Qatar improving sustainability with ‘Smart Block’

UK transport and mobility firm Transport Research Laboratory and Qatar’s Ministry of Municipalities and Environment have announced that a new building block, VegeBlock has been designed to help increase sustainability across the country’s construction segment.

Focus has previously been placed on the use of locally available recycled and secondary aggregates as opposed to imported primary aggregates.

The blocks were developed from small scale samples produced in laboratories and use materials and techniques specifically suited to the region.

The Vegeblock is manufactured in a way that is not that different from conventional concrete blocks, except that they are cured at higher temperatures for longer periods, the block is composed entirely of recycled aggregates. With similar properties to low strength concrete, the product is sustainable for use as non-load bearing blocks in building.

The carbon footprint and the cost of production of VegeBlock will be significantly lower than that of conventional concrete blocks being used as a result of using recycled materials and avoiding the use of cement.

By reusing materials that might otherwise be disposed of as waste and avoiding the import of the aggregates and cement that are used in conventional concrete building blocks, the VegeBlock contributes to sustainable development and the implementation of the green construction concept.

With strength and durability properties similar to non-load bearing concrete blocks, the VegeBlock does not require the use of cement, water or imported aggregates.