Assessment of compressed earth blocks made in Spain: International durability tests

This research studies the durability against rain of the most industrialized construction material based on unbaked earth: compressed earth blocks (CEBs). The test procedures will be those ones proposed in the international normative (44 normative documents studied), analyzing the usefulness of these tests. The lack of unified criteria in the tests produces differences in the results obtained depending on the method used. Spanish stabilized CEB are fit for both interior faces and exterior walls, while non-stabilized CEB are just adequate to be used in exterior walls by applying a protection. This analysis could be a reference in the writing of future normative documents for all the world.

► We study the durability against rain of compressed earth blocks.
► We analyze the usefulness of test procedures proposed in the international normative.
► The lack of unified criteria in the tests produces differences in the results obtained.
► Spanish CEB are fit for exterior and/or interior walls depending on stabilization.
► This analysis could be a reference in the writing of future normative documents.