The recycled polystyrene has been used as insulation in the concrete blocks. Picture: Supplied
The project will be undertaken by construction company Greenlite Concrete. The recycled expanded polystyrene has already been used in the production of 20,000 Greenlite Concrete blocks. According to Hilton Cowie, technical director of Greenlite Concrete, the developers were amazed at how quick and easy it was for them to build the walls using Greenlite blocks. “Because these blocks are lightweight, they are easy to move around the site and the engineers saved weight loading onto the suspended concrete slabs,” he said. Construction is already underway and the mall, which is expected to open its doors at the end of September this year. The mall, which is 65 000 m², is located on a 20 hectare site on the corner of the R27 (West Coast Road) and Berkshire Boulevard.
Eco-friendly insulation
Vivid Architects/Group Five Construction contractors are at the helm of the project. Greenlight Concrete blocks were specified for use primarily on the fire escape passages as the product has an excellent fire rating.
Cowie said that with climate change looming and the rising cost of energy, building contractors are looking at sustainable building options.
“Over the past 18 years, we have been involved in the manufacturing and installing of Alternative Building Technologies,” he said. “We were looking for a more environmentally friendly way of implementing our insulated building systems, when we started experimenting with recycled polystyrene as the basis for our energy efficient walling systems.”
Greenlite Concrete
Greenlite’s Insulated Concrete is the culmination of more than 18 years’ of experience and research. The blocks consist of recycled polystyrene which is used as a lightweight aggregate mixed with cement and additives to form insulated, soundproof, fireproof, water-resistant lightweight concrete blocks and screeds. These blocks have already been used in various large, commercial projects such as the Trumpet Towers in Johannesburg, the BMW Pavilion and Zeits Museum in the V&A Waterfront, Baywest Mall in Port Elizabeth and the Gautrain Station in Sandton. “These blocks are proving invaluable to the construction industry where clients and contractors are able to reduce their structural concrete and steel requirements due to the lightweight nature of the walls,” the company said. It added that the highly insulated walls also offer the added benefit of further energy savings to the client over the lifespan of the building.
On-site recycling
Greenlite Concrete accepts any form of polystyrene for recycling on their premises and is willing to assist in arranging the collection of large quantities of polystyrene. “We recycle and use the polystyrene faster than we can get our hands on it,” Cowie said. “Builders Warehouse are now also exclusive stockists of our various sized jumbo blocks and screeds, creating an even greater demand for polystyrene that we can use.” SEO:
