Perfected Mud Bricks from Enviro Brix
Mud Bricks Perfected Mud Bricks - Your Natural Building Solution

Envirobrix Mud Bricks

EnviroBrix currently produces two types of mud bricks:

  • puddle bricks
  • pressed bricks

Of these two types of EnviroBrix mud bricks we encourage the use our pressed mud bricks for several reasons. First, the high water content needed to produce puddle bricks increases the chance of shrinkage causing cracking in the surface finish. The second factor is that puddle bricks are not as uniform in shape and size as pressed bricks, therefore making it a bit more difficult to work with.

Pressed mud bricks however are consistent in size and have a much lower water content with only 8% needed in this process. This decision to lean towards the pressed bricks rather than puddle bricks is also based upon our environmental responsibility since only one third of the water consumption is needed to produce pressed bricks. Even though the water used by Envirobrix mud bricks is also largely recycled we don’t want to waste it.

Envirobrix mud bricks are of the highest quality. Standard mud bricks measure 390x250x87 mm in size, the equivalent to four standard house bricks, therefore they are much quicker to lay and by having no cavity the inside walls of your home are completed at the same time as the outside. This eliminates the need for the use of timber frames, gyprock, paint, insulation and cornice. All these savings are important not just in terms of cost, but all these extra items need energy to produce them, and then there is the cost of labour to install it all, that’s why we claim EnviroBrix mud bricks as the ultimate green building products.

EnviroBrix new plant uses approximately 5-6 Kilowatts of energy to produce 1 tonne of mud bricks compared to approximately 900-1100 kilowatts of energy in conventional manufacture of house bricks saving an incredible amount of somewhere between 1.7 and 2.6 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions on every 1.8 tonne pallet supplied. This energy saving means the end product has a low embodied energy. By adding good passive solar design combined with the efficient thermal performance of Envirobrix mud bricks, you will find excellent reductions are made in energy requirements for your project. In fact, less than 1% of well designed homes built with mud bricks choose to install reverse cycle air conditioners for those reasons.

Mud Bricks - Green Building Products from EnviroBrixEnviroBrix has the ultimate new brick plant, arguably the best mud brick plant in the world designed to our detailed specifications with the latest technology available in the industry. It is computer controlled for the highest quality assurance guaranteed and has the capability to produce in excess of 400 mud bricks per hour.

Mobile EnviroBrix Plant

We also have recently upgraded the plant to become a mobile plant therefore now in many cases it’s possible to make Envirobrix mud bricks on your site or close to it, anywhere in Australia and overseas, with the possibility of reclaiming your own soil to make your mud bricks.

Costs can be drastically reduced on landfill fees and with ever increasing fuel prices we can further reduce transport costs to and from your site to a bare minimum.
We currently have offices in NSW, Victoria and Queensland and with increasing demand will be expanding into WA in the very near future.

 

Mud Bricks Performance Summary

 

Appearance

The appearance of mud bricks reflects the material they are made from. They are thus earthy, with colour determined by colour of clays and sands in the mix.

Sound Insulation

A well-built wall using Envirobrix mud bricks has very good sound insulation properties. In fact, it can be almost equivalent to a monolithic masonry structure in its capacity for sound attenuation - around 50 Dba.

Fire and Vermin Resistance

Since earth does not burn, and earth walls do not readily provide habitat for vermin, walls built with EnviroBrix mud bricks have excellent fire and vermin resistance.

Structural Properties

EnviroBrix mud bricks may be used as infill in a timber frame building or for load-bearing walls, although its compressive strength is relatively low. Typically, Australian structures are single or double storey. In the Yemen there are mud brick buildings 8 storeys and more high that have stood for centuries!

Breathability and Toxicity

Mud bricks make “breathable” walls but some brick recipes include bitumen, which potentially results in some out-gassing of hydrocarbons. Ideally earth should be used in its natural state or as near as it can be achieved, as in EnvirbBrix mud bricks.

Thermal Mass “U” Value

Thermal Mass is a term used to describe the ability of a material that is capable of absorbing, storing and emitting the sun’s energy. EnviroBrix mud bricks absorb the sun’s energy during the day and in the evening when the outside temperature cools they emit the heat back into the home, then by morning they are ready to absorb heat again, and the cycle is repeated. Thermal mass helps to reduce energy demands in a home under mild heating and cooling climate conditions, it also helps reduce extreme variations creating a more desirable temperature inside the home all year round.

Design plays a key role in this function to be efficient, thermal mass must be integrated with sound passive design techniques such as:

  • Good insulation in roof and ceiling
  • Planting of deciduous trees on the east and west walls to prevent these walls from absorbing excess heat during the warmer months
  • Wide eaves or a verandah over the north facing side
  • Double glazed windows and doors or the installation of curtains to reduce the transfer of heat

Insulation “R” Value

Contrary to popular belief mud bricks are not good insulators, since they are extremely dense they lack the ability to trap air within their structure. Mud bricks have an “R” value of 0.4 compared to brick veneer which has an “R” rating of 0.46 and double brick 0.56. Therefore it is important to maximize ceiling and floor insulation in mud brick homes as well as loss of heat through the doors and windows. As there is only between 15 and 25% heat moving through the walls, the above areas therefore need to be addressed along with sound passive design techniques.