Author
W.G.J. BERKERS Research Centre for the Dutch Calcium Silicate Brick Industry

Abstract
Until the Seventies the Dutch calcium silicate brick industry produced bricks and small blocks. It was then realised that bricklaying would lose competitiveness as a construction method due to high labour intensiveness and unfavourable workplace conditions. An extensive research programme was initiated to develop a construction system using large calcium silicate (sand-lime) elements and thin layer mortar and including mechanical equipment for handling elements to construct walls on site. Now more than 50% of newly built houses in The Netherlands use the system. An overview is given of the development, the delivery and building process and some test results which show excellent performance.