wyhaines
Apr 16, 2005, 1:36 AM
Post #2 of 2
(1012 views)
Shortcut
|
Re: [heathesq] Autoclaved Areated Concrete
|
Can't Post | Private Reply
|
Look back in the index of this forum a few days, and you'll see a thread, AAC. It's a short thread about aerated autoclaved concrete (also sometimes referred to as hebel blocks). It seems like a reasonable product, especially for Mexico. It provides some insulative value because of it's relatively low density. Looks like the 31PCF density blocks provide an R of about 9.6 in an 8 inch thickness, and the 44PCF blocks provide an R of around 6.8 in an 8 inch thickness. Whether to use the 31PCF or the 44PCF density blocks would be determined by the amount of load that the blocks would be asked to bear, and is probably best determined through an engineer's calculator.
After other finishes are applied, and when one considers the whole structure, a single thickness wall of 31PCF blocks will probably end up with an R rating of around 11 or 12, depending on how one details the surfaces, unless one adds additional insulation. that's certainly better than traditional concrete block construction, and is likely quite adequate for many areas in Mexico, but would be less than adequate, by itself, in much of the NOB area.
It is an interesting product, though, especially if regional availability of it is good. I do wonder about the potential to wick moisture, and to absorb and hold moisture. The aerated nature of it means that it is full of small voids, and while the limited amount of information that I can find indicates that it probably isn't likely to act as a wick for moisture, I'd be concerned about the potential for it to soak up and hold on to water if poor detailing or natural calamity were to put any portion of a wall into significant contact with water. i.e. make sure drainage detailing is good, and I'd want to do some testing before building with it somewhere that hurricanes might hit hard.
Kirk Haines
|
Forums Index
Search Posts
Who's Online
Log In or Sign Up