Only the undemanding builder does not see difference between foam concrete and gas concrete. Meanwhile, at individual housing construction the choice of building material is one of the major. The decision in favor of any given material influences the base bid and also its technical characteristics.
Structure and methods of production
By production of gas concrete the chemical additives creating foam that does it by more eco-friendly construction material are not applied. Chemical reaction is created by aluminum paste or powder. In turn, foam concrete block is made with application of the chemical compounds which are making foam concrete mix.
Important and how blocks are made. Foam concrete block is filled in in special forms or in timbering. The gas-block is also filled in in forms, but until full hardening is cut by special strings on necessary fragments. Thus, ideally plain surface of the block is reached that reduces risk of emergence of bridges of cold at construction.
Durability
There is opinion that foam concrete block and the gas-block have identical strength indices, however it not so. Both the gas concrete and foam concrete can have various density reaching up to 1200 kg/m3. Density of foam concrete block will depend on the chemical additives applied by production. However the lack of laboratory control often pushes unfair producers to use of the cheap additives which are not providing due density.
Completion phase of creation of gas concrete – autoclaving. At the same time there is hardening and the crystal grid corresponding to minerals is formed. At the expense of it the record durability of gas concrete is reached.
Quality assessment
The gas concrete in itself is product of industrial production which cannot be made out of the plant. The gas concrete demands deep process automation and observance of requirements of state standard specification. At emergence of doubts, laboratory tests therefore if necessary it is possible to check compliance of batch of gas-blocks to the existing requirements are carried out.
Foam concrete blocks are exposed to compliance assessment much worse. Their production is not certified and can be made in the handicraft way.
Cost
Perhaps, the only competitive advantage of foam concrete blocks – low cost. It is reached at the expense of insignificant costs of production. If the plant on production of the gas-block demands the organization of the automated line and laboratory control, then foam concrete block can be produced by unskilled workers from rather not expensive initial materials.