ABOUT THE INTEGRATED, PASSIVE SOLAR, RAMMED EARTH HOUSING

WHAT’S RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION?

To give it its full title; it is cement stabilised rammed earth.

Rammed earth is a method of building walls whereby a mixture of aggregates, and other earth based material, are mixed with cement and compacted in layers between specific formwork.

Each layer of cement stabilised earth is placed within the formwork (forms) in approximately 150mm (6 inches) deep layers. Pneumatic rammers are then used to compact the material within the forms applying very high compaction rates. As each set of forms is filled and compacted, another set of forms is placed above it and the process begins again. This is continued until the desired wall height is achieved. Lower forms can be stripped off as the wall goes up. This is because the highly compacted compressed earth wall is self-supporting almost immediately.

The soil mix needs to be carefully balanced between clay, sand and aggregate. This is an art that only experience can provide. The selection of the soils and aggregates is what gives the wall its earthy colours and textures. This is no rendering or painting required. The walls look stunning straight off the forms. The walls can also be brush finished which suits some materials in enhancing colour and texture.

Houses currently under construction
in Quirindi

Browse the Rammed Earth Constructions Website Photo Gallery to see the range of construction work and find out more about rammed earth homes.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION AND THERMAL MASS

Rammed earth housing provides excellent thermal mass properties. Rammed earth walls, when used within an appropriate passive solar design, act as a thermal battery.

There is about 650kg per m2 of mass in the (300mm) exterior rammed earth walls and about 450kg per m2 of mass in the (200mm) interior rammed earth walls.

(see Passive Solar Design for more info on Thermal Mass)

RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION AND THE BUILDING CODE OF AUSTRALIA
The Building Code of Australia regulates the use of rammed earth in Australian buildings. The Code refers to the CSIRO’s publication, Bulletin 5: Earth Wall Construction, in which design and testing criteria are outlined to ensure a good quality product is provided.

Our rammed earth housing is constructed by one of Australia’s most experienced rammed earth contractors; Rammed Earth Constructions Pty Ltd.

Rammed Earth Constructions builds its rammed earth walls in accordance with the Building Code of Australia.

For more information on Rammed Earth Constructions; including links to additional technical information and their extensive photo gallery, please use this link

www.rammedearthconstructions.com.au

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