Sandbag Houses

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

MMA Architects

Manufacturing/Building Method

To construct the walls for the Sandbag House, sandbags are assembled inside timber frames and then plastered over, with strong wire attached to the corner section.

Intellectural Property Type

Open Source

User Provision Model

Design is open-source and building materials are local

Distributions to Date Status

10 houses

Design Specifications

Each Sandbag House unit takes 3500 sandbags to build, with the sand is providing fireproofing, waterproofing, and soundproofing. The walls are made of sandbags in-fills between Eco-beam frames, with a plaster applied over a wire mesh as a wall finish. The Eco-beam frames are made in a Cape Town factory and transported to the building site.

Technical Support

Technical support on the use of this technology is available from Ecobeam International.

Replacement Components

None

Lifecycle

Unknown

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

This construction method targets low costs of construction and sustainable appropriate technological transfers.

Vetted Performance Status

Unknown

Safety

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary Technical Systems

The sandbag construction is designed to operate along with eco-beams.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

The product is certified by Agrement South Africa the South African Bureau of Standards and the National Home Builders Registration Council.

Other Information

The building technology is certified under Agrément Certificate #2011/398.