Introduction to Rhino Greenbuilding

Rhino Green Building is a Port Elizabeth based Company specializing in innovative alternative building techniques and materials, operating country wide. RGB was born from the Rhino Group constructing House Rhino showcasing all the Group has to offer in one building creating a 100% self sustaining building incorporating energy, water, all effluent treatment on site together with many products, systems and finishes.

Rhino Green Building believes it has an important role to play in the alternative construction options together with industry. The company is continuously developing and a key aspect to its growth is innovation and the ability to adapt and meet the changing construction environment.

Alternative building methods in the Industry

Reasons why change is required

New National Building Regulations SANS10400 XA forcing change and creating energy efficient buildings. (Improved Insulation)

Design of buildings creating improved habitability and the use of more efficient materials passive elements and combinations of both.

Cost of construction driving change with the likes of light weight concrete and other new innovative materials and methods speeding up construction and lowering ultimate costs.

Environmental impact where waste on a construction site is measured. Light weight concrete walling assists by limiting wastage on site, all waste taken off site is lighter and easier to transport and can be recycled and re-used back into product.

Health & Safety is improved due to speed of construction reducing time spent working at heights as well as ergonomics being improved with artisans and labor working with lighter materials.

Recyclability of waste as well as potential to manufacture product from high quality industrial waste product that would otherwise go to the landfill creating a very green end product.

Fear of the unknown normally is a major factor creating resistance and complacency.

Contractors and Industry not understanding why materials and or systems have been specified and how to implement them creates potential quality problems.

It is human nature to feel more comfortable continuing with what you know best and avoiding the need to face challenges and training of staff that could be required with new alternative building methods.

The possibility that one has had a bad experience in the past that will influence negativity towards change and what is perceived to be the unknown.

Reasons for resistance to change

The responsibility to create a favorable environment for alternative building methods lies with industry as a whole, starting with the client through to the designer and ultimately through to the contractor.

The more alternative building methods are being implemented into the market place and institutions of higher learning are including into the training of future generations, the better perception will become and they wont be foreign but more recognizable methods.

Progress is ultimately driven by economics and with costs of energy and water as well as environmental issues World Wide being highlighted including our own Country, the more apparent the need for change helps to speed up progress.

Adaption and progress

Rhino Greenbuilding in the alternative building industry

Evolution

The construction of House Rhino using (ICF) insulated concrete forms as a building system was the starting point creating a building with high insulation properties. The Aruba system was used as a styrene block built and then filled with 15mpa concrete to form the walls.

ICF is used around the world but with it being foreign and plastering not being conventional it had its challenges that were overcome with specialized materials and skills.

Opportunity to get involved with occupancy separation walls that required a 2hr fire rating with services installed plasteredboth sides at heights of up to 9m and weight restrictions p/linear meter of completed walls lead to light weight concrete beingdeveloped and used as an insitu cast wall at the Baywest Mall.

Since the first 5500m² of walling being installed and plastered at the Baywest Mall further development has taken place creating a 100% recycled product being manufactured into blocks of 450mm x 300mm x 110mm, 150mm and 220mm. Conventional mortar is used to construction with as well as plaster with in conjunction with a rational design from an engineer.

LWC void filling, roof insulation, slabs in combination with other screeds and concrete finishes have been created and new combinations continue to evolve.

The need to create separation walls in old buildings of multiple stories for the likes of student accommodation where weight is a restriction and conventional dry walling was the only alternative but not practical for many reasons. LWC blocks have created the perfect solution.

Rhino Greenbuilding in the alternative building industry

From Foreign

…to Recognizable

Light weight Block formatLight Weight Concrete Block Format

Cape Town Factory Infill Walls

Ignite Gym Walls

S4Office Building Walls

BaywestInternal

Separation Wall

Light Weight Concrete In-Situ Cast Walling Format

Boundary Wall

BaywestExternal Wall

Pumped Walls

Residential Roof Cape Town

Radisson Hotel Cape Town Waterfront

Lightweight Concrete Pumped Screeds

Ignite Gym Walmer

Lightweight Concrete Special Applications

Paintings onto Lightweight Concrete

Off Shutter concrete wall cladding

LWC Encapsulated and polished

Low Density300 to 550 kg/cube

Fire resistance/protection2hr SABS rating

Low compressive strengthVery high flexural strength

Thermal insulationK Value = 0.103

Sound Proofing

Under floor insulation

Lightweight Concrete Properties

Waterproofing Properties – Lightweight Concrete

Walls capable of reaching heights in excess of 9m

High speed construction

Light weight robust medium

Occupancy Separation 2hr fire rating

Improving Health & safety on site

Bay West Mall

Light weight stable concrete filling

High speed placement

100% Recycled Polystyrene

Elektro Mechanica Void Filling

Light weight & robust concrete filling

High speed placement and curing

Polystyrene 100% recyclable

Roof Insulation

Long term protection of conventional water proofing

Electro Mechanica CapeTown - Roof top screed to falls

Longevity -Hard surface

High speed placement and curing

Polystyrene 100% recyclable

Roof Insulation

Long Term Protection of Water Proofing

CapeTown Castle - Roof top screed to falls

InnovationRadisson Hotel void fill Cape Town Waterfront

InnovationSuspended LWC floor - S4 Automation Offices

Innovation3D of LWC slab with 50mm concreteoverlay polished

Picture of completed polished concrete floor

Innovation3D of LWC slab with 30mm topping + MEO screed

Picture of completed MEO floors

Innovation

Floor Insulation – Under floor heating

Suspended roof concept

Bespoke curved roof - House Pereira (2016/17)

InnovationLight Weight Concrete Roof

Thank You for your Attention