Benefits of Building with Aerated Autoclaved Concrete (AAC)
Environmental:
AAC is the perfect green building material, starting at manufacturing, to construction, through demolition and recycling. It is an inert material that does not off gas or release CFCs, resulting in clean indoor and outdoor air.
Thermal Mass
The magic of aerated autoclaved concrete insulates and squirrels away heat at the same time. Thermal mass stores heat for later use and resists rapid passage of heat through the material. AAC is self insulating because of it's cellular structure and has a mass-enhanced r-value of 20 to 30 depending on location.
Fire Resistive
"Great balls of fire" won't penetrate this stuff. The material has a U.L. fire rating of one hour per inch. Imagine the highest possible fire rating being only four inches thick! A kiln could be lined with this stuff!
Infiltration
A Fierce North wind can huff and puff, but it won't blow this baby down, or penetrate it's sealed seams. Forget building wraps, caulking, bubble gum or whatever you would otherwise need for an infiltration barrier. Don't allow you're energy dollars to be blown through the walls and into the wind.
Sound Abatement
Shouldn't every night be a silent night? Hush the noise of thunderstorms, barking dogs, traffic snarls or the TV in the next room. AAC has a sound transmission coefficient of 55 and a noise reduction coefficient of 0.40.
Savings on top of savings!
Savings on insurance costs stack up year after year because AAC does not burn, and insurance companies recognize less exposure to themselves and the building's occupants.
Savings on first cost heating and air conditioning equipment comes in bundles because equipment sizes can be substantially reduced.
Savings on energy bills compound continually because properly designed AAC structures help contain heat to where it belong - Outside in the summer and inside during the winter, reducing energy costs by as much as 50%!
Savings in construction time reduces costs and allows building occupancy sooner rather than later.
Breathable
Because AAC is permeable, water vapor is allowed to escape from the building through the wall into the outside environment even during rainstorms. Moisture passes through but liquid is blocked.
Water Resistant
Moisture passes through but liquid is blocked.
Mold & Mildew Resistant
AAC has solid building units, with no cavity for moisture to accumulate, virtually eliminating the growth of mold and mildew.
Pests and Insect Resistant
Termites aren't interested in AAC, and cavities are not available to harbor other pests.
Structural and Lightweight
Aerated Autoclaved Concrete is load-bearing up to eight stories in height, and is 25% to 33% the weight of regular concrete, making possible a robust structure with smaller foundation sizes.
