Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB)
Soil has universally been used as a major building material in form of mud, adobe, rammed earth and burnt bricks for centuries. However, when used in any other form other than burnt bricks, such buildings are short-lived as they easily erode when they come in contact with water
While burnt bricks are strong and water resistant, they consume a lot of firewood. In some areas, as many as 20 trees are required to burn the bricks required to build one classroom. Burning of bricks for permanent buildings construction is not a viable option as in the long run cause’s deforestation
The other option of improving soil qualities to make it suitable for building permanent building is stabilization with cement as the binding agent. When a small amount of cement (5-10%) is added into the soil and then compressed mechanically to make building blocks, the resultant blocks are water resistant and their compressive strength highly increased making it strong enough to build buildings up to 3 stories high without using columns, when using normal blocks that are cemented together with mortar
The introduction of Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB) is gradually revolutionalizing the building industry as the ISSB technology reduces construction costs as cement mortar is not required to lay the blocks, and construction time and labor is significantly reduced