GK Construction, a leading Austrian construction company which has recently diversified into the production of construction materials, is planning to introduce its innovative insulated building block in the Middle East.

Called the 3i-isolet, the blocks have already been sent for tests to leading laboratories in the region in an attempt to seek approval from the testing and certification authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, says Marcus Khoury from GK Construction.
The company is also scouting for partners to set up a manufacturing base in the region.
“Architects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain have already been convinced by the benefits the product offers in terms of cost and time savings, says Khoury. “The blocks are ideal in the construction of partitions and walls in multi-rise buildings and also can be used as load-bearing walls in two and three-storeyed buildings and in the construction of housing projects.
“The day we no longer need bricks has come,” says Khoury. “The new blocks are set to revolutionise the construction segment in the region, which has a growing need for thermal insulated structures. Due to its integrated special assembly system, 3i-isolet products are easy to build and to assemble, without requiring a lot of work. With optimal features in terms of construction physics, such as good fire characteristics, sound insulation and weathering resistance, the building material can be used for all purposes in structural and civil engineering.
“There have been several attempts at improving insulation with the introduction of a range of products, but with 3i-isolet we are poised to redefine insulating blocks with the integration of insulation systems within the building materials,” he says. The blocks of 3i-isolet contain polystyrene granules dispersed in a suspension of concrete. Once set, the monolithic blocks can be cut to the required shape and thickness and are ready to use, says Khoury. Much of the benefit from 3i-isolet blocks comes from the fact that they can be assembled with minimal fuss. “It is as simple as assembling Lego,” says Khoury.
Although the concept was developed about a year ago, GK Construction started off production of the 3i-isolet blocks about six months ago. The product has already been tested for various parameters such as heat insulation, fire resistance and moisture resistance at some of the leading labs in Europe and has been applied on various projects.

Energy saving
The special features of 3i-isolet products in terms of heat insulation offer big potential for saving energy. They are made of recycled materials and can be reutilised for building material. No waste is caused by the production. In addition, the boards are moisture-resistant, dimensionally stable and frost-resistant, have a variable gross density, a fire rating of A2, a fire resistance of F90 from 10 cm when mineral coated on both sides, and can be constructed without pillars up to 350 cm height in case of boards with a wall thickness of 10 cm.
The boards can be made available with a thickness from 8 to 15 cm, a width of 60 cm and a height that could be as tall as a floor level.
The boards can also be customised and are easy to work on with even a saw, and can be attached by mounting angle or PU-foam or mortarboard. It can then be fixed by adhesive plaster or smoothing cement. The boards are delivered uncoated, coated on one side or coated on both sides.
“With a Central European plant in the Czech Republic, we are convinced that we can serve the international market and secure the best transportation solutions for our customers,” says Khoury.

Win-win situation
“Our vision is to create a win-win situation that makes construction a profitable business again and, at the same time, keeps the properties affordable for the end customers,” says Khoury. “With this vision and 25 years of experience in the building materials industry, 3i-isolet has developed a range of products in the field of prefabricated building materials made of light-weight concrete. Our products – 3i-vario, 3i-deko, and 3i-multi – meet the demand in all areas of structural engineering in interior and exterior construction, such as professional façade construction, renovation of old buildings, and constructional safety devices.”

3i-vario
The 3i-vario lightweight building board is the ideal solution for interior and exterior construction. The quick assembly system allows a construction of walls, floors and ceilings that is fast and economical. 3i-vario products are flexible and applicable for every form and function. 3i-vario is made of recycled polystyrene, is not inflammable and, due to its isolating protective function, particularly energy-saving.

3i-deko
Due to their individual designs of weatherproof material, the 3i-deko facade profiles are the ideal products for the cost-efficient façade design. The products are also excellently suitable for the renovation of old buildings and for the realisation of architectural specifications. The elements of design are made of recycled polystyrene. As they are very light, even large-volume façade profiles can easily be assembled without interfering with the statics of the building. A corresponding statical calculation can be made for 3i-deko products upon customer request. 3i-isolet offers a wide range of standard profiles. Special designs, however, can always be made on demand. 3i-deko is also available with a mineral-coated surface, ready to paint, says Khoury.

3i-multi
Because of a special treatment of the material, 3i-multi products are used for specific protective functions. Due to its characteristics, all requirements for fire protection, heat and sound insulation are met. The 3i-multi products for encasement and bracing are also suitable for steel constructions. In addition to the standard sizes, we can also produce special formats, in which case the cutting can easily be done on site due to the material’s excellent machinabilty. Available in standard sizes of 80 by 60 cm and in a thickness of 2 cm to 30 cm, the 3i-multi has a steam permeability of µ 3.6. The product does not require an additional surface coating and in case of insertion in concrete casing, no further attachment is necessary for insulation, he concludes.