Abstract

Abstract: The demand for conventional building materials used in the housing sector such as burnt clay bricks, cement and steel is growing every year. Reduction in the use of these energy intensive construction materials and speedy delivery of housing units at affordable cost are the key challenges faced in the mass housing sector today. Buildings using Glass Fibre Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) panels (infilled with reinforced concrete) hold promise as a rapid, affordable and sustainable mass housing solution. GFRG panels were introduced in Australia in 1990 and are now manufactured in India, making reuse of waste gypsum from the fertiliser industry. The panels are made of calcined gypsum, reinforced with glass fibres. They are prefabricated to a size of 12 m length, 3 m height and 124 mm overall thickness (with cavities), and are relatively light-weight (44 kg/m2). Figure 1 shows typical details of the GFRG panels. Some of the advantages of the GFRG system over conventional buildings are: high speed of construction involving less labour, increased carpet area for the same built-up area, reduction in the use of cement, sand, steel and water, excellent finish of the panels with no need for plastering, lesser building weight contributing to reduction in earthquake forces, etc. Buildings constructed of GFRG also have the advantages of cost effectiveness and energy efficiency, in terms of reduced use of energy intensive building materials, and recycled use of industrial waste. Tests have established that the panels have the required resistance to water and fire