Fibre Reinforced Concrete Roofing Sheets: Technology Appraisal Report

摘要

Fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) roofing sheets have been in use in several developing countries since the late 1970's. Appropriate Technology International (ATI) and Save the Children Federation (SCF) have actively promoted the use of FRC roofing sheets as a low cost roofing alternative based on a product design and community-based production techniques developed and tested by Intermediate Technology Building Materials Workshop (ITBMW), in the United Kingdom. FRC roofing sheets manufactured in community-based production units using the ITBMW process demonstrated a limited service life of two to four years. An in depth examination of possible factors including product design, production process and control, producer skill and technical support services was conducted. Based on the findings, ATI and SCF have concluded that FRC roofing sheets, while a possible product option, are not suitable as currently applied for rural housing and facility construction.