Fire-Resistant EcoBlox Also Insulate Structures

Fire-Resistant EcoBlox Also Insulate Structures Historically Compressed Earth Blocks CEB such as adobe are used for building in hot climates But they’re also a great option in colder climates says Lisa Morey a civil engineer and owner of Colorado Earth Her company makes EcoBlox from sand and clay fines a byproduct of a local granite quarry plus a small amount of hydrated lime for water protection and added strength Regardless of climate its advantages including fire resistance have drawn attention to this alternative building material Morey saw an uptick in interest after a 2021 fire destroyed 991 structures in Boulder Colo During a fire rating test an EcoBlox wall was exposed to a 1 800-degree furnace for eight hours There was no sense of heat on the other side of the 10-in thick wall The only change was slight discoloration and a 1/4-in ceramic-like finish on the outside Morey developed two ways to build with EcoBlox and add an insulating R-value The first was to wrap the building with insulation and add stucco The second method leaves a 3-in cavity between two EcoBlox walls filled with perlite a lightweight naturally occurring volcanic rock that insulates Interior and exterior walls can be plastered or finished however the customer wants The resulting walls have an R-17 value and thermal capacity to store energy The buildings are fire-resistant thanks to their design which avoids external flammable materials and attics They also have closed soffit systems metal roofs and high-performance windows EcoBlox are also resistant to mold bugs and bullets Morey adds Shortly after earning her civil engineering degree while studying architectural design in Auckland Morey met Vince Ogletree an earth builder She worked with him for five years before he died of cancer When she returned to the U S and ended up in Colorado she felt it was the right environment to create compressed earth blocks and set herself apart by making earthen buildings for colder climates EcoBlox come in two sizes: 6 by 12 by 3 1/2 in and 4 by 12 by 3 1/2 in At about 16 lbs they’re lighter and easier to handle than traditional adobe blocks Her business ships anywhere in the U S Morey would like to expand to other regions where EcoBlox can be produced locally Using EcoBlox instead of traditional wood frames adds about 15 percent to the total wall assembly cost However Morey says the long-term benefits of masonry construction often offset this “We need a cultural mind shift My work is focused on advocacy and training on how to work with this material ” she says “That includes educating home builders commercial builders and developers ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Colorado Earth P O Box 17281 Golden Colo 80402 ph 720-556-0473; lisa@ColoradoEarth com; www coloradoearth com

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