Small Scale Production of Roofing Tiles

摘要

In many developing countries handmade roofing tiles are very uneven in quality.There are even reports of leakage directly through the tiles. This has meant that imported roofing materials have become more popular in recent years, particularly corrugated iron sheets (CIS). A tile roof that works is generally preferred to other materials like CIS. In terms of the national economy, it would be better to produce building materials within the country. However the quality of the roofing tiles must be raised and the cost of the energy in production must be lowered to stop the decline in use of tiles, and even to make them more popular. The objective of this study is to recommend improvements in the production process at small-scale, non-mechanized brickyards starting from the conditions observed in Nicaragua. The aims of the project, and the considerations behind the recommendations, can be summarized as follows: Better and more consistent quality for roofing tiles; Lower weight of the tile component in a finished roof; More energy efficient production; Use of other energy sources than firewood; Low capital investment; Simple methods for quality control.