Autoclaved aerated concrete in construction

The joint tightening of thermal and seismic regulations means that designers have to adapt their construction methods. On the thermal front, the 2012 regulation, in force for homes since January 1 ^er 2013, imposes performance requirements:

• on the building's overall energy consumption;

• on the quality of system installation, through more rigorous control of the airtightness of the building;

• on the treatment of thermal bridges in buildings.

In terms of seismic engineering, improved knowledge of active faults in the earth's crust, with the integration of a new French zoning map as of 1 ^er may 2011, and the introduction of Eurocode dimensioning standards, in particular Eurocode 8 for earthquake engineering, mandatory as of 1 ^er january 2014, will require greater design vigilance, because of the novelties compared with current habits.

Optimizing the sometimes contradictory trade-off between thermal and seismic performance has prompted construction professionals to discover, or rediscover, systems such as those offered by cellular concrete. Indeed, this construction method provides real answers to these new regulatory requirements.

The aim of this article is to present this material through its history, manufacture, technical performance and products.