Aerated concrete wall: features of construction and operation

Aerated concrete walls are becoming more and more common in contemporary architecture because of their special blend of energy efficiency, strength, and light weight. This kind of concrete is made by adding a foaming agent to the concrete mixture, which causes tiny air bubbles to form throughout the material. It is also referred to as autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). Because of these bubbles, concrete becomes less dense overall while retaining its structural integrity, which makes it a great material for both residential and commercial structures.

The ability of aerated concrete walls to insulate against heat is one of its main advantages. Buildings stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer because of the concrete’s air pockets, which prevent heat from transferring. This can cut heating and cooling energy use dramatically, resulting in lower utility costs and a smaller environmental impact.

Apart from their thermal efficiency, aerated concrete walls are renowned for their ability to insulate sound. Because the material is porous, it can effectively absorb and reduce noise, which makes it perfect for buildings in busy urban areas or those that need a quiet interior. The additional layer of comfort provided by this soundproofing feature improves the quality of living or working environment for residents.

Aerated concrete wall construction is comparatively simple, but it does call for specific skills and methods. Because the blocks are lightweight and manageable, building can proceed more quickly and with lower labor costs. To guarantee that the walls function as anticipated in terms of insulation, robustness, and structural integrity, proper installation is essential. To get the best results, builders need to use the right tools and adhere to certain rules.

Aerated concrete has certain drawbacks despite its benefits. Compared to conventional concrete, it is more prone to water absorption, so appropriate waterproofing techniques must be used, particularly in areas with high humidity or frequent rainfall. Furthermore, even though AAC has great compressive strength, it might need reinforcement in load-bearing applications or in highly stressed structures.

Aerated concrete walls, when combined with energy efficiency, sound insulation, and user-friendliness, present a compelling option for contemporary construction projects. By utilizing appropriate methods and knowledge, they can make a positive impact on affordable, cozy, and environmentally friendly structures. Whether you are designing a new house, business, or office, aerated concrete could offer a number of advantages for your building endeavor.

Feature	Description
Lightweight	Aerated concrete is much lighter than traditional concrete, making it easier to handle and transport.
Insulation	Provides excellent thermal and sound insulation, keeping homes warm in winter and cool in summer.
Fire Resistant	Highly resistant to fire, offering better safety in case of a fire outbreak.
Eco-friendly	Made from natural raw materials, it is an environmentally friendly building option.
Cost-effective	Reduces overall construction costs due to its ease of installation and energy efficiency.
Durability	Offers long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance required.
Easy to Work With	Can be easily cut, shaped, and drilled, allowing for more flexible design options.
Load Bearing	Despite being lightweight, it can bear substantial loads, making it suitable for various construction needs.

Aerated concrete wall structures

There are various varieties of aerated concrete made for exterior walls. Their areas of application and technical specifications vary from one another.

Types of blocks

The marking on the wall block, which expresses its specific density in kg/m3, can be used to identify the type of wall block. The material is stronger the higher it is, but the energy efficiency decreases. The porosity and strength increase with decreasing value.

• D300 – D500 – heat-insulating types of blocks;
• D500 – D900 – structural and heat-insulating;
• D1000 – D1200 – structural.

The building’s intended use and the style of its walls must be considered when selecting the material. If the qualities of thermal insulation are not very important for outbuildings, then they are equally important for residential buildings as load-bearing ones. As such, when building them, D500–D600 blocks are typically used in the construction of aerated concrete walls.

Higher grade aerated blocks are stronger, but they have a high heat conductivity. They ought to have more insulated or thicker walls. They are employed in the construction of homes taller than two stories.

Types of aerated concrete walls

Determining the wall thickness and design while keeping heat conservation regulations in mind is one of the primary tasks in designing such a home. The calculation of aerated concrete walls is dependent on the material’s thermal conductivity coefficient as well as the local climate.

There are various choices available for building exterior walls:

In the central region of our nation, a 40 cm thick plastered wall is a perfectly reasonable choice when building a home with aerated concrete. Multi-layered structures are constructed in colder climates.

Calculation of aerated concrete blocks and glue

ROOM PARAMETERS:PARTITIONS:

Technological features of the construction of aerated concrete walls

You should follow the advised building techniques in order to take full advantage of the thermal insulation qualities of aerated concrete and produce a dependable and long-lasting structure.

Features of masonry

Compared to concrete or cement mortar, aerated concrete has a substantially lower heat transfer. Therefore, the heat-retention capacity of walls constructed with aerated concrete blocks is diminished by large seams filled with regular masonry mortar. They turn into icy bridges that enclose the structure completely. The instructions advise using specific professional adhesive mixtures for masonry so as to avoid creating them. Their 1-3 mm seam thickness allows for excellent block adhesion to one another.

Please note. Many private developers are scared by the high price of glue. But due to the economical consumption and ease of preparation, its use is profitable.

It is advised to use a specialized tool rather than a traditional trowel and cells to achieve thin and even seams.

• Only the first row of blocks is laid on a cement-sand solution. This is done in order to align the masonry level due to the thickness of the seams with a minimum error, and not repeat the bends of the foundation.

• The first row is the most important and laborious. A layer of horizontal waterproofing from two sheets of roofing material is necessarily laid under it so that the gas concrete blocks do not pull moisture rising from the soil according to the foundation.
• The masonry begins with the identification of the highest point of the foundation. The first blocks are installed on it and at the corners, according to which the mark of the first row is set.

• After its complete laying, the unevenness is ground down and the surface is finally leveled.

With careful work, the next rows will be much easier to lay out with a level and your hands because the blocks have standard overall dimensions and you can make seams of the same thickness with a special tool. Using glue, additional laying is done with a bandage covering at least one third of the surface.

If plastering the walls is not going to be done anytime soon, it is also advised to apply glue to the edges of the blocks when using mounting grooves.

Is it possible to pour aerated concrete into the wall? is a question that developers frequently ask themselves.

This will, after all, totally remove any possibility of cold bridges in the form of adhesive or cement seams. This is feasible in theory, and a lot of construction companies employ this technique, mixing concrete directly on the construction site in aerated mixers and pouring it into permanent formwork.

However, it should be remembered that in this instance, the material is not heat treated, hardening with steam under pressure, and as a result, it does not reach the necessary strength. The permanent formwork and vertical reinforcing frame will need to support the majority of the weight.

Strengthening aerated concrete walls

One benefit of aerated concrete blocks is their large dimensions, which enable rapid construction with minimal masonry mixture consumption. However, it also leaves them open to the uneven settling of the foundation, which is why cracked aerated concrete walls and opened vertical seams are so common.

In order to avoid this, you must understand how to reinforce an aerated concrete wall even while it is still being built. In order to achieve this, reinforcement is done while the blocks are being laid, and in the locations where the load is greatest, a monolithic reinforced concrete belt is placed.

Note: Every fourth row of masonry has grooves cut into it where reinforcing bars are placed to keep the wall from shrinking and cracking. In order to avoid altering the seam’s thickness, they must be fully set into the blocks’ bodies.

In the event that the first row is supported by pile grillage or a shallow foundation, the same type of reinforcement is also applied. Additionally, in the support zones of lintels and in rows beneath window openings in a house made of aerated concrete.

The ceilings and roof elements are not arranged in rows but rather as a monolithic belt on an aerated concrete wall. It assumes the primary burden.

To make a belt that is reinforced, use:

• Concrete grade not lower than M200;
• Reinforcement bars with a diameter of 12 mm, which are assembled into a frame with knitting wire.

Kindly take note. The internal walls of the cavity and the frame elements should be separated by three to five centimeters. They will stop the metal reinforcement from corroding if they are filled with concrete.

Constructed in compliance with all regulations, its capacity to tolerate massive bending loads inhibits the deformation of the entire structure and the emergence of flaws like a fissure in an aerated concrete wall.

An important issue here is that concrete has a substantially higher heat transfer coefficient than aerated concrete. Furthermore, if the joints are thought of as cold bridges, then a monolithic belt composed of this material could be referred to as an open gate that allows cold air to enter the structure.

There are two methods to solve this issue:

• By installing a thermal insulation strapping for the armored belt. For which, the formwork from the outside is lined with expanded polystyrene or sheets of rigid basalt wool at least 10 cm thick before installing the reinforcement frame in it and pouring concrete.

• Using special elements made of aerated concrete of a U-shaped profile.

Concrete is carefully compacted and, if required, embedded elements are installed while it is being poured. For instance, the anchors used to fasten the floor beam or wall plate to the aerated concrete wall.

As soon as the concrete is poured, the surface is meticulously leveled. Only after a few days, when it has regained strength, can you proceed with wall laying or floor installation.

A window or door opening in a wall made of aerated concrete is also covered with a monolithic lintel, arranged similarly to an armored belt using formwork. But other options are also possible. For example, using a special reinforced lintel made of aerated concrete or laying ordinary blocks on metal corners.

Linking partitions to load-bearing walls

After the frame and floors are installed, aerated concrete piers and non-load-bearing partitions are frequently built. They can be positioned on strip foundations or floor slabs that are only 30 to 40 cm deep. Partitions do not place a significant load on the base because they are typically made of blocks that are no thicker than 200 mm, and they can only be built that thick.

Here, the following guidelines are applicable:

• The first row of blocks is laid on a cement-sand mortar, the rest on glue. It is advisable to lay an elastic lining under the first row, for example, made of polystyrene foam;
• The partition should not reach the floor slab, between them it is necessary to leave 1.5-2 cm of free space, which is filled with polyurethane foam or insulation. If this is not done or the gap is filled with mortar, the slab, bent under its own weight, will transfer the load to the partition and it will crack.

• Fastening to the wall made of aerated concrete should be carried out using flexible ties – perforated anchors or galvanized perforated tapes. A piece of tape is placed in the masonry seam to a depth of 30-40 cm, and its free end is attached to the load-bearing wall with special dowels. The partition is fixed to the ceiling in the same way – this can be seen in the previous photo.

Aerated concrete is a popular option for walls in modern construction because it has many benefits. This material offers superior thermal insulation and energy efficiency because it is robust but lightweight. Its porous structure lessens the need for additional heating or cooling systems by assisting in the regulation of indoor temperatures. Aerated concrete also improves the safety and comfort of any building because it is soundproof and fire resistant.

Using aerated concrete for construction is a simple and effective method. Because they are simple to work with and cut, building blocks expedite the process and lower labor costs. Aerated concrete reduces waste and encourages environmentally friendly building techniques. This material is highly adaptable and can be utilized in both residential and commercial constructions.

Aerated concrete walls are reasonably easy to maintain. The material is strong and impervious to common problems like mildew and mold. The longevity of the walls can be ensured with routine inspections and small repairs. Furthermore, the energy efficiency of the material eventually results in lower utility bills, providing long-term savings for both businesses and homeowners.

All things considered, aerated concrete walls offer a useful and affordable building option. When building or renovating a structure, their strength, insulation, and sustainability combine to make them a great option. Builders and property owners can benefit from a high-performing, dependable, long-lasting building material by choosing aerated concrete.

Aerated concrete walls are a great option for energy-efficient buildings because they provide a special blend of lightweight design and superior thermal insulation. Because these walls weigh less than traditional concrete walls, they are easier to handle and install, which saves money on labor and shortens the construction schedule. Aerated concrete is also renowned for its strength, fire resistance, and soundproofing capabilities, all of which contribute to the long-lasting and secure construction of buildings. To ensure the longevity of aerated concrete walls in a variety of building projects and to maximize their benefits, it is imperative to comprehend the particular construction techniques and operational considerations.

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