SPECIFICATIONS OF AAC

SPECIFICATIONS OF AAC

High compressive strength AAC is a solid product, therefore making it highly load bearing. AAC can be used for load bearing and non load bearing partition walls. MOISTURE/ WATER RESISTANT AAC possesses excellent structural integrity, helping it to resist moisture penetration, whether caused by wind-driven rain or standing water. Additional weather and moisture resistance is achieved with a final surface treatment such as stucco, plaster and paint, or cladding such as bricks and/or other exterior materials. AAC has excellent structural integrity which resists high winds and violent storms AAC products are very durable and will not degrade under normal climatic conditions. They have outstanding durability characteristics over traditional materials relative to humidity, freeze/thaw cycles and chemical attack. FIRE RESISTANT  AAC is non-combustible and emits no toxic fumes when exposed to fire. These properties make AAC the perfect building material to withstand the stringent requirements of building codes. It increases the safety of the building's occupants and can potentially lower insurance rates. SPEED CONSTRUCTION Panelized AAC products have a dramatic impact on the material's rate of installation. Wall and floor panels are both easy to use and quickly installed, thus enabling a standard crew to install more than four times the square footage of  than that of a regular masonry application in the same period of time THERMAL INSULATION  Heating and air-conditioning can be major cost factors in the operating expenditures of any type of building. Because of its unique physical structure, AAC provides much greater thermal insulation than conventional masonry. An analysis shows that a building built with 8" AAC exterior walls and roof slabs outperforms a building built under traditional energy savings.    PEST RESISTANCE  AAC is impenetrable by insects, it eliminates the risk of termites, saving potentially tens of thousands, in termite control and repair costs AAC is impervious to attack by insects and termites.     WORKABILITY AAC is as strong and sustainable as conventional masonry/brick walls; it is as easy to work with as wood. All AAC products can be easily cut and crafted with common hand tools. The ability to readily make straight cuts reduces both time and waste in site alterations. AAC is also lightweight, AAC weighs one fifth of standard concrete products, and AAC is easy to handle, which reduces both labor costs and construction time. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY  AAC blocks are manufactured using all natural resources with no harmful emissions or toxic chemicals, AAC products are completely environmentally compatible. The AAC production process requires much less energy to complete than that of other materials and the product's outstanding energy efficient qualities makes it an excellent source of ongoing environmental conservation. AAC qualifies as a "green" building material. ACOUSTIC INSULATION  AAC has been shown to provide better sound insulation and absorption than any other solid building material under comparable conditions. This makes it ideal for construction projects that require a high level of acoustic insulation, such as apartments, hotels and entertainment facilities. Since its porous internal structure is comprised of 60-70% air, the material absorbs much more sound than conventional brick, effectively reducing sound wave transmission. Walls, floors and roofs constructed with AAC reduce the transmission of sound 7 db greater than other building material of the same weight. AAC has acoustic insulation properties in excess of more traditional materials, reducing the transmission of sound. Depending on the design, the walls provide a Sound Transmission Class (STC) up to 68. FINISHES  There are a variety of compatible finish materials that can be applied to AAC Lightweight stuccos that are vapor permeable, yet hydrophobic so as not to allow water penetration, are applied as a single base coat followed by a color/texture coat. Other exterior materials, for instance, brick, stone veneer, ceramic/porcelain tile cladding, marble and granite cladding, etc., can be attached to AAC walls. Specialized marble aggregate finishes have been used in a one coat application. For interiors, a number of fine plaster products are available whose characteristics are compatible with AAC. They are easy to use in a hand toweled or spray application, followed by a texture/veneer coat. ADVANTAGES OF  AAC AAC IS 100% RECYCLABLE.  The waste factor in its construction can be reduced to less than 1% with good construction management nearly every piece of the material can be used in the construction of an AAC building. Economic Advantages OF AAC ·                     Reduces dead loads on the structure, savings on steel ·                     Fast-track construction ·                     Less finish materials provide a low cost ·                     Less grout between blocks ·                     Low maintenance costs ·                     Electrical and plumbing lines can be cut thru using a saw jaw ·                     Can be sawed, nailed drilled and milled

   

SPEED CONSTRUCTION Panelized AAC products have a dramatic impact on the material's rate of installation. Wall and floor panels are both easy to use and quickly installed, thus enabling a standard crew to install more than four times the square footage of  than that of a regular masonry application in the same period of time

THERMAL INSULATION Heating and air-conditioning can be major cost factors in the operating expenditures of any type of building. Because of its unique physical structure, AAC provides much greater thermal insulation than conventional masonry. An analysis shows that a building built with 8" AAC exterior walls and roof slabs outperforms a building built under traditional energy savings. PEST RESISTANCE  AAC is impenetrable by insects, it eliminates the risk of termites, saving potentially tens of thousands, in termite control and repair costs AAC is impervious to attack by insects and termites.                   WORKABILITY AAC is as strong and sustainable as conventional masonry/brick walls; it is as easy to work with as wood. All AAC products can be easily cut and crafted with common hand tools. The ability to readily make straight cuts reduces both time and waste in site alterations. AAC is also lightweight, AAC weighs one fifth of standard concrete products, and AAC is easy to handle, which reduces both labor costs and construction time.  ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY  AAC blocks are manufactured using all natural resources with no harmful emissions or toxic chemicals, AAC products are completely environmentally compatible. The AAC production process requires much less energy to complete than that of other materials and the product's outstanding energy efficient qualities makes it an excellent source of ongoing environmental conservation. AAC qualifies as a "green" building material.  ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY  AAC blocks are manufactured using all natural resources with no harmful emissions or toxic chemicals, AAC products are completely environmentally compatible. The AAC production process requires much less energy to complete than that of other materials and the product's outstanding energy efficient qualities makes it an excellent source of ongoing environmental conservation. AAC qualifies as a "green" building material.  ACOUSTIC INSULATION  AAC has been shown to provide better sound insulation and absorption than any other solid building material under comparable conditions. This makes it ideal for construction projects that require a high level of acoustic insulation, such as apartments, hotels and entertainment facilities. Since its porous internal structure is comprised of 60-70% air, the material absorbs much more sound than conventional brick, effectively reducing sound wave transmission. Walls, floors and roofs constructed with AAC reduce the transmission of sound 7 db greater than other building material of the same weight. AAC has acoustic insulation properties in excess of more traditional materials, reducing the transmission of sound. Depending on the design, the walls provide a Sound Transmission Class (STC) up to 68.  FINISHES  There are a variety of compatible finish materials that can be applied to AAC Lightweight stuccos that are vapor permeable, yet hydrophobic so as not to allow water penetration, are applied as a single base coat followed by a color/texture coat. Other exterior materials, for instance, brick, stone veneer, ceramic/porcelain tile cladding, marble and granite cladding, etc., can be attached to AAC walls. Specialized marble aggregate finishes have been used in a one coat application. For interiors, a number of fine plaster products are available whose characteristics are compatible with AAC. They are easy to use in a hand toweled or spray application, followed by a texture/veneer coat.  DISADVANTAGES OF BUILDING WITH AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE There are few disadvantages to building with autoclaved aerated concrete. First, there are currently only five AAC manufacturing facilities in the United States. As a result and as mentioned above, projects far from manufacturing facilities will suffer from higher initial costs. Both the costs and availability of AAC are expected to improve as AAC manufacturers invest in additional plants. Second, building with AAC has a learning curve both with respect to the construction community as well as with local governments. Few contractors are a currently familiar with the product, and trained masons must adjust to using thin-set mortar as opposed to traditional cement-based mortar, which requires less precision in its application. Local building departments, design review boards, and planning commissions are also largely unfamiliar with AAC and must be educated with respect to the products ability to satisfy local building codes.      CONCLUSIONS Due to its relatively low consumption of readily available raw materials, excellent durability, energy efficiency, relative cost effectiveness, and ability to be recycled, AAC is well deserving of its “green” designation. Additional information can be found by consulting AACPA, the Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Association.