Lecablock, an Alternative Construction Material for the Exterior Walls of Passive House

Osama A. B. Hassan, Petra Jonsson

Department of Science and Technology, Link?ping University, Norrk?ping, Sweden.
Petra Jonsson, Lindb?cks bygg, Pite?, Sweden.

DOI: 10.4236/jbcpr.2014.22009                

Abstract

In this paper it is attempted to investigate the Leca blocks as sustainable construction material for the exterior walls of passive house. The building physical properties of Leca design wall structure are studied along with the environmental impact and load-bearing capacity. To compare the results, a similar analysis is carried out considering the traditional wooden wall construction of passive houses. The results showed that Leca design wall structure can be an alternative sustainable solution to the traditional wooden wall structure of passive house, mainly due to its low U-value, its ability to handle moisture, and comparable structural load-bearing capacity. However, the wooden wall structure is more environmentally friendly than the Leca blocks due to its lower emissions to the environment and reduced energy use, especially during the manufacturing process.

Keywords

U-Value, Moisture, Thermal Bridges, Passive House, Energy Efficiency, Load-Bearing Capacity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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