Two weeks ago I was at the Energie & Habitat convention in Namur Belgium where I spoke with Emelie van Strydonck from Evolias.com.
Evolias is introducing Durisol building blocks here in Belgium. Durisol insulated concrete forms are wood fiber blocks with insulation which is bind together with cement.
100% Waste Wood
The wood fiber used is 100% waste wood which is turned into wood fiber, this fiber is then bonded with cement (eco cement) to create a variety of shapes. According to the Durisolbuild.com website these forms have been around for over 70 years.
What the people of evolias.com told me is that the insulation is inside the blocks leaving a hole were concrete is poured in when the wall is stacked with the blocks (without mortar). The Durisol blocs themselves are structural therefore there is no waiting period required. You can keep building immediately after the concrete has been poured, which is one of the reasons the construction is so rapid.
I asked if it was possible to use it in a DIY project, which is possible but it might be difficult to pour in the concrete yourself if you have a second floor.
Too Much Concrete, but…
Although personally I believe there is too much use of concrete with this way of building, the concept is still better than the regular concrete blocks which are used in conventional buildings. For a better ecological footprint you can use concrete mixed with recycled and/or ecological aggregates to reduce the amount of concrete used in the build.
You can find more information or technical aspects of Durisol on www.evolias.com, durisol.net or durisolbuild.com.
