A compressed earth block (CEB), also known as a pressed earth block or a compressed soil block, is a building material made primarily from damp soil compressed at high pressure to form blocks.

1. Compressed
Earth Block
Prepared by:
Aditya Shah (M.Tech CPM)

2. Introduction
•The new development of earth construction really started in the nineteen fifties, with
the technology of the Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB).
•Since then, considerable scientific researches has been carried out by laboratories.
•Since 1960 – 1970, Africa has seen the widest world development for CSEB.
•India developed CSEB technology only in the nineteen eighty’s, but sees today a
wider dissemination and development of CSEB.

3. Earth Architecture in the world an old
tradition
•Since ages raw earth has been used all over the world as a building material to
achieve amazingly long lasting buildings.
•There is hardly any continent or country which does not have numerous examples
of earth construction.

4. Statistics from UNCHS(United Nations Commission on Human Settlements) show
that:
40 % of the world population lives in earthen dwellings.
25 % of the world population does not have access to decent housing.

5. Statistics from the heritage lists of UNESCO show that:
15 % of the “world cultural heritage” is built with earth
25 % of the “world heritage in danger” is built with earth
14 % of the “100 most endangered world heritage” is built with
earth

6. •The oldest earthen building can still be seen in Egypt, near Luxor, which was built
around 1300 BC.
•In Saudi Arabia, people were used to build with earth since very ancient times.

7. What are Compressed Earth Blocks?
Soil!
Soil with 12-
25% clay
can be mixed
with sand or
sandier soil to
get a successful
mix.
frequently
obtained from
the ground at
the building site

8. How it is made?
•The soil, raw or stabilized, for a compressed earth block is slightly moistened, poured
into a steel press (with or without stabilizer) and then compressed either with a
manual or motorized press.
•The input of soil stabilization has made it possible to build higher with thinner walls,
which have a much better compressive strength and water resistance.

11. What is the difference between stabilized
and unstabilized earth blocks?
adding a small
amount of lime
and/or cement
Generally 4-10%
water resistant
the blocks
must be cured
for four weeks
after
manufacturing.

12. Soil suitability and stabilization for CSEB
•A soil contains four components: gravel, sand, silt and clay.
•In concrete, the binder of gravel and sand is cement. In a soil, the binder is silt & clay.
But silt and clay are not stable in water.
•Thus, the aim of stabilization is to stabilize silt and clay against water, so as to give
lasting properties with the minimum of maintenance.

13. Good soil Gravel 15 % Sand 50 % Silt 15 % Clay 20 %
A good soil for CSEB is more sandy than clayey.

14. Energy Effectiveness
•Producing
compressed earth
blocks requires
about 1% of the
energy needed
to produce a
building brick.
•Only 1 liter of
diesel is needed to
produce 145
earth blocks,
making it an
energy-saving
production
process with
minimum
CO2 emissions.
•Building a m² of
masonry with
CSEB consumes 5
times less
energy than a m²
of wire cut bricks
masonry and 15
times less than
country fired
bricks!

15. Ecological comparison of building
materials
Energy consumption
4.9 times
less than wire
cut bricks
15.1 times
less than
country fired
bricks

16. Pollution emission
2.4 times
less than wire
cut bricks
7.9 times less
than fired bricks

17. POLLUTION EMISSION (Kg of CO2) PER M3
OF WALL
CSEB wall = 56.79 Kg / m3
Kiln Fired Brick (KFB) = 230.06 Kg / m3
Fired Brick (CFB) = 547.30 Kg / m3

18. Cost effectiveness
•Cost is too often limited only to the monetary value.
Cubic meter of CSEB is around 30.6 % cheaper than a
cubic meter of fired bricks.

19. Cost Effectiveness
•CSEB are generally cheaper than fired bricks
•This will vary from place to place and specially according to the
cement cost.
•The cost break down of a 5 % stabilised block will depend on the
local context.

20. Why Compressed Earth Blocks?
Environmentally
sound
An adapted
materialA local material

21. A job creation
opportunity
Market
opportunity
Limiting
deforestation

22. Reducing
imports
Social
acceptance
Cost efficiency

23. Six production stages
Preparation (Digging + Sieving)
Measuring
Mixing (dry + wet)
Pressing
Initial curing and first stacking
Final curing and stacking
2 to 4 people
1 people
1 people
2 people
2 people
3 people
11 to 13 people
The details are given for an
Auram Press 3000 which can
produces 1000 blocks per day

25. Are these structures strong?
Yes
Both stabilized and unstabilized CEBs are appropriate
for buildings
The durability of a CEB building will allow it to last for
centuries! Ancient earthen structures still stand today
in many parts of the world.
CEBs have proven to be waterproof, fireproof,
bug proof, and with bamboo or rebar
reinforcement, these structures can be built to resist
earthquake damage in seismic zones. CEBs are an
incredible building material.

26. References
•A case study of Compressed stabilized earth block technology, Satprem maini, director
of the auroville earth institute.
•www.auroville.com

27. THANK YOU