SEAA2112-01-01

BAHAN KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

ASSIGNMENT 2 (BERKUMPULAN)

1. SITI AIDA BINTI MD SALLEH SX202317EAWHF01

2. NURSAIDAH BINTI SUKITO SX201696EAWHF01
 Page |2

BREATHING BRICKS
1. INTRODUCTION
Air pollution is one of the growing concerns with respect to climate change. It has
severe effects on human health. Carbon emission due to manmade activities and excess
presence of carbon in the atmosphere traps heat on the surface of the earth and causes global
warming.

Architects and designers are taking measures regarding reduction of carbon footprint
while and after construction, which will eventually result in minimizing the harmful effect of air
pollution. Pollution absorbing brick is a brilliant alternative to conventionally used bricks, and
curtails air pollution caused by a building. These bricks are also known as ‘Breathe bricks’.
They were developed by Ar. Carmen Trudell, an assistant professor at Cal Poly San Luis
Obispo’s School of Architecture and is also the founder of Both Landscape and Architecture.
Porous concrete module forms an air filtration façade. The project is the brainchild of Carmen
Trudell of B O T H Landscape and Architecture. Trudell worked with students at the California
Polytechnic State University to design a building component that would act as an electricity-
free filtration system.

2. CONCEPT
Inspired by vacuum cleaners that spin air through a vortex to separate particles, the
team “came up with the idea of putting a cyclone inside of the exterior wall,” Trudell says. They
developed the Breathe Brick, a porous concrete masonry unit that stacks to form an air-
filtration and structural façade system. Breathe bricks work on the basic principle of air
filtration. It filters the outside air and provides it to the interior of the structure. These bricks
filter the air and separate the pollutants and other particles like dust. The inspiration behind
this genius innovation was the concept of ‘cyclone filtration’ that one can see in vacuum
cleaners.

3. MATERIAL AND COMPONENTS

The bricks are in the form of porous concrete block. They are specifically designed and
shaped in a faceted manner, so as to direct the air flow inside the system. Shafts are provided
for structural reinforcement. A coupler made of recycled plastic is provided between two bricks
and a hopper is provided at the base for the collection of particles.

Figure 1 : Breathe Brick Unit Figure 2 : Details of Breathe Brick Unit

Advanced Materials (SEAA2112)

 Page |3

4. FUNCTION
Breathe bricks functions as a passive filtration system installed in the exterior of the
structure. It consists of a cavity wall, which is a double layered construction with the breath
bricks on the exterior so as to absorb and filter the pollutants and the internal which provides
insulation and a vent for air movement. The cyclone filter is cast into the air filtration brick. This
cyclone filter enables the air from outside to swirl like a cyclone, separating the pollutants and
dust particles, and inducing filtered air into the internal structure. The filtered air is then
directed by the brick coupler. The major component of this system is the ‘brick coupler’. It is
made of recycled plastic. It functions as an agent directing the airflow from outside into the air
filtration bricks for cyclone filtration. It acts as an outlet for the filtered air into the interior. It
sends the distilled particles to the hopper at the base of the wall. The hopper needs to be
cleaned regularly. But due to its size (approximately equal to the length of two adjacent bricks),
one need not clean it frequently. Brick coupler helps in aligning the bricks by accommodating
the structural reinforcement through one of its shafts. The filtered air from the coupler passes
through the cavity and into the vent or the window. If the structure has operable opening or
window then the air is directly passed into the interiors through it, in absence of inoperable
window opening the air is passed through the HVAC system.

5. PERFORMANCE

According to the test, which was carried out to detect the filtration capacity of the brick,
it was inferred that the brick, filters 30% of particles spanning up to 2.5 microns or smaller
in diameter, which is equal to smoke or haze, and it filters 100% of coarse particles with
diameter more than and equal to 10 microns. The energy used in production of this system
is less as it does not use any mechanical components. Breathe bricks is considered to be an
innovative alternative material. It is inexpensive in comparison with the mechanical air filtration
techniques used in large scale. It is environment friendly and is sustainable. It is a low-
tech material. No complicated technology or mechanism is applied while manufacturing these
bricks. There is no requirement for skilled labourers to construct the system, making it cost
effective. Hence, this material is considered to be an excellent alternative in developing
countries. Small municipalities and developing regions can use this solution to curtail the air
pollution, while providing a healthy environment to the residents.

Figure 3 : Breathe Brick Wall System

Advanced Materials (SEAA2112)

 Page |4

6. MIX DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY OF BREATH BRICKS

In order to find the breath bricks that they possess high compressive strength with
various mix proportions are made and they are tested on compressive testing machine (CTM).
The mix proportions of the breath bricks are as follows:
.

Sample. LIME (kg) White Calcium C2H602 Water

NO Cement (%) Nitrate (%) (%) (%)
1 1 10 10 10 10
2 2 20 20 20 20
3 3 30 30 30 30
4 4 40 40 40 40
5 5 50 50 50 50
Collection of materials;The materials of these bricks are properly collected from the
available areas and also shops.Batching of materials; Measurement of materials for making
brick is called batching. After collection of materials, we separate and remove any otherwise
presented in the collected material and check that any water content in sample collected.
c) Mixing of materials is essential for the production of uniform and strength for brick. The
mixing has to be ensured that the mass becomes homogeneous, uniform in colour and
consistency. Generally, there are two types of mixing, Hand mixing and mechanical
mixing. In this project, we adopted hand mixing. Until the entire lime content required
for water added.
d) Moulding; After completion of proper mixing, we place mix into required mould. In these
projects we use the different brick sizes (15x15x4 cm). After 2 days remove the brick
from the mould and then done curing.
e) Burning; The test specimens after moulding were allowed to dry for a period of 24
hours. The specimens were kept in burning at120ᵒC and a period of 8 hours
f) Materials; Lime (CaCO3), Plastic coupler with cover ¾inches, Spring 150mm, Glycol
10 % by weight and calcium nitrate

7. RESULT

Sample. No Normal Brick Compressive Breathe brick Compressive

Strength (N/mm²) Strength (N/mm²)
1 3.6 3.4
2 3.6 3.5
3 3.6 3.5
4 3.6 3.5
5 3.6 3.5
Table 2: Compressive Strength Test

Advanced Materials (SEAA2112)

 Page |5

Figure 4 : Graph Comparison Compressive Strength Normal Brick and Breath Brick

8. MASS CUSTOMIZATION

A significant characteristic of
a sustainable alternative material is
its adaptability in terms of mass
customization. It is when a certain
material is suitable to be used in
every part of the world irrespective
of its macro climate, micro climate,
end users, etc. and is mass
produced is known as Mass
customization. As per the
aforementioned advantages of
Breath bricks, it can be considered
as a strong participant in mass
customization of building materials
and construction techniques.
Alternative Materials - Pollution
absorbing bricks -Breathe brick
wall. Source-www.regandyer.com
The disadvantage of the
breath brick passive filtration
system is that the exterior wall takes
as much as double the original
space, which leads to contraction of
the interior space.

Breathe brick can be used in load bearing structures up to one or two storey height. It
is mostly used in regions with poor air quality. It is beneficial in areas with heavy particulate
outdoor matter. The alternative materials like breath bricks, serves as a potent aspect for a
greener tomorrow.

Advanced Materials (SEAA2112)

 Page |6

9. CONCLUSION

Pollution is a problem, which requires immediate attention and the world is in haste
for a solution. Breathe brick is an efficient solution for the problem of pollution.This system
is extremely useful for regions under highly polluted category. They are inexpensive and
easily affordable by average income families. They are also energy efficient since they do
not require energy for the functioning. This performs the function of improving air quality
inside the room thereby reducing health issues of people to a great extend. Constructing
breathe brick walls ensures fresh and healthy air to the people living in busy cities and
towns. Hence adopting breathe brick as a construction practice can benefit to develop a
healthy living condition.

Advanced Materials (SEAA2112)

 Page |7

10. REFERENCE

1. Project: Breathe Brick, Charlottesville, Va.

2. Design Firm: Both Landscape and Architecture, Charlottesville, Va.—Carmen Trudell
(primary investigator)
3. Collaborators: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)—
Tracy Thatcher (consultant); Natacha Schnider, Kate Hajash, Cameron Venancio, Justin
Wragg, Jennifer Thompson, Michelle Kolb (student research assistants); Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute—Kateri Knapp, Kyleen Hoover (student research assistants)
4. Funding: Cal Poly College of Architecture and Environmental Design's Planning, Design
and Construction Institute
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQXRUIlquw

Advanced Materials (SEAA2112)