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Building Materials Division
(BMD)
Introduction
The Building Materials Division (BMD), the
industrial research wing of the NBRO has realised its statutory
obligation to contribute positively to the national development
programmes. As a means of achieving this objective, the division
undertakes and fosters development activities in the field of
building materials. The BMD assists the industry in the
implementation of testing and quality control functions,
disseminates information and research findings and provides
know-how, guidance and training to the construction industry and
building materials manufacturing industry.
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Consultancy Services
Earth based materials, rammed earth constructions, cement blocks,
low-cost roofing fibre materials, reinforced cement materials, clay
and cement tiles, brick manufacture, development of improved
kilns and brick forming techniques.
Testing
services on hardened concrete and fresh concrete, steel bars,
structural steel and welded joints, mineral aggregates, bricks,
blocks, roof tiles, floor and wall tiles, timber.
Designing
concrete mixes, site tests on fresh concrete, non-destructive tests
on structures, evaluation and testing of clays for the brick and
tile industry and establishment of commercial plants for the
manufacture of structural clay products and alternate cements.
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Services
Offered
Testing and quality assurance of building materials including
on-site testing.
Training of personnel for production of
low-cost building materials and products and adoption of such
technologies in rural and plantation sectors:
- Sinva-ram, stabilized soil blocks
- Coir fibre reinforced roofing sheets
- Micro-concrete roofing tiles
- Non mechanised cement hollow block
manufacture
- Production of blended cement for use in
above
- Ferro cement technology
Guiding small-scale manufacturers of
building materials to improve their products by means of proper
raw materials evaluation and quality control.
Research & development of new/innovative
building materials.
To provide the technology on production
of bricks on large scale but using an intermediate technology
kiln which facilitates continues production of bricks (Minimum
12,000 bricks/day).
Landmark
Research Work Undertaken
Alternative
sources of sand for construction work
The objective of
the research was to study the suitability of several materials for
use as an alternative to river sand for construction work,
especially in concrete and masonry applications. The materials
identified were dune sand, off-shore sand and manufactured sand.
Methodology
(summary)
1) Sample
survey from available resources
2) Laboratory
studies to determine physical and engineering properties in
relation to the requirements applicable to concrete and mortar
3) Field
studies to obtain comments from masons and engineers on the use of
these materials in actual field application and in manufacture of
pre-cast components.
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