The Compressed stabilized mud blocks used for this project were made on site using a manual press. Two types of blocks were produced, plain and interlocking.
The rate of production for these blocks is 700 to 1000 plain blocks and 700 interlocking blocks per day. In the present context of Mysore, these blocks generally cost 3 rupees if the soil used is from the site itself and 4 rupees if the soil has to transported form outside. In this 1 rupee and twenty paise is usually the labour component.
The per-unit cost of the blocks may be more than that of a burnt brick, however since it is much bigger in volume, it results in an over all reduction in its consumption. The soil for making block for this building was partly from this site and partly from semi dry and wasteland regions of Mysore.
The process of block making involves the steps of mixing and preparing the soil, pressing the soil into blocks, stacking the pressed blocks and curing them. The use of CEB reduced the cost of the walls by 10% to 20% as compared to a wall made in burnt bricks. In case of interlocking blocks there was a saving on the use of mortar. Also there was no requirement of plastering the walls both externally and internally, thus further bringing down the cost. |
