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AAC in the USA – A second look
Author(s) -
Fouad Fouad H.,
Schoch Torsten
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ce/papers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2509-7075
DOI - 10.1002/cepa.902
Subject(s) - redevelopment , engineering , architectural engineering , technical communication , engineering management , civil engineering , electrical engineering
Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) made its first debut in the USA in the late 1980s. The new material rapidly attracted the attention of engineers, developers, and the construction industry due to its inherent excellent physical and mechanical properties as well as the ability to be treated similar to wood during construction. Hebel from Germany followed by Ytong came to the USA in the 1990s to setup the first manufacturing plants there. Although both companies have been well established in Europe and had a long history of technical expertise and innovations, they were faced with the problems of verification and redevelopment of most of their technical information for the U.S. market. This paper provides a review of technical developments in the USA that were undertaken to establish AAC as a new construction material and gain the acceptance of both the engineering community and the construction industry. Technical committee activities, standards, and design documents developed specifically for AAC in the USA, based on intensive research programs at key universities in the USA, are discussed. Despite the technical advances in the USA, several market barriers have slowed the progress of AAC. Thoughts are provided with a brief overview of the current and future of AAC in the USA.