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SANDBAG CONSTRUCTION
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Sandbag Building Technology
Background:
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Various sandbag building systems have been used over the last 100 years or so, originating in the military.
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In 2003 Eco Design Architects developed their own generic design for using sand bags in conjunction with timber ladder frames for use in the Twin Streams Staff housing project.
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Benefits:
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Allows for use of freely available local and scrap material.
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Is a very solid durable construction
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Has excellent thermal and acoustic properties
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Involving Community: Allows for the setting up of a series of Micro-enterprises with use of local material, i.e.
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Harvesting timber poles
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Treating timber with non-toxic timber preservative
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Collecting sand/rubble and salvaging small dimensioned timbers
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Timber ladder manufacture
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Bag manufacture.
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Cost effective as the simplicity of construction means one can used unskilled labour to build the walls.
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Technical information:
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Aside from the foundations, this system requires no cement or binder and besides sand, the bags can be filled with clay, rubble or gravel.
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Bags are dry-packed between timber ladder frames, which are positioned vertically at approx 1,0m centres and reinforced with a timber ring beam plate at 2,4m height.
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The clay and lime plastered walls provide superior insulation when compared to regular concrete block construction.
Company Track record/examples of work:
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House Olivier, Kromme Valley Farm Clan William, 2019
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Office Renovations – Eco Design Offices 2014 and 2018
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House by Marion Whiteman, Bathurst, Eastern Cape 2012.
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Jozini Lodge, Swaziland, 2010
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Building system design used for 8 chalets for West Coast National Park by Studio 44, 2008
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Twinstreams Environmental Centre Staff Housing – Mtunzini, KZN, 2004. This project was awarded the Sustainable Building Best Practice Award for Africa at the Africa regional Sustainable Building Conference held at Speer 2004.