The Use of Cattail Material in Building Construction ...

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The Use of Cattail Material in Building Construction – Innovative Technological Development, Environmental Relevance and Examples of Application.

G. Georgiev M. Krus W. Theuerkorn

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Innovative Technological Development

Advantages of Cattail (Typha) for Building Materials : Very special leaf texture with + Sponge-like tissue with low thermal conductiv ity ≈ 0.032 W/mK + structure with extreme high compress ive strength + reet-plant with high natural microbiological res istance (no biozide necessary) + low inflammability Development of Building Materials

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Innovative Technological Development

Development Process : • Selection of suited species

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Innovative Technological Development

Development Process : • Selection of suited species

• Design of a building material combining all positive properties of Typha Magnesite–Bound Building Board

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Innovative Technological Development

Development Process : • Selection of suited species

• Design of a building material combining all positive properties of Typha Magnesite–Bound Building Board

• Layout of a first manufacturing process

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For example: heat conductivity

Innovative Technological Development

Development Process : • Selection of suited species

• Design of a building material combining all positive properties of Typha Magnesite–Bound Building Board

• Layout of a manufacturing process

• Optimization of the Material properties

Bulk Density [kg/m³]

Heat

Co

nd

uct

ivit

y [W

/K*m

]

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Innovative Technological Development

Advantages of the Magnesite–Bond Typha Board :

• High Compress ive Strength at low heat conductiv ity ( ≈ 0.052 W/mK)

• good acoustical and fire protection properties

• high heat capacity (Heat protection in Summertime)

• medium diffus ion res istance

• capillary active

• good workability with common tools

• eas ily accepted for cultural heritage

• 100 % compostable

• low energy input for production

• high sustainability

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Environmental Relevance and cultivation

• Prevention of CO2-loss of fens by soil wetness (renaturation) (Part of the total CO2-emiss ion of Germany ca. 4%)

• Bond of CO2 and other greenhouse- gases with ist cultivation in fens (ca. 1.2 million ha in Germany)

• Cleaning of nutrient polluted surface water X X X X

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Environmental Relevance and cultivation

• Prevention of CO2-loss of fens by soil wetness (renaturation) (Part of the total CO2-emiss ion of Germany ca. 4%)

• Bond of CO2 and other greenhouse- gases with ist cultivation in fens (ca. 1.2 million ha in Germany)

• Cleaning of nutrient polluted surface water

• Spread of fen typical species of animals

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Environmental Relevance and cultivation

• Poss ibility for a sustainable husbandry of fens and riparian zones

• high agricultural crop (15-20 t/ha)

• after 2 years harvesting poss ible

• harvest in wintertime (advantage for farmer and fen animals)

• combination with fish farming

• Rhizomes suited for animal feed

• No competition to food production

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Typha insulation board lifecycle

Planting / cultivation

Harvesting

Raw material

processing

Building materials

production Historic

buildings preservation / new building

Building use

Building renovation/ demolition

Material reuse / recycliing /

fuel / composting

Typha building

materials lifecycle

Completed building material lifecycle of the typha insulation boards

Low , but local cultivation and harvesting costs

Short transport distances: perirural to urban areas

Long life on the building site

Low renovation costs

Low building costs when used from more planners, builders etc.

Possibility to be used as a fuel for local district heating systems, as well as 100% compostable

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Typha product lifecycle

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Reference object: Complete restoration of a half-timber framed house in Nürnberg, Germany

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Reference object: Complete restoration of a half-timber framed house in Nürnberg, Germany

After Before

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Reference object: Restoration of a half-timber framed house in Nürnberg, Germany Fachwerk building in a high-density inner

city area

Mainly built in the 17. century

North-South orientation

Asymmetric roof and facade construction with unstable elements

Problematic constructional reinforcement

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Wall construction

Construction in the under-parapet area Heating system only in this area! CaCO3 – Plaster Infilling Typha Chipboards Inner insulation Typha insulation panels 2-layer clay plaster Integrated wall heating system Finish clay plaster

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Renovation of a half-timbered house in Nürnberg

Examples of Application

• Very bad condition of the framework with statical problems energetical measures in combination with stiffening measures necessary Magnesite-Bond Typha-Board

• Insulation within the stud and additional inside insulation

• monitoring of relevant parameters no moisture problems

Wo

od

mo

istu

re [

M.-

%]

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Reference: Restoration of a half-timber framed house in Nürnberg, Germany Project partners

Typha Technik Natural building materials

Old Town Friends Nürnberg Citizen‘s Community

DBU German Federal Environment Foundation

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Renovation of a half-timbered house in Nürnberg

Examples of Application

• Very bad condition of the framework with statical problems energetical measures in combination with stiffening measures necessary Magnesite-Bond Typha-Board

• Insulation within the stud and additional inside insulation

• monitoring of relevant parameters no moisture problems

• U-Value of 0.35 W/m²K with a wall thickness of 20 cm !

House-warming Party 2012

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Sauna House near Lake Constance

Examples of Application

• wooden frame construction (4.3 m raster!) • outer walls, inner walls and roof with Magnesite–Bond Typha Boards • fulfills all requirements concerning fire and acoustics

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Reference object: energetic optimization of five living blocks in the Frankenberger Quarter in Aachen (STUDY)

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1910

1860

1945

1980

1950

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„Gründerzeit“ building structures – clear geometrical urban settlement structures from 19./20. century, high building mass.

Innovative power supply options – a complex sustainable concept for the whole district

Canalization heat

District heating

Geothermy

Solar energy

Building insulation

For every option – one example block chosen

If the power source is unsufficient, there are combinations possible.

The Frankenberger Quarter in Aachen

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The Frankenberger Quarter in Aachen

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Canalization heat

District heating

Geothermy

Solar energy

Typha insulation

The Frankenberger Quarter in Aachen Innovative power supply options

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The Frankenberger Quarter in Aachen Local decentral development concept

Typha cultivation • Urban agriculture – reduction of the green gas air concentration • Cool summer local climate • Natural moisture control • Spare time place for all generations of citizens • Typha raw material for the local Typha-board production • Decentral urban development

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Summary and Outlook

• Development of a innovative building material with multiple positive properties • High environmental advantages with the cultivation of cattail

• numerous additional products in development: - Sandwich elements with extreme bending stiffness

(floors, window falls..)

looking for an investor to develop an effective industrial process and for possibilities to cultivate Typha in Germany !!

- Door leaves

- Substitution for wood (roof beams)

- Molded installation boards - Building blocks - Armoring of plaster (see presentation of Georgi Georgiev)

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What will our future look like? We already know that we cannot build a future that

retains continuity with our present, because the planet‘s resources are dwindling

much faster than the time we allow them to regenerate…

The present state of the planet raises questions brought about by investement in

industry (in all societies, to varying degrees) is now drawing to ist close. Exploitation

of natural and human resources all over the world, the erosion of biodiversity, the

multiplicity of markets (some of which are monopolies), the capitalisation by private

individuals of the planet‘s resources, the reinforcement of hierarchical systems for

making societies function – these are all typical aspects of the modern world and of

the situation we have got ourselves into… Luc Schuiten, Vegetal City, Wavre 2009

A concept for the solution of this problem complex :

Decentral spatial (urban and rural) development

Local goods in the everyday life

Short transport distances for people and goods

Sustainable land and water use

Typha as an important element of such an innovative development concept

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For additional Information:

Please visit http://www.dbu.de/media/071010104726i7lk.PDF

or http://www.dbu.de/index.php?menuecms=123&objektid=27276&menuecms_optik=341

Or http://www.woche-der-umwelt.de/123artikel24803_1025.html

or http://www.typhatechnik.com/

and contact us under [email protected]

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