Ireland unveils 3D-printed concrete home
The use of the 3DCP technology meant 35% faster construction and completion in just 132 days compared to conventional methods
Ireland has unveiled what’s billed as ‘Europe’s first’ 3D-printed concrete social housing project. The 3D concrete printed (3DCP) dwellings are in Grange Close, Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. The 330m2 footprint includes three three-bedroom houses.
A public-private housing development consortium in Ireland consisting of Louth County Council, 3D-printing firm Harcourt Technologies, and materials provider Roadstone are said to have built the homes using a BOD2 3D Construction Printer from Cobod.
Designed to meet Eurocode 6 masonry standard, the boundaries of the housing development are composed of cavity walls: two 10cm-thick skins with a 150mm cavity in-between. Cobod, the Denmark-based 3D printer provider, said the walls were constructed without reinforcement and meets EN206, Eurocode 6 for un-reinforced masonry construction and ISO/ASTM standards.
The use of the 3DCP technology meant 35% faster construction and completion in just 132 days compared to conventional methods requiring more than 200 days, with the 3D printed superstructure completed in just 12 printing days,” claimed Cobod. 50% of the time savings came directly from 3D printing the wall system said the firm.
The printing firm added that remaining savings were achieved alongside what could be called a modular approach. Referring to ‘the precision of 3D construction printing’, Cobod said it was able to employ “seamless integration of other building components – such as partition walls, floor systems, and trusses – to already be considered during the planning and preparation phases, resulting in a more efficient construction process.”
