of-a-kind wall solution in the market. Also, Porotherm blocks are 60% light in weight than any other conventional walling block thus aiding in faster construction. Apart from all these, Porotherm blocks also have the lowest water absorption because of which possibility of superficial or shrinkage cracks on plaster is none…no wonder they are called POROTHERM SMART BRICKS!

Read more at www.wienerberger.com.

Featured Image by Praveenvatsa under CC BY-SA 4.0

http://co2frei.fh-ooe.at/17-cat/dating_32.html Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

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Living a lavish lifestyle is a dream for many. Well owing to the increasing purchasing power, more and more people in our country are preferring to buy luxury homes to attain a luxurious lifestyle. Living in luxury homes is about glam, glitz, space, and fun. But today, luxury cannot be confined merely by posh locations, large spaces, and high-end amenities, luxury homes are much more than what many of us think they are. A perfect luxury home is a mix of rich architectural and eco-friendly features.

What Defines A True Luxury Home

Don’t go looking for high-end amenities, posh locations and large spaces, here is what defines a true luxury home:

Smart Home Technology – Technologies that allow to monitor and manage systems inside and outside the house. Basically, it allows one to lock doors, control the thermostat and adjust the air conditioning speed using a smartphone from practically anywhere in the world.

Higher Ceilings – luxury homes in India have a floor-to-ceiling height of around 12 feet. Taller ceilings keep the room cooler and give a feeling of more airiness.

Indoor/Outdoor Living – Backyards, patios, outdoor kitchen with seating, infinity pool and a firepit are ciphers of luxury.

Breath-taking Views – If a home lacks a beautiful view it doesn’t qualify in the luxurious home category. An apartment that overlooks a busy and dusty highway surely lacks in its resale and rental potential.

Eco-Friendly Features – As already mentioned, a perfect luxury home should be a mix of eco-friendly features and rich architecture. As our country becomes more conscious about making the environment green, homes play a huge role in it.  Choice of construction materials, active use of solar energy, LED lightings, and much more add into the value of luxury homes.

Let’s discuss these eco-friendly features in detail.

7 Eco-friendly features For Modern Luxury Homes

1. Building Materials – Sustainable & Locally Sourced

Before shipping of building materials became a common thing, all builders used to construct houses using building materials which could be easily sourced locally. Seeking local solutions and sustainable building materials help in largely reducing the carbon footprint of today’s construction practices.

A healthy living environment especially requires the use of the right building materials. In general, building materials are strongly influencing the indoor climate and quality of living. Look at Clay- The Building Material Of Choice For The Millenia.

2. LED Lighting

Lighting totally transforms the look and feel inside a luxury home. Over the last few years, home lightning has experienced a radical change, well thanks to the swift advances in LED technology. When compared to the filament bulbs of the 20^th century, LED bulbs are way more energy efficient. This means even without switching off the lights, the carbon footprint of a home can be greatly minimized.

3. Green Building Certification

A green building as we know is the one that uses very less energy, water, and natural resources, and generates minimal waste, when compared standard buildings, green buildings prove out to be way to healthier for the people living inside it, but who decides a building is truly green?  In the industry, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) India, Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) have become a byword for certifying eco-friendly construction practices.

4. Solar Panels

Using the unlimited energy of the sun, the solar rooftop panels provide a cheap, lightweight way to boost passive use of solar energy of a home. It also allows storage of power for future use and totally eliminates wastage of energy.

5. Vegetable Gardens

The fun involved in nurturing a garden is a well-proven technique to relax and enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. Organic produce has been gaining a lot of interest, hence home vegetable gardens have become one attractive feature of luxury homes. Vegetable gardens are good for the planet and for the gardener, this fact can surely not be ignored and goes long way in adding value to homes.

6. Green Roofs

A green roof is basically a complete system fabricated in such way that the inhabitants can grow plants on the roof of their house/building without suffering from any kind of leakages/damages to the roof membrane that protects building envelope. Luxury homes incorporate green roofs for a mix of efficient, natural cooling and landscaped visual beauty.

7. Green Walls

Green walls are like vertical gardens that can be integrated to both the interior and exterior of a building. Apart from adding to the aesthetics, green walls provide natural insulation, reduces the overall energy consumption, helps in maintaining humidity levels and creates an overall positive impact.

Final Thoughts

A spectacular luxury home doesn’t compromise between the overall environment and one’s environs. But these are forward-thinking luxury homes that never fail to incorporate sustainable features, meet all green credentials and have smart designs. Well, that’s exactly what makes then truly luxurious, isn’t it?

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

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The idea of urban planning and development today has moved on to the idea of creating healthy contemporary spaces while safeguarding the natural environment around it. As governments across the world are trying to achieve a consensus on reducing the human impact on the planet, the above is backed up by strict laws and regulations. Article 48-A of the Indian Constitution puts out that “the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forest and wildlife of the country”. Further, Indian being a party to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), more stringent targets have been put on the real estate sector. While 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions are contributed from urban spaces, the target for the year 2050 would be achieving carbon neutrality. This requires non-CO₂ energy sources, especially when it comes to new constructions and infrastructure.

The key legislation in place

1. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Among the strictest of the regulations, all wildlife, including both flora and fauna is protected under this Act. Spaces that have been brought under Protected Areas (Pas) cannot be infringed upon and no commercial/residential construction is allowed. While urban spaces are actively pushing against our natural forest areas, this legislation strives to limit the encroachment.

1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

This regulation aims at the “prevention and control of water pollution” through freshwater management and restoration. The Water Board of India was given certain powers, functions, and responsibilities in screening impediments to the country’s national water resources. Consequently, real estate constructions, being highly water-intensive needs clearances to be able to operate. 

1. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

The exploitation of natural resources in the manufacture of construction raw materials has a severe effect on the quality of air. As established, the construction sector is perhaps the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emission, contributing to global warming and climate change. The Act was put out to provide means and regulations to control and abate air pollution through regulations over “approved appliances” and “approved fuel”.

1. Hazardous waste (management and handling) Rules, 1989

According to the World Economic Forum, the real estate sector contributes about 30% of total waste in Europe. The numbers are similar for a fast developing country like India. Hazardous waste doesn’t just have ramifications on the property value but also maligns the health of the neighborhood and environment. Sustainable waste management practices need to be focused upon when trying to create green living spaces and the ways of the same are hinted upon under this legislation.

1. Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011

Issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), all development activities on Indian Coastlines will be regulated by defining four categories of land use permits. This includes the classification of environmentally sensitive zones like coral reefs, mangroves, salt marshes, turtle nesting grounds, inter-tidal zones as non-operable. Further, the notifications demarcate the types of constructions that can take place depending on their distance from the shoreline.

The role of regulatory authorities

Regulatory authorities that play a role in any real estate development project in India include the:

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
• National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• Pollution Control Boards
• National Board for Wildlife (NBWF)
• Coastal Regulation Zone Management Authority and
• Forest Settlement Officer

Due clearances are to be received for all of these authorities for any master plan that is to be worked upon. Further, the Indian Government, under EPA (Environment Protection Act) provisions puts out that no new projects or expansions to existing projects can be carried out without an Environment Clearance (EC).  However, projects that have a “Green Building Rating” are prioritized for EC, compared to alternative investment models.

The current scenario despite regulations

While India has strict regulations in place, it’s a hard truth that the country also faces adverse pressure from the bureaucracy. Illegal constructions are still rampant and environmental clearances have in many cases, become a matter of under-the-table agreements. From illegal sand mafias to influential builders that operate on full impunity, there’s a lot to be accounted for. A recent study by WWF on the 2018 Kerala Floods indicates that the cause points out to more than 90% drop in sediment levels in neighboring rivers. Sand isn’t an infinite natural resource, as is freshwater that forms a huge part of the real estate construction.

The way ahead

The responsibility of environmental protection finally falls on the shoulders of the actual stakeholders in the industry. Thankfully, several modern builders are coming up with alternate construction technologies and integrating environmentally sustainable raw material use, construction, engineering, and maintenance. The developer community needs to take stringent measures towards ensuring these compliances and the directives put in place by the Indian Government.

Brick homes are elegant and each one has its own character. Bricks are one of the most common choices in building materials, no wonder these have been used in India for years and continue to be one of the top choices for architects and home builders. Bricks are easy to maintain, easy to reuse, and are free from concerns like peeling, denting, rotting or fading which are quite common in other building materials. In fact, this is one material that is ageless, more than that its beauty enhances with its age. Furthermore, in addition to its never-dying beauty, brick homes are naturally insulated, these remain cooler in summers and during winters it actively stores heats and radiates it back to the inhabitants making them feel warmer.

Owing to the benefits of using bricks and its ageless beauty, here we collate 7 of the top brick homes in India. Trust us, these are totally worth checking out.

Homes

7 Most Amazing Brick Homes In India

Brick Homes

1. Brick House, Mysuru | Paradigm

Source

A compact time-honored brick house with very strong security and plenty of open spaces. The architects wanted to build the home using local materials which were easily available. Apart from wood and concrete, the main element which they intended to display and explore throughout the house was BRICK. The reason for choosing brick was simple – it is one material that demands minimum maintenance, keeps the home cool inside and ages well.

Brick Homes

2. Corbel House, Bengaluru | Kamat & Rozario Architecture

Source

The team of Kamat & Rozario Architecture took a dose of inspiration from Kerala’s old architecture, like- the verandah which wrapped the living spaces all around, the appearance of a heavy masonry based on the ground floor, with thick arches and carved columns and a first floor which look a little lighter in terms of design and materials. The most eminent part of traditional Kerala architecture is the carved columns, these were adopted in the Corbel house but with a modern twist.

Brick Homes

3. The Brick House, Wada | iStudio architecture

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The Brick House is constructed using materials like bricks, stone, wood, bamboo, and ferro-cement – all in their naked form which imparts a very earthy feel to the overall built-up space. Low cost and eco-friendly technologies like rat-trap bonds for brickwork, filler slabs, brick jalis, built-in furniture drove down the cost of construction. This is surely one individualistic piece of architecture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUB3lKkDPbw&t=206s

Brick Homes

4. Brick Facade House, Surat | Design Work Group

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This family home located in the Indian port city of Surat features a gently undulating brick facade which offers shade from the sun. The building structure’s location at the intersection of two roads informed the architects’ choice to divide it into two different zones. The layout was organized such that the private zone was at the inner side and public zone in the front facilitated by a centralized connecting service.

Brick Homes

5. Shreyas Retreat, Bengaluru | The Purple Ink Studio

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A Retreat within A Retreat, this 20,000 sq. Ft. spa block is a new ‘insert’ at a renowned Yoga Retreat in India which offers spectacular layers of spaces and experiences. The entire feel inside this structure is organic with natural light washing the exposed walls and ceilings with a remarkable play of light and shadows. The spaces are further seized together with a strong design language of handcrafted jaali screens, solid wood doors, and openings which merge the interior and exteriors, quite literally. 

Brick Homes

6. 3R Pavilion House, Ahmedabad | Patel Vadodaria Design research Studio

Source

The designers based their approach on 3R principles, i.e. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle materials hence the name. The total amount of steel/concrete was abridged by using filler slabs with earthen pots which were made by a local potter. Unburnt bricks comprising of surkhi waste and ceramic waste lime mortar were used for masonry. Waste stone chips were sourced for in-situ terrazzo flooring and reclaimed beer bottles were reused as fillers in walls together with pallet wood from the packaging industry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO3BnbzegJ0

Brick Homes

7. Tropical House Urveel, Saniya Hemad | Design Work Group

Source

A weekend residence located in the village of Sania Hemad in Surat district away from the city noises, into the woods. This home represents the character of earth the in its exact sense. The 900 sq. m bungalow rests on the edge of the village, in a quiet zone, and within the heart of nature.

Brick Homes

Tell Us

How did you incorporate brick into your home? Share your pictures with us in comments.

You May Like – 7 Totally Innovative & Famous Buildings Made With Bricks

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The man is a social animal but even so, we need to keep ourselves safe and protect our families. This has been the earliest concept of a home. But, what does it comprise? Early men started to live in caves before they used naturally sourced materials to build their homes. This was essentially a roof above their head and a wall they protected themselves in. The wall was a matter of protection and privacy. For the early civilizations, walls and forts were the only thing that protected them from the enemies. Strongly constructed, barricaded and guarded, the walls were the only thing between being safe and falling prey to the enemies. Thankfully, we have moved past the age. Today, we have become more sociable but the walls are very important part of our lives. Today, they don’t just need to offer us protection but also look good!

Thanks to technology and engineering evolution, we are constantly coming up with new materials and designs to integrate into our walls. If you are planning to build a home or any kind of construction, a working knowledge of how walls are put together and why will allow you to be creative while coming up with something highly functional. In general, building walls are either single skinned or have a cavity. There’s a difference to construction depending on the kind and amount of load you would want the wall to bear. Lastly, of course, is the finishing you hope to achieve.

Walls And Wall Construction

http://lksquaredphoto.com/pp_gallery/duclos-family-denver-colorado/ What are Walls?

Wikipedia defines walls as “a structure that defines and area, provides shelter or security and carries a load”. The purpose could be defensive (as in forts), retention (holding back dirt and dust from outside), be an interior section (divisions inside a building), fencing (boundary), or even doors and windows that form a small part of the partition.

Fleury-les-Aubrais Function

The function of walls, as stated above is primarily to protect and defend the occupants from outside elements. Walls are also a means of achieving privacy and defining your personal territory. Structurally, they are also needed to hold the ceiling in place such that you have a roof above your head!

buy Lyrica medication Types

Depending on the purpose, walls can be of several types:

• http://fidelity-energy.co.uk/tag/reduce-corporate-energy-costs/ Load Bearing – If the main purpose of the wall is to bear the load of the ceiling and the rest of the construction, it’s called a load bearing wall. Mostly, they are constructed with bricks and acts as a part of the overall structure. Consequently, the thickness wall depends on the amount of load it is supposed to support.
• Non-Load Bearing – These walls are mainly to separate a part of the section of construction to achieve privacy. While the main purpose is not load-bearing, it can also be an addition to the ceiling support.
• Partition – Walls meant just for partition and may not be connected to the ceiling. It’s just like boundary fencing that separates a compound from the rest of the neighborhood.
• Panel – Secured by studs, these partition panels are non-load bearing and could be movable. The best example is sliding doors that can be operated according to the need of the hour.
• Cavity – In this kind of wall construction, a cavity or hollow space is left between the vertical sections of the wall to prevent moisture from penetrating to the indoor space. Hollow or cavity walls are also perfect for better insulation (temperature regulation).
• Veneered – Veneer walls are an external and non-structural layer of masonry can be made from bricks, stone or concrete. Like cavity walls, the veneer walls act as a separating panel from the main wall to provide air space and drainage. They are basically meant for weatherproofing buildings.
• Retaining – Retaining walls are any vertical construction that is mean to keep away climatic elements like dust, dirt or even air from entering the interior premises of a home. Consequently, glass windows or door too can be said to be retaining walls of a construction.

Different Materials Used In Wall Construction

Internal: With internal wall materials, the ingredients need to be safe, be easy to maintain and clean and also comply with the indoor lighting scheme and décor of the home/office. Common internal materials include plasterboards, bricks, mortar, tiles, and wallpaper.

External: External wall materials need to be sturdy and resilient as their prime functions. However, they also need to have a clean finish to it to make homes and offices look good from the outside. Common external wall materials include breeze blocks, metal cladding, besser blocks, stone cladding, vinyl/plastic cladding, logs, mud bricks, and mortar.

Building Eco-Friendly Walls

Walls have always been an important component for building eco-friendly home. Depending on the construction and materials used, they can be used to enhance the insulation, achieve better daylighting, offer fresh air and be made from materials like clay that are non-polluting.

Clay bricks have emerged as a very useful and beneficial green building construction material and are growing in terms of usage at an increasing rate. On an average, buildings made up of clay bricks get sold for more value when compared to buildings that are made of other materials. And unlike other materials, its benefits last considerably longer.

Final Thoughts

As already said a roof above your head and walls around make your home. It is necessary that you choose your design wisely and come up with a home that keeps your family safe and healthy.

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

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When we talk about bricks, we aren’t just talking about a building material but a ‘Feeling’. A home is a place that gives us that feeling of warmth and coziness. Hence, the decision of materials which will be used in its construction is very important. Through several decades, bricks have been one evident choice in building materials. Starting from the medieval era through the Victorian age to the present time – Brick practically suits every building and every interior. Sadly, the current state of man-made structures looks more like enormous glass boxes or the ones directly challenge the environment. Amid this clutter, stands ‘Brick Cave’ i.e. a brick house constructed by Vietnam-based H&P Architects.

Read more to know about this marvelous brick house in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Brick Cave – The Rustic Brick House In Vietnam Dominating Urban Architecture

With the inspiration from Earth’s unpredictable geological forces and the aim to contrast the surrounding man-made clutter, H&P Architects constructed this private brick house in the suburban Hanoi. Here are some interesting things about this rustic brick structure:

Uses Traditional Building Materials

‘Brick Cave’ relies on materials which traditionally featured in the region’s structures and harkens back to man’s earliest homes.

Double Layers Of Brick

Yes, the most interesting part of this home is that it uses a double layer of recycled bricks which acts as a shield against sun and wind. In addition, it perfectly incorporates green elements and natural light. The outer layer uses ceramic bricks which abrupt dust, smoke, noise, and heat from entering inside the home. Also, the plants and vegetables arranged in nooks and crevices absorbs all the humidity and provides shade; basically, providing natural insulation.  

Users Can Sense Time & Weather

According to the architects, the walls of this home are angled in such a way that it provides better views of the outside to the occupants sitting inside. The users can sense time and weather through shadow and air from any corner of the house.

Well-Calculated Window Placement

H&P Architects conducted numerous studies on the daily position of the sun to ensure the home catches the sun perfectly. The windows of the Brick Cave were placed in such a manner that it invited ample of natural light to tactically fall across stairs, hallways, and walkways while not overheating the areas.

Mix Of Modern & Organic Styles

The huge, brick-walled interior blend together organic and modern styles for a soothing indoor environment which mixes traditional houses with cutting-edge functionality. In addition, a rooftop garden ensures the inhabitants are closely connected with nature.

Brick House Photo Gallery

Conclusion

Nowadays there are hundreds of interior projects where the bricks play a dominant role. Unquestionably, this is one of the very few building materials which never goes out of date and matches perfectly with each style. Furthermore, bricks are a great option for every room – kitchen, living room, bedroom, corridor – in each situation it will be a perfect accent in creating a casual and warm atmosphere. Exploring different options for bricks is a good idea but choosing the one that offers long-lasting durability, cost, and energy savings is the best thing.

If you are looking for a smart and classy option – take a closer look at Porotherm Smart Bricks.

Related:

Top 7 Types Of Bricks Used In Indian Construction

Look At These 7 Most Amazing Brick Homes In India

7 Totally Innovative & Famous Buildings Made With Bricks

Why Architects Love Building With Bricks?

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Any construction professional such as architect, civil engineer, quality surveyors, builder and contractor has major role to play in the process of construction. Every department has a defined set of tasks to complete and more often requires co-ordination with other department to efficiently run the show.

There’re several challenges faced by every individual of the industry irrespective of the type of work he is involved in- technical, managerial, contractual or financial. But in the developing countries the problems can be critical due to various issues like economic instability or lack of resources, etc.

Time, money, resources, labor, and many more aspects associated with the construction process can individually pose problems to the builders and contractors while challenging the intellectual ability of an architect to design a building that curbs these problems.

In order to deal with such issues, advanced technology and innovation in the building materials is important which will deal with technical problems, eases the construction process, aids in curbing time consumption and brings down the cost of construction.

Porotherm, a brand that produces clay hollow bricks, is one of such innovative products that is part of infill masonry. Under Porotherm there are different types of hollow bricks produced, such as- horizontally perforated hollow bricks, vertically perforated bricks and Porotherm thermo bricks.

All these types of bricks have huge advantages that benefit architects, builders and contractors.

http://rongotaiapartments.co.nz/tips/rugby-world-cup-2011-tv-advertisments?wpmp_switcher=desktop How Porotherm bricks are beneficial to Builders?

Porotherm bricks are 30 percent MARSS (Material from Alternative, Recycled and Secondary Sources) that means they’re reusable as hard core at the end of life- 150+ years. They’re also tested for high strength. With all these benefits delivered to end users, the builders can enjoy good reputation as well. Following are the main advantages of Porotherm that builders can enjoy-

1. Hollow brick buy clomid 25mg saves upto 25% of build time and massive program savings is also possible on preliminary costs, sales and land interest rates, etc. especially in multi-plot sites.
2. Watertight envelope can be achieved in just 10 days, which means finishing trades can start sooner in the program.
3. Porotherm also gives the recognition for being ecofriendly builder as they aid in constructing sustainable buildings.
4. It hysterically uses 95% less water– in typical 212m² building; concrete blocks consume 1060 liters of water whereas Porotherm uses just 72 liters of water. Work is less reliant on local water supply and the need to buy water for the purpose drastically comes down facilitating water conservation as well.
5. http://wendykeithdesigns.co.uk/childrens-horse-jersey-i156.html Minimum waste, typically 2% wastage provision for blocks makes it possible for efficient waste management on the site. The process of building walls becomes less messy due to the minimal requirement of mortar and leads to neat finishing. This also reduces in extra labor required to clean the leftover debris and cost effective in terms of material consumption.
6. It’s easy and simple to work with Porotherm bricks. They’re lightweight and hence allow workers to maintain the speed without repetitive strain injuries. It’s unique interlocking system helps masons to readily fix individual brick perfectly aligned moving on to the next level quickly.
7. All code of sustainable home levels can be achieved with Porotherm.
8. They’re burnt at a very high temperature and with advanced technology, which makes them fire proof at all the stages of construction and in use.
9. No moisture shrinkage that means no disruption to finishes, fewer movement joints (1:20 linear meters) and less snagging with no follow-up work required.
10. Porotherm offers a fully developed system of lintels, wall ties, eco-parge and fixings.
11. The speedy construction and easy process means these hollow bricks aid in cost cutting. Since the bricks are lightweight they reduce the amount of dead load on the foundation as well as the structure and hence save steel and concrete which further reduces the cost.

How Porotherm bricks are beneficial to Contractors?

Porotherm brings a wide range of benefits to the contractors as well. The one of them is, they can take advantage from Wienerberger Club who trains and upgrades the skill-sets of masons and avail the benefits of skilled construction workers. Here are more benefits for contractors-

1. With Porotherm considerable program savings is possible by significantly reducing the costs associated with site preliminaries and overheads.
2. They’re lighter up to 60 % (optimum weight under 11kgs) that makes loading and unloading easy and speeds up the process.
3. They are also bigger in size as compared to traditional blocks, which makes the construction process fast. A storey height can be easily built in a single day using Porotherm blocks.
4. It’s just a matter of 10 days to achieve watertight envelope and the walls are all ready for the finishing trades.
5. Hollow bricks are eco-friendly as they’re made from natural material like clay. It gives boost to the sustainable building concept. All codes of Sustainable Homes Levels can be achieved with Porotherm.
6. With Porotherm, its virtually dry construction as it consumes 95% less water as compared to traditional blockwork.
7. All core range blocks are 10N/mm and hence no need to keep multiple block onsite. With Porotherm, supply-on-demand process makes it a viable to reduce the space required to stock extra bricks all at once.
8. Due to uniform and structured pattern on the surface of the bricks in the form of grooves along with bright and natural colour makes it aesthetically appealing. Hence you can opt to eliminate the process of plastering and painting to give your interior a brand new look thereby saving on material and labor. This also eliminates the need for external facades from the critical path.
9. Virtually no shrinkage and minimal need for movement joints (typically at 20m centers) meaning less snagging and follow-up work required.
10. Hollow bricks are upto 60 percent lighter than concrete blocks, with no sharp edges, designed for single hand laying, thus reducing the risk of repetitive strain.
11. Bed joint mix can be locally mixed reducing forklift movements and eliminating the need for noisy cement mixers. This makes it possible to control any chances of plants and pedestrians coming in contact with the waste.
12. Porotherm provides a fully developed system to facilitate brick lying with lentils, wall ties, eco-parge and fixings.
13. The blocks and bricks can be ordered readily through national distribution network.
14. Full technical support is available during design and construction by supporting professional development through CPD seminars.

How Porotherm bricks are beneficial to Architects?

Porotherm bricks bring a range of benefits to the architects. The size and the finishing of the product add to aesthetic value of any building and gives versatility to the architects. These bricks are cracks free and have less mortar joints, which give advantage to architects to come up with exclusive design ideas. The following are the benefits architects can avail with Porotherm-

1. Porotherm provides modern method of construction along with traditional values in the form of reliable building material i.e. clay.
2. It’s eco-friendly which helps to build sustainable buildings with expected lifespan of 150 years. It is possible to achieve A+ green guide rating with Porotherm walls.
3. Porotherm assists in the high performance and well-constructed buildings as they provide versatility with different dimensions- Porotherm 100, Porotherm 140, Porotherm 190 and Porotherm 365.
4. Strong, stable, adaptable method of construction allows flexibility in the choice of external facades and system.
5. There is virtually no shrinkage and minimal need for movement joints (typically at 20m centres).
6. With Porotherm you can achieve low U-value as they’re more thermally efficient than concrete dense blocks. Since the bricks are made of clay, which is a natural resource, they act as natural insulators. Good thermal mass means they help in keeping the interior climate comfortable.
7. They come with a fully developed system required for construction like lentils, wall-ties, eco-parge and fixings.
8. Blocks and components are readily available through a national distribution network and hence no need for storing multiple bricks at a time.
9. They provide full technical support during construction as well as design phase through CPD seminars.

 Moreover, Porotherm manufactures also provide on-site support, which eases the burden of the contractor. The company also provides on-going technical support in every phase of construction including design phase. It also gives comprehensive on-site training to increase the efficiency. With skilled labor support, the builder can rest be assured that the building progresses efficiently thereby saving time.

Further more, Porotherm makes the process of fixing and plumbing simple. You can do so by cutting bricks without any hassle with the help of machine. This gives neat and clean workmanship with no damage to the bricks and walls. Specially designed tool- wall chaser with two parallel diamond tipped cutting wheels can be used to cut and then bolster chisel can be used to remove the cut section. Precision engineering means no sharp corners, reducing the risks of cuts. It also gives architects the scope for innovation in design aspects.

All these features benefit the builders and contractors to help deliver low cost buildings to customers. Porotherm clay hollow bricks earn builders and contractors the testimony of credibility from the customers. Hollow bricks are not just aesthetically appealing but are also durable and highly energy efficient.

Construction process is a tedious job, which takes perseverance and Porotherm can help you ease it all.

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Authored by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India

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Earthquakes are nature’s worst disasters. In layman’s terms, an earthquake is defined as the shaking of the earth’s surface.

The majority of deaths in the event of an earthquake occur due to structural collapse of buildings, homes, offices, etc. Hence, there is a vital need to integrate earthquake-resistant technology to make earthquake proof buildings in order to minimize fatalities from structural damage or failure from an earthquake.

Earthquakes and Earthquake Proof Buildings

Earthquakes are an inevitable and unpreventable natural occurrence. There is hardly any warning before an earthquake strikes a location. As there are numerous reasons for the earthquake to occur, it becomes hard to predict when and where an earthquake might occur.

The earth’s solid outer crust is made from several tectonic plates which are set flush against each other. However, these tectonic plates are resting on a sea of molten rock and minerals which is constantly shifting underneath these tectonic plates. Significant changes in the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon, conviction of the molten material underneath, cause the tectonic plates to shift their position.

Earthquakes are categorized according to the size. Some are so weak that they are barely felt at all, while others are so enormously disastrous that they can flatten whole cities.

Why Do Buildings fail in Earthquakes?

To understand the technology behind earthquake-resistant buildings, you need to know the effects of an earthquake resulting in structural failure. When the ground shakes during an earthquake, the buildings on it respond to the sudden and erratic acceleration which is transmitted through their foundation from the ground up. The inertia prevents the structure from moving freely with the direction of the ground’s shaking movement, which shears the structure at the weaker points. This results in a swift and extensive crash of the building.

Taller buildings tend to amplify the shaking motion for longer periods of time, as compared to smaller buildings. Every structure has its own unique resonance frequency, which dictates the maximum magnitude at which it resonates or moves with the motion of the earthquake tremors.  As taller buildings tend to shake for a longer time, it also increases the risk of structural collapse in such buildings.

Advances in engineering help buildings withstand the damaging effects of earthquakes using truly innovative earthquake resistant techniques.

The Science behind Earthquake Proof Buildings

Earthquake proof buildings use special techniques which prevent sideways movement of the loads. The lighter is the building’s overall weight; the lesser is the load. This is especially vital if the load is higher.

Using lightweight construction materials for the walls, floors and other partitions is essential. These are a few simple points that help to make earthquake resistant buildings:

For achieving ideal sideways resistance from the walls of a building, the walls should be designed in proportion and symmetry on all sides, and these should also be strong enough to bear the load on them. This can be achieved by tying the walls effectively to a framing, while also reinforcing the weaker load points. This makes them bear the sudden sideways shift in the foundation, in the event of an earthquake.

• buy provigil online safely Diagonal Bracing

If the earthquake resistant technique aims to use the diagonal bracing method, then it should also be proportionate in all directions. Ensure that it is strong enough to bear the load in tension and compression as well.

The welded or bolted connections should be able to resist more tension than the total tension value of the brace, or more than the design load. It should not collapse if the load on it exceeds the design load.

• Coconut Creek Moment Resisting Framing

The moment resisting framing technique is another effective method to make building structures earthquake resistant. It requires the loads to go down to the ground in a robust manner. For effectively preventing sideways load, ensure that the joints are stronger as compared to the beams. The design should allow the beams to fall before the column does. Also, ensure that the columns are not affected by spalling if these are built from concrete.

Top 6 Earthquake Proof Buildings

These are the top 6 earthquake proof buildings from all over the world:

1. http://demo3.goodvibeswebsitedesign.co.uk/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/222 Sabiha Gokcen International Airport – This is the second largest international airport in Istanbul, Turkey.
2. Transamerica Pyramid – The Transamerica Pyramid building is located in San Francisco, California, in the US. This is an enormous 48-storied structure and is the 2^nd tallest building in the sprawling West Coast city.
3. Burj Khalifa – The Burj Khalifa, also known as Burj Dubai, is an enormous and impressive skyscraper in Dubai, UAE. This landmark building is the tallest building in the world, since 2008.
4. Taipei 101 – The Taipei 101, previously known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark in the Xinyi district of Taiwan. It remained the tallest building till 2008 before the Burj Khalifa was made.
5. Philippine Arena – The Philippine Arena is an enormous multipurpose indoor stadium, in Bulacan province of the Philippines. It is classified as the largest indoor arena with a seating capacity surpassing 51,000 spectators.
6. Utah State Capitol – The Utah State Capitol building is home to the government of the state of Utah, in the US. It has chambers for the Governor’s and Lieutenant Governor’s offices, as well as the offices of the Utah State Legislature.

The Taj Mahal is Earthquake-Resistant

It might be hard to believe but the monumental Taj Mahal, built more than 400 years ago, is also effectively resistant to the disastrous effects of earthquakes. The enormously advanced technique used by the Mughal patron for its construction is truly worth commendation.

Making Indian Building Structures Earthquake Proof

India is prone to high magnitude earthquakes in almost all of its parts. With the high density of population concentrated in large cities in buildings, there is a vital need to construct earthquake resistant buildings in the country.

We need to implement strict measures against damage to buildings from earthquakes in India. There are several effective options available for this. These are some salient points which instruct on making earthquake resistant buildings in India:

When constructing buildings on sandy soil, always ensure that the building being constructed is supported through pile foundations which rest on hard strata. These can also be constructed by improving the ground suitably.

Mostly, buildings in such regions are at risk of collapse or damage from landslides occurring due to earthquakes. Always ensure to take effective slope stabilizing measures before constructing buildings in hilly regions. This can minimize the extent of damage remarkably.

Use special light-weight yet string materials when constructing buildings in areas that are renowned for frequent earthquakes. Keep the height of the structures such that they are able to resist the sideways drag successfully.

Making Existing Building Earthquake Proof

You can also make existing buildings resistant to the effects of earthquakes by retrofitting older buildings with Ferrocement bands and embedding metal strips horizontally and vertically across the walls.

It is important for a country like India, with a burgeoning urban population to adopt strict measures for constructing earthquake proof buildings. This will help to minimize the loss of lives in the event of an earthquake.

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

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Architecture in most of our minds is mostly about designing building structures. But what’s ignored is the fact that the process of creating structures that are not just aesthetically appealing and useful is often a long, tedious, and frustrating process. One of the frustrating parts is choosing the right architecture font.

Let’s face it, a good or bad font can make or break your project as it individually contributes to its presentation and level of engagement. But, selecting the right font for your current or upcoming architecture project can be a stressful process, especially when you don’t have a few go-to options. So, here we bring for you a list of 15 top-class architecture fonts that will re-image your architecture designs.

Bauhaus is a decorative font with simple geometric forms and even strokes which give the font a clean and idiosyncratic look. Graphic designer Herbert Bayer developed this font in 1925, it is used even today. As an architecture font, it is mostly ascribed to titles and subtitles in the composition of boards.

Futura is one of the most popular fonts which has a modern look and feel, and of course delightful characteristics. In 1920, Paul Renner created this font and since then it has been one of the architect’s all-time favorites. This font is inspired by Bauhaus techniques, it uses straight lines and curves which are perfect to provide balance in a textual set. Futura is perfect for titles, subtitles and short paragraphs on your architectural drawings, but should be avoided in long texts.

Neutra is very popular and highly used as an architecture font. This font was created by graphic designer Christian Schwartz in honor of the world-renowned modernist architect Richard Neutra. While creating this font, iconic architectural photographer Dion Neutra and Julius Schulman participated in the process.

Created by Giambattista Bodoni way back in 1767, Bodoni is categorized by its high aesthetic strength and needs to be used with great caution. Owing to the set of lines and striking presence of its letters, it is not suitable for long texts, but great for highlights, including titles and details.

Gotham is one of the most loved architecture fonts. The letterforms of this font are influenced by a sort of architectural signage which achieved acceptance during the mid-20^th century. it was conceived in the 2000s by designer Tobias Frere-Jones. Gotham provides a relatively broad style and design having a fairly large x-height and large apertures and is widely used for publicity.

Butler is a free serif typeface which is inspired by a mix between both Dala Floda & the amazing Bodoni font styles. Butler comprises of modern typography along curvilinear lines. Owing to its strong personality, it is perfect for logos and titles.

Designed by Luc de Groot, font Consolas is a monospaced typeface. Extensively used for long texts, this font renders clean aesthetics and proportion of lines which is perfect for long readings without tiring the reader. This font is also widely used in books and expert Architecture magazines.

Used on more than 9.6 million websites, Lato is the 3^rd most served font on Google Fonts, with over one billion views every day. Lato was designed by font designer Łukasz Dziedzic in 2015. It is a free humanist sans-serif typeface which is being widely used as an architecture font.

DIN 1451 uses all the principles of the Bauhaus font style, it has very strong characteristics that make it perfect for architecture use. The font creates a strong form and mass when used as a text in paragraphs. This typeface is widely used for traffic, administrative and technical applications.

This font presents strength and personality in its composition. It was designed by Barbara Lind and is a part of Adobe. Poplar is perfect for a wide range of applications, including boards, diagrams, and schemes. It is also suitable for titles, subtitles, and details.

This font was built in the 20^th century by Eduard Hoffmann and Max Miedinger. Due to its set of lines and layouts, it offers neutral and concise design and often linked with modern graphic design. Helvetica is one of the most used texts among professionals.

This cool clean or modern style custom font is from Gatis Vilaks. This font is perfect for those who prefer versatile yet subtle fonts for composing their boards. It is great for titles, subtitles and textual details in the graphic composition of boards and drawings.

Developed by Mike Abbink this font is the corporate typeface for IBM worldwide. It was developed at IBM in collaboration with Dutch type foundry Bold Monday mainly to reflect the brand spirit. Plex was released as an open-source project in 2017 and includes Sans, Sans Condensed, Mono and Serif.

This font was developed by Studio Buchanan after being inspired by Eastmodern and Brutalist architecture. Monolisk is a very sturdy and powerful font with the gothic typeface. It comes in 5 different weights plus stylistic alternate glyphs to truly broaden your horizons.

This font was developed by Juraj Chrastina. Gamba is a clean font with a subtle square personality. Highly legible no matter the size, it’s clean and practical for every design work.

Thank you for reading. We hope these fonts narrow down your search for the best architecture font for your architecture endeavors.

Interesting Read: Namaste Tower In Mumbai – 7 Interesting Things

Curated by a building expert from Wienerberger India

There has been a whole lot of buzz around building smart cities, this has naturally made way for the inception of ‘smart living’ and ‘smart homes’. Amidst this boom, if you are planning to construct your own dream house, it is first important to understand the latest innovations in the construction sector, especially with regard to building materials.

Talking about the walls particularly, most people tend to pay very less to attention to this component of the house. The kind of materials one finally chooses for building the walls is mostly based on an arbitrary method without even considering its ramifications. The idea is people need to think and plan ahead, today building a home does not only mean to focus on interiors and architecture but build structures that are a proof of quality, strength, and eco-friendliness.

Using intelligent walling materials can help you in a number of ways, from saving valuable man hours during the construction phase to saving cost on sand, cement & water, to providing toxic free, healthy living environment and much more….

Intelligent Walling Materials – Porotherm Hollow Bricks

Very recently, the building materials market has seen a very innovative product which is absolutely perfect to build walls of Quality, Strength, Energy Savings and Thermal Efficiency.  Porotherm hollow bricks are smart walling material that peruses the advantages of natural clay. These are perforated hollow bricks, which can be either horizontally perforated (HP) or vertically perforated (VP). The fact that they are made of natural substances and are hollow from inside makes them far more efficient than the traditional solid bricks and blocks.

Here are a few essential things that homeowners need to know about Porotherm Hollow Bricks.

1. Lightweight

Porotherm bricks are the product of a highly innovative and advanced technology. These hollow clay bricks are 60% lighter than traditional walling bricks. They can be used to construct non-load bearing walls (HP) as well as load bearing walls (VP).

2. Faster construction

Since the Porotherm bricks are light, it aids in faster construction as the masons can easily handle the bricks with efficiency. The large size of the hollow bricks is optimum and uniform. This feature allows the wall to be constructed up to 5X faster.

3. Cost-effective

You can substantially save on structural costs with Porotherm bricks. Since the bricks are lightweight it drastically reduces dead load on the structures allowing you to go for lighter framework and helping you to cut down on steel and other building material. Additionally, you can save on utility bills as the bricks act as thermal insulators saving you from more energy consumption through HVAC systems. Porotherm also saves you money with less mortar consumption during construction. The wastage of bricks is as low as 2%, which means you can optimize the number of bricks required for construction. Less wastage means less debris to clear, which further cuts down on the labor required to clear the mess. Also, the need for plastering material is again reduced since the bricks already have a uniform and smooth surface. Better yet, you can enjoy the trendy interiors and exteriors by keeping bare walls, as the Porotherm bricks are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

4. Eco-friendly

Porotherm bricks are made of natural clay amalgamated with other natural additives like coal ash, rice husk, and sawdust. They’re free from any artificial and chemical substances that might release harmful gases in the environment. Their capacity to retain low moisture and dry faster helps optimize thermal protection naturally. They’re also recyclable and can be used in different forms once they reach the end of their life.

5. Unlimited life and maximum fire protection

The life expectancy of Porotherm bricks is over 150 years. Porotherm comes with a fire rating of F240 – 240 minutes since the bricks are already burnt at an exceptionally high temperature that is at about 1000 degrees. Hence, they’re fire-proof.

6. Less water consumption

Porotherm consumes up to 95% less water during the process of curing while under building construction. It also takes less time for curing and is ready for the next phase just after 24hrs.

7. Strength

Hollow bricks come with high compressive strength typically >=35 kg/cm2 due to their unique design pattern. This helps improve productivity in masonry and allows heavy load bearing fixtures to be installed easily.

8. Easy Installation Of Appliances And Fixtures

Porotherm allows easy chasseing and chiseling for electric as well as plumbing conduits. By using the machine for drilling and chasing you can also be assured of fewer vibrations or disturbances. With this method of chasing you hardly need to worry about material wastage or breakage unlike in the case of traditional walling material. Thus, you can install concealed as well as exposed fixtures such as LCDs, geysers, kitchen cabinets, air conditioners, etc. without any worries.

9. Modern building material

Hollow bricks add aesthetic value to your home. Its versatility enables it to go well with paint, glass, and facades thus giving your architect enough scope to think creatively.

10. Thermal and acoustic insulation

Porotherm bricks are natural insulators, which can keep away outer harsh temperature from entering inside and the pleasant temperature from getting out, thus helping to maintain comfortable ambiance inside without having to use HVAC systems. Hence terracotta bricks also help you to save on energy consumption. Hollow bricks such as Porotherm Thermo bricks are filled with specially formulated insulating material that gives a ‘U’ value of 0.6 W/m²K. This not only gives you excellent thermal insulation but aides you in keeping your indoors comfortable. Walls built with Porotherm bricks also provide good acoustic insulation enabling you to build noise free homes.

Go Smart With Porotherm Smart Bricks

Porotherm hollow bricks are being extensively used as quality, strength and economical value are commended upon them. They’re aesthetically beautiful and functionally smart bricks. These bricks are also being used by famous builders and developers, and you should use them too. Visit www.wienerberger.in  for more information on Porotherm Smart Bricks.

Curated by editor at  Wienerberger India

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