AggreBloc

Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers with AggreBind

 

Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers with AggreBind
in the development of low cost housing.
Offering innovative, environmentally friendly soil stabilization,
water-based polymer technology for stabilizing soil for block & brick
manufacturing and road construction.

Soil Stabilizer AggreBind is the ideal for Soil Stabilized Bricks,
Blocks and Pavers

OBSTACLES AND MAJOR CONSTRAINTS IN THE DELIVERY OF LOW-COST HOUSING – Soil Stabilized Bricks

AggreBind Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers , easy to produce and manufacture.

In 2001 these problems were thoroughly investigated by Selman ERUGDED, Acting Chief, Housing Policy Section, United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat).  The report is delineated under the following headings:

  • Lack of effective implementation strategies
  • Poor promotion of security of tenure
  • Inadequate supply of affordable land
  • Improving Infrastructure and services
  • Promotion of housing finance mechanisms
  • Utilization of local building materials and technologies
  • Support of small-scale construction activities
  • Adjusting standards for building and land subdivision
  • Promotion of community participation and self-help
  •  Initiation of experimental pilot projects

The final assessment was that 35 million new homes per annum are required at a rate of 95,000 homes per day as follows:

  • Asia and Pacific Region                       61,750
  • South America                                     15,200
  • Sub Saharan Africa                             10,450
  • North Africa and Middle East               7,600

Using traditional methods of concrete construction and financial structuring, these targets will be nearly impossible to achieve. This can be achieved with AggreBind soil stabilized bricks.

AggreBind soil stabilized bricks

Welcome to AggreBind solution!

For two decades AggreBind soil stabilizer has turned the ‘Rivers of Ruin’ & the ‘Dusts of Despair’ into soil stabilized ‘Highways & Homes of Hope & Security’

  • Local community led financing
  • Establishment of locally trained construction teams
  • Use of locally available soils and mine waste materials
  • Low production costs for Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers
  • Community development of Roads, Schools, Clinics, Houses, Recreational areas, etc.
  • Work opportunities for installation, building, maintenance and repairs
  • Opportunities for expressing the local love of color, design, and group identity
AggreBind soil stabilized bricks
AggreBind soil stabilization and dust control

How much is a soil stabilized block made with AggreBind?

AggreBind Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers in and for the development of low cost housing
OK, let’s start with how many soil stabilized blocks per m3.

  • Standard block materials typically have an average cubic meter weight of 2000 kg.
  • A standard hollow block of 18″ X 18″ X 9″ with 2 hollow sections weighs between 10 to 12 kg.
  • 2000kg divided by 12kg = +/- 181 blocks

So, for hollow blocks determine the weight of one block and then divide this number into 2000 which is the average weight of one m3.  This is only a guideline, actual material weight per m3 may vary.
How much AGB do I need?

  • Typically you will use 4 liters of AggreBind soil stabilizer per cubic meter.  This could go up to 5 liters and down to 3 liters depending on the material and intended use of the block.
  • Fill blocks or inside blocks would have a lower strength requirement then the corner blocks.

 For solid soil stabilized blocks please use our Quantity Calculator (Excel Spreadsheet) or Quantity Calculator with feet to metric (Excel Spreadsheet)

Soil Stabilized Brick/Block Manufacturing  per cubic mtr of material used

Length mtrs

X

Width mtrs

X

Height

equals

Total cubic Mtrs

X

AGB Ltrs

equals

Total AGB Ltrs

____

x

____

x

____

 =

____

x

4.00

 =

______

SURFACE SEALING of Brick/Block at 1 outer dimension x 1 meter height*

Length mtrs

X

Height mtrs

X

equals

Total Sq. Mtrs

X

AGB Ltrs

equals

Total AGB Ltrs

 ____

x

____

x

=

____

x

0.10

=

_____

For soil stabilized Brick/Block Manufacturing, divide the total ltrs of AggreBind used by the number of bricks/blocks

produced from 1 cub mtr of stabilized material to determine the unit cost for each brick/block.

*Surface Sealing is only necessary for blocks that come into direct contact with water.

 

Length mtrs

X

Width mtrs

X

Height

equals

Total cubic Mtrs

X

AGB Ltrs

equals

Total AGB Ltrs

0.3

x

0.15

x

0.06

=

0.0027

x

4.00

=

0.0108

4 liters (for one m3) ÷ 0.0108 = 370
4 liters of AGB will make 370 blocks size 0.30 x 0.15 x .06

AggreBind Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers in and for the development of low cost housing

AggreBind soil stabilization and dust control

Preliminary observations on the environmental benefits of AGB soil stabilizing

AGB Environmental benefits of Stabilized Earth construction in urban housing

Preliminary observations on the environmental benefits of contemporary stabilized earth in the construction of low cost urban housing.

According to Maini (2005), some studies have shown that, in the Indian context, building a square metre of masonry with CSEB (compressed stabilized earth block) consumes 5 times less energy than a square metre of wire cut bricks masonry and 15 times less than country fired bricks. Maini (2005) also stated that the compressed stabilised earth blocks (CSEB) are more eco-friendly than fired bricks and their manufacture consumes less energy and pollute less than fired bricks.

Energy consumption Pollution emission

4.9 times less than wire cut bricks 2.4 times less than wire cut bricks
15.1 times less than country fired bricks 7.9 times less than country fired bricks

Table  shows a comparative analysis of energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission of four types of building material. According to the numerical data shown in Table , CSEB consume the lowest energy and lowest carbon dioxide emission if compared with Wire Cut Bricks, Country Fired Bricks, and the Concrete blocks.

10 Product and thickness Number of units (Per square metre) Energy consumption (MJ per square metre) Carbon dioxide emission (Kg per square metre)
AGB CSEB – 24 cm 40 110 16
Wire Cut Bricks – 22 cm 87 539 39
Country Fired Bricks – 22 cm 112 1657 126
Concrete blocks – 20 cm 20 235 26
AggreBind soil stabilization and dust control

Environmental and cost considerations for using AggreBind in soil stabilized roads, blocks, bricks and pavers

Cement is widely used in soil stabilizing and is sometimes added to various liquid based polymers to soil stabilize, as an additive, to create polymer /cement stabilized soil base layers, with about 3% cement added per 50kg per cu m. of soil treated. Cement is the highest energy user in the world consuming around 40% of the world’s total energy consumption.

AggreBind soil stabilizer uses NO cement, just water based environmentally friendly polymers to create durable, affordable roads, blocks, bricks and pavers. AggreBind’s embedded energy content is insignificant when compared to installations where cement is used.

Some cement assisted polymer products claim to immobilize toxic substances in the soil/roadways yet they are still using cement, which is known to leach out and is banned from use on many sites in the United Kingdom and around the world. 

AggreBind polymer bonds and seals the soil colloids together, locking them in and immobilizing all toxic contaminated substances within the soil.

Cement assisted polymer products (CAPP) claim that their treated road can be opened for traffic immediately, but cement requires a chemical cure reaction time to attain its’ full strength.

AggreBind cures by evaporation, and the compaction of the soil, which typically achieves 99.7 to 99.9% maximum density and is capable of sustaining 20 Ton trucks within a couple of hours and 100 Ton truck in about 6 to 8 hours. Essentially, as soon as an AggreBind soil stabilized road is compacted and sealed the base becomes operational as a road. All wear surface treatments will bond to an AggreBind soil stabilized base layer or you can surface-seal with AggreBind.

CAPP have requires additional equipment and logistical support vehicles, for the delivery and dispersal of the cement onto the soil.

AggreBind eliminates the need for these extra vehicles and operations. Therefore, the process of the soil stabilization construction process is more sequential as it is a series of continuous operations.

CAPP use a particular manufacturer of surface milling machines.

AggreBind can use any type of manufacturers’ equipment and farm equipment from anywhere in the world for stabilizing soil.

CAPP claim a reduction in CO2 emissions which, over more traditional road construction methods, would be correct.

AggreBind claims substantial reductions in CO2 emissions both from the embedded energy necessary to construct the road, plus the additional savings by eliminating the cement distributing construction equipment, handling and delivery of same , plus fuel savings, plus vehicle maintenance and plus the capital investment costs of equipment purchases, etc.

AggreBind construction equipment is at least 25% less than the CAPP requirement.

CAPP claim a construction output of 8000 sq m per day based on a 17Km x 30m wide road and an assumed depth of 30cm. Needed are 1780 truck loads for delivery of cement and polymer.

AggreBind soil stabilizer based on 30cm depth and an average soil grading mix will need 50 20 ton truckloads or 25 40 ton truckloads carrying the AggreBind polymer necessary for the same project, including a finished surface-seal.

AggreBind saves over 1730 truckloads of material delivery plus the transportation, handling, fuel, and related labor costs. Whilst the daily output of CAPP would readily achieve 8000 sq m per day, with AggreBind you will completely eliminate the cement operation.  An output increase to 10,000 m2 per day is realistic. (Note, cement is very difficult to apply in windy weather as it goes everywhere !)

CAPP project fuel and CO2 savings, which are technically correct while ignoring the embedded energy content for a m2 or m3 of soil, which is a key element in evaluating the overall benefits of a particular process solution.

AggreBind provides all the benefits and fuel savings that CAPP have identified – plus the additional savings made by using less equipment and delivery trucks, plus an overall substantially lower embedded energy content. With no wind conditions to consider AggreBind soil stabilizer would have more available productive days and potentially the project duration could be shorter by about 10%. Whilst the CAPP cement dust can be overcome by using a slurry mixer, this is an additional step and piece of equipment that is not necessary using AggreBind’s products and system.

CAPP use the laboratory for soil analysis and getting the cement /polymer mixture ratios correct to achieve a given strength specification.

AggreBind do the same but only have to work with one product, not two.

CAPP remove samples and has them analyzed in a laboratory to ensure that the specifications related to dosage rates are complied with.

AggreBind has developed a unique and proprietary tracer that is now integrated into the polymer. This enables the polymer content in any area of treated soil, current or future, to be analyzed on site. This provides the site engineer with excellent quality and control reference points. AggreBind is the only product in the world that has this facility.

AggreBind has eliminated the need for cement soil stabilization.  AggreBind has taken soil stabilization to a higher level by the addition of the AggreBind polymer to provide a water resistant stabilized soil.

AggreBind has taken soil stabilization to the next level, using no cement and providing a water resistant bound layer of soil which is then sealed at the surface. Water penetration is a major cause of road failure throughout the world is now virtually eliminated.

AggreBind can produce a stabilized soil road without the need for additional wear surfaces, ideal for the more rural applications. These roads can, if required at a later date, have an asphalt wear surface added. 

AggreBind stabilized soil and AggreBind surface seal has been used in various installations throughout the world, including

  • Mine haul roads for 200 ton trucks,
  • British Military landing strips for Hercules and C31s,
  • Plantation haul roads,
  • And, even a mixture of palm nut shells and soil in the Ivory coast to provide wear characteristics

ALL without any cement.

AggreBind soil stabilization have provided solutions for soil types in many countries throughout the world and has produced positive results using only sand, beach coral/shells and sea-water.

Note: The preceding comparison is to soil stabilizing polymers that require the addition of cement.  When AggreBind is compared to a fully cementitious project the advantages of AggreBind with its minimal carbon footprint are tremendous.

AggreBind soil stabilization and dust control

Southern Sudan.  A new way forward with soil stabilized brick manufacturing

(A very poignant article found on-line.) 

Our people,” said block-maker Peter Pal Chuol, 26, who gave up an AK-47. Another 1,000 arms were confiscated from cattle camps and homesteads by county authorities in February 2010, with the help of local chiefs, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army and Southern Sudan Police Service.

The block-making project was initiated to give civilians an alternative source of income other than cattle rustling and raids.

In addition to the training, ASCOM donated four block-making machines, loaned the group cement (could be AggreBind instead of cement) and promised to buy their finished products. The four machines can produce 3,500 blocks each in 16 days.

“ASCOM has promised to buy them at the price of 5 SDG ($2) per block,” said Mr. Yak. “Each cement bag produces 75 pieces of block and one group can use five to seven bags of cement per day.”

Women in the town, especially those displaced by area conflict, have also benefited from the project. They collect sand and gravel from Akobo River and sell it to the block makers for 7 SDG ($3) per bucket.

“I use the money (from the gravel) to buy food for my four kids,” said 25-year-old Nyadeng Nyang Top, whose husband left for North Sudan to seek work, but has not contacted her for over nine months. Nyachuot Chuol Kuon, 43, also collects gravel to buy food for her two children. “I am trying to survive because there was no rain and (there was) last year’s insecurity as well.”

According to Commissioner Goi Jok, USAID has plans to provide boats. These will allow the youth to support their families by engaging in trade.

Jonglei State, have turned to cement block-making to support their families, rather than rustling their neighbours’ cattle.

Thirty-six disarmed youth aged 20-27 recently took a one-week block-making course conducted by the non-governmental organization ASCOM International, and established the Akobo Youth Block Making Association.

“I find it (this programme) very useful in the sense that one day with some funds one can make one’s own blocks for sale,” said association field monitor Chiony Garwich Yak, adding that the blocks currently went into a common store.

A wonderful way to build a secure and peaceful country with Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers

 One block at a time

AggreBind Soil Stabilized Bricks, Blocks and Pavers in and for the development of low cost housing

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