The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 'Micro-concrete tiles cheaper, durable alternative to thatches'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

'Micro-concrete tiles cheaper, durable alternative to thatches'

By K. Raju

Models of roof on display at a technology park in the Gandhigram Rural Institute at Gandhigram, near Dindigul.

DINDIGUL, JULY 22. As administrators of private aided and government schools are looking at alternatives to thatched structures following the Kumbakonam tragedy, the Gandhigram Rural Institute has come up with a cost-effective technology for manufacture of fireproof, non-polluting and durable micro-concrete roofing tiles.

With its expertise in cost-effective housing project, the Rural Technology Centre, a unit of GRI, has developed bricks, solid and hollow concrete blocks, sand lime bricks, reinforced concrete folded plate roof without compromising on quality and strength.

To reduce costs, polluting waste is recycled for making pre cast-structures.

The main raw materials used for manufacture of roof tiles are crushed stone waste, cement and sand.

Cost-effective

The Rural Technology Centre Director, R. Udhayakumar says the main aim is to effect savings without compromising on durability, comfort and elegance of the building structure.

"Though these technologies are often termed low-cost, they are not low in quality. Conventional building technologies such as burnt bricks, steel and cement are high in cost and utilise a large amount of non-renewable natural resources such as minerals, topsoil and forest cover.

Micro-concrete roofing tiles (MCRT) are an alternative to Mangalore tiles or asbestos sheets.

The cost of a Mangalore tile is Rs.5-6, while the production cost of a MCRT is around Rs. 3. Mass production will cut costs further. These are fire, termite and waterproof.

Also, area coverage is also more. The cost of a coconut leaf thatched structure is Rs.60 per square foot. An MCRT roof costs the same.

An asbestos roof costs Rs.110 per square foot and a Mangalore tile roof Rs. 85. MCRT could be cut to any size. Glass could be fixed at the time of casting.

Mason training

What the mason requires is meticulous planning before casting tiles. These structures are made as per the guidelines of the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkie and Building Materials Testing and Promoting Council.

The GRI has been imparting mason training to women members of Self-help groups using low-cost technologies.

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