Advantages:
1) Build Quality
SSB allows users to produce uniform blocks of greater strength than typical fired blocks that provide better thermal insulation.
2) Financial:
The total cost of building a structure with SSB is 20%-30% cheaper than building with fired bricks because far less mortar is required,
structures don’t have to be plastered, and bricks can be made on site so transportation costs are minimized.
3) Environmental:
Because SSBs are cured in the sun, the need for fuel wood is eliminated, helping curb deforestation rates.
4) Appearance:
The bricks have an appealing aesthetic with an elegant profile and uniform size that doesn’t require plastering.
1) Soil selection
A site evaluation has to be carried out to make sure you have suitable soil for brick making. A number of cheap
and easy tests have been created to effectively test soil quality. You are looking for sub-soil with few stones of
a fine quality.
2) Stabilisation & Mix Preparation
First the soil must be sieved to remove foreign elements from the soil. Then the soil must be mixed with a
stabiliser to maximise strength – usually cement, but lime can also be used. The stabiliser must be thoroughly
mixed with the soil and then water added.
3) Compaction
The soil mixture then needs to be compacted to ensure strength and quality. Generally a manual hand press is used. The bricks need to
be carefully removed from the mould and stacked correctly.
4) Curing
The bricks are then left in the sun to cure (no firewood needed!) and water is sprinkled to aid curing. The bricks must then be stored
correctly, often under sheeting, awaiting transportation.