No_4_April_1968 — Page 37

NEW TECHNIQUES

LOAD BEARING PLASTIC BRICK

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ANY companies in South East Asia, including four from Tai- wan, have made licensee applications for a new building material which is claimed by its makers to be “a real challenger to the commonplace clay brick."

Developed by the British company, Inca Construction Co. (UK) Ltd.. Stokenchurch, Bucks., the new bricks need no mortar or cement. They are made of p.v.c. and contain a special filler material to increase impact strength.

The bricks, called Incabricks, in- terlock together to make a load- bearing wall that needs no damp course and is fire resistant and heat

retaining. Needing no drying out nor lintels, the wall is accurate to a frac- tion of an inch which enables door and window fittings to be prepared to fine tolerances.

Cavity walls are not necessary since the bricks are hollow and electrical wiring or plumbing can be dropped through them. They can be produced to any pattern to represent a clay brick or timber. or they may be translucent or clear. In the latter form they may be built directly into walling without the need for any frame or slowing down in output.

For added strength the bricks may be filled with reinforced concrete at load bearing points or used with a

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Top right: Nine three-cell Incabricks built into column which may be reinforced

Left: Corner section of Incabrick walling

steel frame. Sand, ash or heat retain- ing materials may also be used as fill. A standard brick measures 12in. x 4in. x 4in. and weighs 123⁄44 ounces. This is the three module brick; one and two module are also available.

High Speed Laying

The bottom course is set in con- crete with steel rods internally. Subesequently two more courses are filled with concrete and from that level Incabricks can be laid at a rate of up to 800 an hour. In Britain a bungalow without internal walls was constructed complete in 12 hours by two men and a team of decorators.

The cost of an Incabrick in Britain is 1s. 9d. to 2s., while the cost per square yard is between 47s. and $4s. on housing standard brickwork.

Inventor of the Inca system is Mr. Geoffrey Hern, 47, an architect and civil engineer. He is soon to visit South East Asia to meet prospective licensees.

Far East BUILDER, April 1968.

Below left: Pitched roof building erected in 12 hours. It carries a tradi- tional roof weighing about 10 tons in trusses and concrete tiles

Below right: Interior of Incabrick bungalow show- ing roof trusses and win- dow and door fittings

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