ABSTRACT

There is a huge growing requirement of building materials in  India due to the existing housing shortage of 24.7 million units{ 2007} mainly for the  low income groups  in urban India. Estimated urban housing shortage in 2012 is 26.53 million, while the housing shortage of rural India in 2012 is 42 million units. Thus total estimated housing shortage for Urban & rural India in 2012 is 68.53 million units.  To  meet  this challenge, India requires  innovative, energy efficient  building materials for strong and durable  housing in fast track method of construction at affordable cost. It is also important that  housing and buildings are disaster resistant to protect the lives and properties of people. 

All these concerns are involved in sustainable and inclusive development.  Rapidwall Panel provides rapid or faster construction and contributes to environmental protection, providing a solution to many of the above issues and concerns. The paper describes the method of  construction using Rapidwall  panels  based on construction manual prepared by IIT Madras to suit Indian situation. FACT & RCF,  two  fertiliser giants under public sector  are together   setting up Rapidwall and plaster products manufacturing plant  at Ambalamugal using Rapidwall technologies of Australia called  FACT RCF Building products Ltd. (FRBL).  FACT has about 7 million tons of industrial by product gypsum. By setting up Rapidwall & Plaster products plant, they intend to produce 1.4 million sqm or 15 million sq ft panel per year and about 50000 tons of superior quality  wall plaster and wall putty.  

INTRODUCTION

The threat of climate change caused by the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is pushing the whole world into a catastrophic  crisis situation with universal concern. The need of the 21st century is for energy efficient and eco-friendly products. The building industry accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions.Building construction causes CO2 emissions as a result of embodied energy consumed in the production of energy intensive building materials and also the recurring energy consumption for cooling and heating of indoor environment.

Rapidwall, also called gypcrete  panel  is an energy efficient green building material with huge potential for use as load bearing and non load bearing wall panels. Rapidwall is a large load bearing panel with modular cavities suitable for both external and internal walls. It can also be used as intermediary floor slab/roof slab in combination with RCC as a composite material.  Since the advent of  innovative Rapidwall panel  in 1990 in Australia, it  has been used for buildings ranging from single storey to medium - high rise buildings. Light weighted Rapidwall  has high compressive strength, shearing strength, flexural strength and ductility. It has very high level of resistance to fire, heat, water, termites, rot and corrosion. Concrete infill with vertical reinforcement rods enhances its vertical and lateral load capabilities. Rapidwall buildings are resistant to earthquakes , cyclones and fire.