The Smart Brick, which has been developed by Kite Bricks, uses a similar concept to that used in Lego blocks – the bricks can easily be connected via rows of knobs along their tops that correspond to matching holes at their base.
The bricks have been specifically designed not only to allow for insulation and infrastructure elements such as piping and support beams to be run through them but also to allow easy access to these elements through a removable panel in each brick, removing the need to break through floors or walls for repairs.
Each brick is made of high strength concrete that is built to withstand earthquakes and weather-related stresses, and the method of its composition reduces the need for natural materials such as sand, the supply of which has been diminishing in recent years.
Finding a concrete formula that was “light and strong like steel” was one of the more challenging aspects of developing the brick for Kite Bricks founder Ronnie Zohar, according to a report by Wired.co.uk.
The bricks also help to reduce the amount of cement used; they are joined using a special adhesive that works similarly to double-sided sticky tape instead of with mortar.
Energy cost savings
Zohar reportedly took three years to turn the concept into a reality. The initial idea came from Zohar’s other company which offers additional insulation through application of a film layer on windows.
“I realised that windows in the building are a small part of the heat problem,” he explained. “Most of the problem is the concrete with the steel inside that gets hot or cold.”
Zohar’s Smart Brick is said to address this issue, offering building owners significant energy cost savings and a reduced energy footprint due to the brick’s ability to redirect heat in the summer and trap it during winter.
It is also believed the product could reduce building costs by 50 per cent, allow for construction with very little debris left at the building site, significantly minimise construction noise and remove the need for scaffolding and cranes.
“I’d like people in Africa and other places in the world to be able to build with our brick and get a thermally-insulated house using the same money they would have spent on tin,” Zohar explained to Wired.co.uk.
While the Smart Brick construction system is currently pending US patents, Zohar is still reportedly seeking approximately $USD3 million ($AUD3.2 m) in funding before the product can become commercially available.
The Kite Bricks website states: “While we anticipate choosing certain markets for initial block penetration, we do believe that the block will find acceptance throughout the world.”