ACC pioneered India’s first commercial Ready Mixed Concrete (RMX) plant in Mumbai in 1994. This concrete has since been a growing product to suit varying demands. The various versions are prepared keeping in mind the ease in process required to suit mega infrastructure projects, says Anil Banchor, Chief Executive, ACC Concrete-Business. ACC’s ‘Thermalcrete’ and ‘Permecrete’ are engineered to enhance quality in construction parameters. Anil Banchor speaks to The Hindu Habitat on these products that open up more choices in designing structures.
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What are the features of Thermalcrete and how is it different from the thermal coats/paints available in the market? Is it the first-of-its-kind product?
The product, designed for thermal comfort,is long lasting and unlike thermal coats and paints does not require replacement as it is highly durable. Moreover the principle of thermal coats and paints in resisting heat is different from ACC Thermalcrete. The coatings reflect heat, whereas Thermalcrete acts like an insulation and creates a lag in transmission of heat as compared to normal concrete. This is not a first-of-its kind product. It has found its place in many constructions, but a commercial offering is brought out to create awareness among the construction fraternity. People can get more choices in designing structures that require lesser energy consumption for cooling or heating structures. Since ACC Thermalcrete acts as an insulator it reduces the additional cooling/heating requirements of interiors.
Since the density is lesser then the normal concrete, weight added to the building on its roof need not be a worrying factor, isn’t it? Can existing buildings go for it?
Exactly. Thermal concrete has a density less than that of water, and I don’t foresee any need of additional strength for the structure that carries it. Also, most structures are designed with a heavy safety factor, thus existing structures also can incorporate this in their structures.
For how many years can the comfort be felt inside? How long does the effect endure?
This is a durable product and can last at least for 30 years, provided it is not loaded with heavy loads/machines/abrasive activities etc.
Be it for industry or residences, why would you recommend Thermalcrete for partition walls? Would it be economical compared to normal concrete walls?
Compared to normal concrete walls, which would then be treated to give heat insulation, the price of ACC Thermalcrete would work out very economical.
How ‘green’ is the product? Would green buildings benefit from it?
The product, provided by Transit Mixers, can reduce the energy required to cool or heat a room by virtue of its property to act like insulation. Also the embedded energy in this product is much less as compared to a normal masonry wall. All these make Thermalcrete a green product against normal construction materials.
Any other value-added product from ACC Concrete, especially for the monsoon?
We have ACC Permecrete – self water-draining concrete. The high-performance concrete is porous within its body to permit water drainage to lower surface, the large pores present in the no-fines concrete allow easy drainage into the ground under appropriate conditions. It helps keep the area dry and clean and prevents polluted water from entering our streams. It enables more efficient land developments, by making it possible for integrated land utilisation for water retention and drainage with more active use, such as parking lots, pedestrian ways, etc. It carries technical benefits, and permits alteration and additions on the structural members with minimum possible dead loads.
It can be used for internal partition walls in domestic buildings and in filling panels in framed structures. There are precautions to be taken during application as moist curing is important, especially in a dry climate or under sandy conditions.
