Walls

Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) or Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) is being used as a base material to manufacture a mix design of low density, low cost, lightweight, long lasting building blocks and building panels. Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) is a unique Green Construction Material which is 100% Natural and Inert light weight aggregate.

There is no alternative material in the market that delivers structural integrity whilst having a density approximately 350kg/m³ which assists in creating a very sustainable lightweight flexible green building material.

Several options including, party wall construction, acoustics partitions, basements and inner leaf blocks external walls can be manufactured using Expanded Clay Aggregate.

ECA ® offers the benefits like lightweight, fire proof, earthquake proof, low load bearing, thermal and sound proof, cost effective, environment friendly and many more.

Internationally, the manufacturing standards for the material include:

• EN 771 Specification for masonry “Specification for masonry units – Part 3: Aggregate concrete masonry units (Dense and lightweight aggregates)”
• EN 1520 Specification for panels “Prefabricated reinforced components of lightweight aggregate concrete with open structure with structural or non-structural reinforcement”
• EN 14992 Specification for precast concrete products “Precast concrete products -Wall elements”
• EN 13055-1 Specification for expanded clay aggregates “Lightweight aggregates. Lightweight aggregates for concrete, mortar and grout”

With the proper ideation of mix designs, a series of products can be manufactured using ECA ® which includes Panels, Solid blocks, Hollow blocks, Sandwich blocks, Party walls, Internal walls, External walls, Basement walls and Acoustic partitions.

The general mechanics of the finished product allows them as load bearing and non-loadbearing elements of buildings.

Whist delivering the technical benefits as noted above, the product is fire resistant as non-combustible without the need for any secondary treatments.

Lightweight

Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) is 100% inert but very light in weight and can be used for the production of lightweight’ concrete blocks and panels due to the material density of the Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) from 350kg/m³.

The manufactured output is a product that is lightweight but having huge compressive strength against traditional concrete materials available in the market.

Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) material in blocks and panels is significantly lighter than its available alternatives which subsequently allows the building works to progress faster than some alternatives.

Sustainability

Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) is 100% inert but very light in weight and can be used for the production of lightweight’ concrete blocks and panels due to the material density of the Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) from 350kg/m³.

The manufactured output is a product that is lightweight but having huge compressive strength against traditional concrete materials available in the market.

Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) material in blocks and panels is significantly lighter than its available alternatives which subsequently allows the building works to progress faster than some alternatives.

Fire Resistance

Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) is a round pellet structure produced by firing natural clay at temperature of 1200°C. They are classified as a fully non-combustible material Euro Class A1.

ECA ® Blocks and walls made of Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) have characteristics of being non-combustible and fire resistant with high water absorption capacity.  This exceeds the statutory requirements of Standard Building Code and provides a significant level of life and property protection against fire.

The fire resistance will depend on the element type, thickness, and type of joints, connection and finish applied. In comparison to alternative construction systems such as timber frame, clay brick and heavy concrete elements of a similar size, the use of Expanded Clay Aggregate (ECA ®) walls and panels offers a significant improvement in fire resistance due to its inherent properties.