Stabilised Soil Blocks (SSB)

What is Stabilised Soil Blocks?

Soil has universally been used as a major building material in form of

mud, adobe, rammed earth and burnt bricks for centuries. However,
when used in any other form other than burnt bricks, such buildings are
short-lived as they easily erode when they come in contact with water.
While burnt bricks are strong and water resistant, they consume a lot of
firewood. In some areas, as many as 20 trees are required to burn the
bricks required to build one classroom. Burning of bricks for permanent
buildings construction is not a viable option as in the long run cause’s
deforestation.
The other option of improving soil qualities to make it suitable for building
permanent building is stabilization with cement as the binding agent.
When a small amount of cement (5-10%) is added into the soil and then
compressed mechanically to make building blocks, the resultant blocks
are water resistant and their compressive strength highly increased
making it strong enough to build buildings up to 3 stories high without
using columns, when using normal blocks that are cemented together
with mortar.
The introduction of Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB) is gradually
revolutionalizing the building industry as the ISSB technology reduces
construction costs as cement mortar is not required to lay the blocks, and
construction time and labor is significantly reduced.

Comparisons between ISSB, Concrete Blocks and Burnt Bricks

Advantages of each technology

ISSB

Main raw material is soil with an

addition of cement

Made with a manually operated

block press
Concrete Blocks
Main raw material is sand and Burnt Bricks
No firing required sometimes gravel with an Main raw material is clay soil and
addition of cement. firewood

There is no wastage in production Requires only a manual hand Equipment required is only a simple
mould hand mould
Fast to build with, and unskilled No firing required Traditional skills are available in
people can learn how to build with
the blocks fast many rural settings

Disadvantages of each technology

ISSB Concrete Blocks Burnt Bricks

Requires specialized design
considerations and columns at
corners and around openings
Consumes a lot of cement
Requires sand and gravel,
some rare materials in some
states of South Sudan
Requires skilled people to build
with them
Compared to ISSB, concrete
blocks takes a longer time to
build
Traditional brick making has 40-50%
wastage
Consumes a lot of firewood to burn
the bricks causing deforestation
Requires skilled people to build with
them
Construction process takes a long
time as the bricks are small, costing
more in terms of labor
Requires a minimum of 2 months to
have them ready for construction