CSEB Intensive
The CSEB Intensive course is a combination of our two, one-week programs on CSEB Production and CSEB Masonry. It is a “sweetened-condensed” and simplified course combining theory and practice; not all of the sessions of the two week course can be taught in one week. This course covers the theory of CSEB with basics on soil characteristics, design, calculation, etc., and includes practical sessions on block production, quality control, masonry bond patterns and other stabilised earth techniques which have been developed and mastered by the Earth Institute.
Eligibility: All skill levels are welcome (e.g. engineers, architects, technicians, supervisors, masons, students and laymen).
Duration: Six day course; Classes from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Course content:
The two first days are more theoretical with lectures, presentations and individual exercises:
-Auroville Earth Institute presentation
- Building with earth in Auroville
- Sustainability and environmental friendliness
- Resource management
- Basic data on CSEB
- Raw material and soil identification
- Soil stabilisation (Stabilisers, Principles, Calculation and exercises)
- Products & equipment
- Blockyard organisation & Production line
- Quality control principles
- Improving and stabilising soils
- Cost analysis & Economic feasibility study
- Bonds for various walls (straight, corner, T & X)
- Tests for mortar - Mortar quality
-Auroville Earth Institute presentation
- Building with earth in Auroville
- Sustainability and environmental friendliness
- Resource management
- Basic data on CSEB
- Raw material and soil identification
- Soil stabilisation (Stabilisers, Principles, Calculation and exercises)
- Products & equipment
- Blockyard organisation & Production line
- Quality control principles
- Improving and stabilising soils
- Cost analysis & Economic feasibility study
- Bonds for various walls (straight, corner, T & X)
- Tests for mortar - Mortar quality
The four following days are practical in nature, with demonstrations and hands-on sessions:
- Handling, adjustments and maintenance of the presses
- Safety demonstration
- Testing typical soils with a press
- Sites visit by trainees
- Production of blocks: acquisition of know-how
- Production of various blocks (round, interlocking, hollow, etc.)
- Production of special blocks (U, pipe inserts, chamfer, flashing, coping, tile, etc.)
- Production of blocks: optimisation of production = 100 Blocks per hour
- Quality control with the field block tester
- Stabilised poured earth foundations
- Building a basement
- Ramming stabilised rammed earth walls and building a CSEB wall
- Building composite columns of 24 cm and 29 cm diameter
- Pre-casting composite lintels
- Building arches
- Safety demonstration
- Testing typical soils with a press
- Sites visit by trainees
- Production of blocks: acquisition of know-how
- Production of various blocks (round, interlocking, hollow, etc.)
- Production of special blocks (U, pipe inserts, chamfer, flashing, coping, tile, etc.)
- Production of blocks: optimisation of production = 100 Blocks per hour
- Quality control with the field block tester
- Stabilised poured earth foundations
- Building a basement
- Ramming stabilised rammed earth walls and building a CSEB wall
- Building composite columns of 24 cm and 29 cm diameter
- Pre-casting composite lintels
- Building arches
Identification of typical soils with sensitive analysis is taught 4 times during the week. Through practice, trainees will feel more and more confident to carry out soil analysis independently.