Bovedilla
Bovedilla is a lightening and support element in the beam and block building system; it is a semi-block made of expanded polystyrene, and it is sliced to a shape and size suitable for most types of beams and semi-beams and for the building of one-way slabs, achieving a system of excellent structural, thermal, acoustic, and economic properties.
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What are the insulating properties of the block and beam slab?
Even though the main characteristics of the block and beam slab are its building speed, low cost, savings in the use of supports and little need of specialized labor that it requires compared to the solid slab system, it can be considered that the beam and block system can eliminate up to an 87% of the thermal bridges of any given slab. This results in a lower interior temperature. However, it is important to note that even though the system reduces the interior temperature, it cannot be considered a 100% insulated slab since it still has thermal bridges that make an integral insulating system necessary, just as described in the following question.
How can the thermal bridge from the beam and block system be eliminated?
1) By completely insulating the building's roof, including the slab's perimeter.
2) Provide the beam and block with a border (lower side of the beam) capable of reducing the heat going through the beam.
Why does the beam and block system make little noises?
Due to the distinctive properties of these two materials, (cement and polystyrene) the beam expands during the day because of the great amount of heat generated. At night, the beam and the compression layer cool down, starting a contraction process due to temperature, which results in some noises; however, this does not represent any kind of risks. These noises can be prevented by insulating the slabs.
Why do fissures appear on the beam's way and how can they be prevented?
The system is composed of two heterogeneous materials from different processes and they do not mix, but one complements the other one, which results in cold joints on each of these two materials; as explained in the previous question, the expansion and contraction effect is present in this situation. One way to minimize it is to place an adhesive between the bonding material, placing a mesh strip that will reduce this problem, integrating and joining both materials to seal this joint, and finally, the beam can be insulated in its upper side (indoors).
They appear because of the changes in volume. For finishes with a plaster base, it is recommended to place a fiber glass mesh strip to cover the joints between beams and blocks, which reduces the probability of fissures.
What is the beam's support in the different wall systems?
The wall's center, or at least 4 cm.
What is a beam and what are the kinds of beams that can be used?
A beam is an amble component for the system's resistance, made up of concrete and/or steel, and can be of solid concrete stems, or of open stems.
What are the advantages of building with polystyrene beams and blocks instead of using concrete slabs?
The main advantages are: its low-cost, light-weight, heat insulating properties, shortened working times, does not required specialized labor, requires less support and less concrete.
Are there any recommendations when installing or building?
Always place the correct quantity of beams in your shoring.
Only walk over the beams and planks.
When straining, never pour the concrete directly, always do it over the beam or the plank.
