Sunday, October 01, 2006
Posted at 8:07 PM UT
by
Tamara
Rastra Building systems of Scottsdale Arizona,
Is joining in the series: " From the Ground Up"- creating
Environmentally Friendly, Energy Self Reliant Homes and
Living Systems,
Bringing into the architectural design their " Green",
Environmentally Correct - Rastra Block.
Rastra Block is a recycled cementitious foam block with open
cores that are stacked, grouted with concrete, and reinforced
with rebar, an Earth Friendly Concrete form system
Which originated 30 years ago in Austria,
made of a material called Thastryron,
Thermal acoustic Styrofoam concrete.
It is 85% recycled post consumer polystyrene waste,
Styrofoam, which does not naturally recycle for more than
two million years.
This waste material, currently filling our dumps,
is being chopped and mixed with a cementitious binder to
create instead a rebar reinforced concrete wall construction
system that provides a 10 inch thick wall rated at R-25
insulation, compared to R-19 ratings of standard frame
construction with fiberglass insulation, with no offgassing.
The Thermal mass of concrete provides the insulation
advantage..
It minimizes the use of lumber, conserving resources and
money.
Energy efficient, fire, frost, insect, mold, hurricane and
tornado resistant, it boasts near perfect vapor diffusion, and
provides soundproofing.
The China Academy of Building Research in Bejing tested the
Rastra walls under dynamic loads to withstand 8 point
earthquakes without measurable or visable damage,
Rastra provides a permanent framework for a grid of
reinforced concrete that uses less concrete than other
insulating concrete forms and has been used around the
world in all climates.
Environmentally friendly, each element is air dried. No energy
is used for curing.
1 KwH produces one Rastra element, 10 inches thick by 15
inches high by 10 feet long.
During production no byproducts are freed and all debris is
recycled into new elements, or other products.
Elements can be cut, rasped, routed, or carved into stunning
sculpture-like forms using tools common for wood-working.
Nitches, Arches, insets of bottles, glass, and other creative
formings can be achieved.
Plaster adheres without preparations of wire mesh or lath.
Tiles can be set with thinset. Gypsum board can be glued
directly to the walls or can be finished in stucco, plaster,
or drywall mud.
Exteriors are coated with waterproofing Rastra Skim, and
Rastracrete, or a spray on three layer urethane sealant
containing a colored glaze which comes with a 20 year warranty.
Learn more about Rastra at
www.rastra.com