Innovative Construction Material

Like concrete, masonry has a high compressive strength but a limited tensile strength. This lead to cracking when tensile and/or shear stresses develop. This phenomenon is more prominent in AAC Block masonry. By providing reinforce-ment to resist such stresses, the chance of cracking is substantially reduced.

AAC, Cement Concrete Block masonry can be reinforced with steel mesh reinforcement, using general principles like those associated with reinforced concrete. Murfor Compact (MC) is a steel mesh masonry Bed Joint reinforcement (SMMBJR) product manufactured by M/s Bekaert, Belgium. Since 2016 MC has been in use in various countries of Europe.

Product Use:
SMMBJR enhances the structural performance of AAC wall by increasing the tensile capacity of the masonry, which significantly increases the in plane and out of plane capacities of the structure. Depending on width, SMMBJR consists of a series of 7 to 14 longitudinal steel wires with polypropylene yarn longitudinally affixed to each steel wire. The longitudinal wires and yarns are held together with fibreglass cross fibres at predetermined spacings.

Benefits:
Water-Free Installation: Unlike RCC bands, SMMBJR doesn’t require any water during installation or curing. There is no water dependency, reducing the strain on water resources and minimizing environmental impact.

Reduced Carbon Footprint: By eliminating the need for cement concrete, controlled use of Steel, SMMBJR significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with traditional RCC construction. SMMBJR ensures a greener, more eco-friendly building process.

Streamlined Construction: With SMMBJR, the integration of construction projects is seamless. Embedding this innovative reinforcement solution into polymer-modified block joining mortar streamlines the construction process, saving time, resources, and energy.

Quality assurance: SMMBJR is manufactured adhering to stringent quality standards of European codal guidelines. MC is ETA certified for structural use, which allows the products to use CE marking and confirms requirement of SHE protection.

Minimal Waste Generation: Use of traditional RCC Band System often results in significant material waste during mixing and curing processes. In contrast, Murfor Compact offers a more efficient solution with minimal waste generation. Its precise integration into block joining mortar reduces the likelihood of excess material usage, leading to less waste and lower environmental impact throughout the construction.

Lean construction practices: SMMBJR can help to minimize the environmental impact of construction by reducing waste, cost, improved Project Management and optimizing resource utilization.

Conclusion:

Using sustainable materials in building construction is crucial for India due to its rapid urbanization, environmental challenges, and resource constraints. With rising urbanization, adopting eco-friendly construction methods and material is not just a choice—it’s a necessity. SMMBJR has a great potential to address these requirements because of its unique features and application process.

Author: Rajdeep Chowdhury
(FIE, CE) Business Head – VAP
Biltech Building Elements Ltd.
Mob: 9811076657, 8882213821
Web : www.biltechindia.com