Stabilized Soil
Blocks (SSB) ......Picking up in South Sudan
The Stabilized Soil Blocks (SSB) technology comprises of
making building blocks from soil mixed with cement, and then
the highly compacting the blocks in a manual Block Press.
Soil is one of the oldest building materials
requiring improvement to overcome its low tensile strength
and its weakness when it comes in contact with water. These
weaknesses are achieved by stabilizing the soil with cement
and compressing it in a block press, producing strong building
blocks.
Training in Production of Stabilized
Soil Blocks
This technology has the following advantages over Burnt Bricks
and Concrete Blocks.
- Preserves the environment by saving on the cutting of
trees as SSB requires no burning
- Uses half the amount of cement required to make Concrete
blocks, making buildings at half the cost of Concrete Blocks
- The technology is labour intensive, creating local jobs
for local people
COMAC has introduced this technology through the construction
of Primary Health Care facilities for Medair and Tearfund,
both humanitarian organizations working in the Health sector,
south Sudan.
Making Stabilized Soil Blocks (SSB)
Stabilised Soil Blocks (SSB) technology has been in use since
1940's when it was developed in Colombia . It involves making
building blocks from a mixture of soil and cement in predetermined
ratios, and then compacting the mix in a manually operated
Block press. The resulting block is solid and dense, comparable
in strength to concrete blocks or burnt bricks. All types
of soils with an exception of black cotton soil can be used.
Construction Training Using Stabilized
Soil Blocks in Melut, South Sudan
Reinforced Concrete Beam supported by Reinforced Concrete
Columns forming a stable foundation for SSB construction in
Black Cotton Soil regions
Where appropriately used, walling costs of a building can
be reduced with as much as 50% savings.
Why use SSB?
• Utilises soil from the construction site saving
on transport costs
• Environmental friendly. No firing required,
saving our forests
• Uses little cement. 1bag of cement produces
up to 100 blocks equivalent to 4 square metres of walling.
A typical 2-roomed domestic building will require only 40bags
of cement
• Uses very little cement for joints and plastering
as the blocks are of a perfect uniform size.
Roofing in Progress
Making an Interlocking SSB
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Complete Health Centre Built
in Melut, South Sudan for Medair – October 2007
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Melut Health Centre, South
Sudan October 2007 |
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Demonstration wall using
interlocking SSB. No mortar required |
Interlocking segmental SSB
for round buildings |
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Police Canteen built with
Sand/Cement Blocks in South Sudan - May 2008 |
Police Posts built in South
Sudan using SSB & Sand/Cement Blocks made on site
– May 2008 |
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