Types of Light Weight Bricks and Their Uses

Lightweight concrete has been used for building for centuries, but it became more popular today due to the development of better light weight bricks. Modern technology has enabled the creation of reliable, consistent, and high-quality materials that are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly. To date, there are different kinds of lightweight concrete bricks for various applications. Often times, they are made of slate, clay, or expanded shale that have been kiln-fired to create porous bricks, but there are also low-density options, such as cellular concrete, which is made of other materials with higher air voids. Here is an overview of the types of light weight bricks and their uses:

• Lightweight aggregate – This type of concrete was developed and produced when lightweight concrete became acceptable in the UK for constructing cavity walls and their load-bearing inner leaf. It comes in different types, too, such as pumice (for reinforced concrete roof slabs & industrial roofs), foamed slag, sintered pulverised ash aggregate, and expanded shales and clays.

• Aerated concrete – These light weight bricks have the lowest density, strength, and thermal conductivity. It can be nailed, screwed, and sawn like timber.

• Autoclaved aerated concrete – Also called, ‘AAC’, it was developed by Johan Axel Eriksson in 1923 as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective substitute to red clay bricks used for building walls. AAC light weight bricks have excellent sound and thermal insulation, and despite being lightweight, they possess a high load-bearing capacity and strength that is greater than that of clay bricks. Using them can help reduce construction costs while providing energy-efficient installation. They are resistant to fire, earthquakes, extreme temperatures, pests, and mould, too.

• No fines concrete – The term means that the light weight bricks are made of coarse aggregates and cement, resulting in voids, which are uniformly distributed throughout the mass. The material is mainly applied for load bearing internal and external walls, underfloor filling, and non-load bearing walls.