With our specialisation in the development and testing of earth building materials, and our purpose-built testing laboratory, we are able to carry out all mandatory and voluntary building material tests in accordance with current DIN standards and other relevant codes of practice for earth building materials.* We advise companies manufacturing earth building materials on the development of new products, support them with factory production control, and carry out initial type testing as well as quality testing. In the project-related reuse of excavated soil for the production of earth building materials, we support you from raw material analysis through to the finished earth building material.
*excluding testing of fire behaviour
SUITABILITY TESTING OF BUILDING CLAYS
Initial assessment based on empirical values, field tests, binding strength tests, lime content analysis, determination of particle size distribution, determination of linear drying shrinkage, compressive strength testing, salt content analysis where applicable
INITIAL TYPE TESTING AND QUALITY MONITORING OF EARTH BUILDING MATERIALS
Earth plaster mortar, earth masonry mortar, earth blocks, earth boards, rammed earth, thin-layer earth coatings
MIX DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR EARTH BUILDING MATERIALS
Development of the mix design, selection of mineral and organic additives with consideration of local availability, determination of suitable processing techniques, initial type testing in accordance with DIN, quality monitoring in accordance with DIN, advice on soil/clay extraction, building clay processing, and the production and processing of earth building materials
EXPERT ASSESSMENTS AND CONSERVATION
Analysis of earth building materials in existing buildings with regard to composition as well as mechanical and building-physics properties, determination of moisture content, contaminant analysis, mineralogical analysis, determination of building-damaging salts, development of conservation materials
KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER
Laboratory workshops and seminars, participation in interlaboratory proficiency tests (Ringversuche), planning consultancy, on-site construction consultancy, advice on factory production control for companies manufacturing earth building materials, advice on product development for companies manufacturing earth building materials
