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Clay as Sustainable Building Material and its Benefits for Protection in

the Built Environment
To cite this article: M Y Muntari and A O Windapo 2021 IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 1144 012044

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

Clay as Sustainable Building Material and its Benefits for

Protection in the Built Environment

M Y Muntari 1* and A O Windapo2

1
1Department of Building, College of Environmental Studies Hassan Usman Katsina
Polytechnic, Nigeria,
2
2Department of Construction Economics & Management, University of Cape Town, South
Africa.
*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract. This examination looks at the properties and advantages of clay use as building
material that improves natural assurance. The reasoning for this assessment originates from the
perspectives held by researchers that clay earth blocks are more liked as supportable structure
materials; nonetheless, there is restricted examination into whether the decision of mud
materials is impacted simply by its natural advantages. To accomplish the particular
exploration targets a blended examination strategy was utilized. The techniques adopted
incorporate writing audit, subjective (inquiries questions) and quantitative (poll questionnaire)
research strategies, including the review of the chose building and common development firms
in Katsina, Kano and Kaduna provinces of Nigeria. The exploration information gathered
dependent on the financial, social and ecological properties of clay earth and its advantages in
natural properties was examined utilizing unmistakable factual strategies. The examination
tracked down that the financial parts of clay earth make it more critical as a structural material
that is helpful in built environment. The examination findings suggest further investigation into
the improvement of clay as a structural material that tends to the manageable triple main
concern of economics matters, social and natural necessities.

1. Introduction
Clay earth is an economical structure material that has been utilized by people on the planet for quite a
long time. It is not difficult to unearth from the beginning little preparing is required, which implies
that energy and tedious cycles is decreased. Clay goes about as Mud blocks, clay bricks, rooftop, floor
tiles and clean apparatuses are made of the normal mixes of clay and water in close by creation plants
and utilized locally. That maintains a strategic distance from long vehicle courses. They are flexible,
energy proficient, tough, stylish and financial [1]. Furthermore, it is utilized for protection to get a
good deal on numerous conventional structure strategies. Saving expense on energy bill is additionally
conceivable; given that structures will save more energy with clay as warmth separator [1], satiated
that clay structures don't utilize more power than required, this will permit homes to keep up their
warmth throughout the cold weather months and keep up the agreeable temperatures throughout the
mid-year months. Clay earth is perceived as an economical assurance building material since it gives
amazing protection properties and warmth stockpiling limit, assists with lessening energy utilization in
structures.

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

Clay earth building materials are healthy, stable and warmth protections. In this way, structures made
of earth building items can last over 100 years' life expectancy. The earth block is inherently feasible
and assists with limiting the inward temperature vacillation occasionally. They additionally have low
encapsulated carbon, it thusly less harming than some other structural materials and gives low upkeep
cost in the existence circle of structures. Likewise, clay stores heat in the colder time of year and
coolness in the late spring and contributes significantly to energy reserve funds. Low energy is needed
for the readiness and handling, working with clay is harmless to the ecosystem in the assembled
climate. This exploration is expected to address the accompanying examination questions (RQ):

1.1 Research Questions

i. What are the current issues with the use of clay for building in the built environment?
ii. What are the elements influencing the usage of clay for building in the built environment?
iii. What angle can limit the usage issues of clay building structures?
iv. What arrangement is expected to support the viable aspects use for clay in the built
environment?

1.2. Aim and Objectives

The aim of this research is to identify protection and benefits of clay as protection building materials.
The main objectives are:
i. To investigates the issues in the usage of clay as economic building materials
ii. To recognize the variables frustrating the use of clay as sustainable building materials.
iii. To recognize view points to encourage usage of clay as assurance building materials.
iv. To set up angles for improving use of clay S as economic building materials.

2. Research Methodology
To accomplish the particular examination goals some blended research techniques will be utilized. The
techniques incorporate literature writing review, subjective (inquiries questions) and quantitative
(research method) research strategies. Figure. 1 shows the inter related connections between the
choosing research techniques related exercises expected and yields of the research. These areas
momentarily summed up the research methods utilized.

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

Figure 1. Overview of Research Methodology Activities and Output.

3. Overview of the Property, Use and Protection Aspects of Clay as a Building Material
The orderly literature writing embraced is introduced under the accompanying sub-areas of this
research.

3.1. Property of clay bricks as building material

The properties of clay bricks as a building materials are: acoustic protection, dimensional exactness,
sturdiness, energy effectiveness fire protections, strength and natural cordial. [2] states that clay is a
solid breathing construction material that really improves the air around it, retaining and delivering
stickiness generally. These outcomes in a normally managed level of dampness and with it a sound
room environment is accomplished. Truth be told, when the general stickiness ascends from half to
80%, non-consumed blocks can assimilate multiple times more moistness than normal consumed
blocks inside a two-day duration [3]. Clay buildings structures likewise stores heat in the colder time
of year and coolness in the late spring. In light of that planning and working with clay building items
will contribute significantly to energy reserve funds. At the point when the factor of low energy is
needed for the readiness, preparing and use of clay, working with clay earth is harmless to the
ecosystem.

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

As indicated by [4] it takes just about 1% of the energy required for making bricks. As worldwide
populaces increment, so likewise the requirement for convenience increments. Clay rooftop tiles and
pavers are strong, moderate and give agreeable, protected and sound homes to a huge number of
individuals. Clay bricks, blocks, rooftop tiles and pavers are strong, moderate and give agreeable,
protected and sound homes to a great number of individuals. Moreover, they join customary design
legacy with imaginative and future-situated development strategies. To wrap things up, clay earth
items offer important answers for save energy and diminish ozone layer harming substance discharges
in the environmental area.
Different properties of are that it can retain and store sunlight based warmth, empowering clay
blocks to withstands even loads, like those from quakes, yet should be built up in regions subject to
high seismic unsettling influences and furthermore give undeniable degrees of safety from intruders.
Clay material tiles are dormant materials they are non-combustible and there is no emanation of
poisonous gases in the event of fire, water overflow can be gathered and put away.

3.2. Utilization of clay in building structures

Utilization of clay as feasible structure material is turning into a need for building designers in the
constructed environments, for tending to worldwide convenience in workplaces, private and different
foundations, likewise clay is an essential fixing utilized in many structure procedures. Clay is utilized
to make adobe, cob, string wood, smashed earth designs and building components, for example, clay
mortar, clay, clay floor tiles and clay paints and clay earthenware production building materials (clay
wienerberger.com). As a structure materials clay have been utilized in development since the earthman
times. Dated back clay earth is utilized to make blocks, burnt bricks, tiles, clean and roofing materials.
China clay, dominatingly kaolinite is utilized as filler and in drug fabricate. Extended clays are utilized
as a lightweight total in the production of extended squares utilized for protection of environment. clay
has been utilized in the assembling of the accompanying building structures segments. [5]
• Clay material and floor tiles: offer significant answers for energy reserve funds and diminish ozone
harming substance discharges in the environmental area. Clay floor tiles are frequently called
earthenware or porcelain tiles, produced using combinations that incorporate mud clay as a typical
fixing, terminated in an oven and solidified. Mud floor tiles are coated, giving them an assortment
of tones and a water-safe surface.
• Heat Sinks and Stacks: Warmth sinks are intended to draw heat away from explicit regions to
abstain from overheating. Since earth is heat safe and can likewise move heat, mud floors are once
in a while worked to go about as warmth sinks, drawing heat away from furnaces, stoves or
different gadgets to forestall harm. Most smokestacks are worked of dirt blocks up to the rooftop
level and afterward the stack polished off with red blocks; it was more normal for the whole
chimney stack to have been worked of clay blocks on account of their solidarity, virtue of clay and
capacity to withstand extraordinary warmth. Ball clay is altogether utilized as crude materials for
sterile products, emergency clinic and latrine tiles due to its versatility, functionality and strength in
case of fire state.
• Plasters and Rendering: Clay mortars have been utilized broadly for structures in the Assembled
Realm and without a doubt everywhere on the world for millennia. In spite of the fact that it isn't
generally known, there are most likely over 1,000,000 structures with earth materials in their
construction in the Assembled Realm, and a large number of these have mud mortars. All the time
clay mortars are not perceived in light of the fact that they are painted or have a slight lime clay
skim coat over them, both inside and remotely. Numerous dirt mortars are as yet performing great
after numerous hundreds of years, both in vernacular structures and in higher status properties
remembering their utilization for mouldings, elaborate safeguards, etc. Clay mortars have
unmistakable and, from various perspectives, extraordinary characteristics which are very

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

appropriate to noteworthy structure conditions for various reasons: breathability, adaptability,

reversibility and tasteful characteristics [6]
• Clay as a Binder: Clay are widely used in construction as binders, also for castles, public and
religious buildings, and monuments such as the 35-metre-high minaret of Tarim in Yemen and the
long great of wall of China. Clay is used as wall binders. Although they have the limitation that
they soften when wetted, they are also undoubtedly the cheapest binders, at sites [7].

4. Properties of clay for environmental protection

Clay building materials are sustainable and comply with numerous government rating and green
buildings standards [1]. Also, clay has excellent insulating properties because of its high thermal mass.
It absorbs stores and releases heat very effectively, making the building interior cooler in summer and
warmer in winter. This makes the internal environment more comfortable and also reduces energy
demand and associated carbon emissions [8]. The three essentials properties of clay that make it
different from other building materials are plasticity, porosity and verification.

5. Protection aspects provided by clay components in buildings

Generally, people are realizing the benefits of building with clay in developing countries especially in
tropical regions, the benefits range from warming rooms during cold and cooling in hot seasons,
availability of the clay material in most areas, low in cost of extraction, processing and production of
building products such as bricks, blocks, tiles, pipes and sanitary appliances. Another benefit is better
properties and beauty can be obtained by adding colour additives.

5.1. Materials and methods

Clay material was used as the key tool in this research for the purpose of investigation the viability and
key properties of clay for protection of building in the built environment. The methods adopted in this
research are mixed methods research approach using qualitative and quantitative data collections,
questionnaires and interview questions to collect data from suitable respondents in the construction
industry, academicians and stake holders in built environment. and printed by other researchers. norms
[1]. Likewise, clay has magnificent protecting properties due to its high warm mass. It retains stores
and deliveries heat successfully, making the building inside cooler in summer and hotter in winter.
This makes the inside climate more agreeable and furthermore lessens energy interest and related
fossil fuel by-products [8]. The three fundamentals properties of clay that make it not the
same as other building materials are versatility, porosity and confirmation. Respondents’ percentage
architects, builders’ engineers, years of experience, education etc.
Table 1 and 2 shows the outcome of the interview questions for qualitative data, this answer
research question one and objective one of the research.7 respondents are projects/construction
managers, 5 are project managers 2 are construction managers, 5 are members of the Nigerian council
of residents’ engineers (COREN) and Nigeria society of engineers (NSE). While 2 are construction
managers of medium construction company members of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB). The
projects managers have 5 to 25 years’ experience while construction managers have 25 years’
experience in the construction industry. The respondents have a wide experience in various types of
projects with good familiar with projects that involved clay building projects.

5.2. Materials and techniques

Clay material was utilized as the vital device in this research with the end goal of examination the
suitability and key properties of clay for protection of working in the environmental climate. The
techniques embraced in this examination are blended strategies research approach utilizing subjective
and quantitative information assortments, surveys and inquiries to gather information from reasonable
respondents in the construction sector, academicians and partners in built environment. also, printed
by different analysts.

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

Table 1. Shoes respondents’ background

Respondents Post of Professional Type of Types of Years of
Respondents Body company Projects Experience
Respondent Project CORREN Civil Building & 12
1 Manager Engineering Roads

Respondent Project NSE Civil Roads & Dams 5

2 Manager Engineering

Respondent Project NIA Building Building 24

3 Manager Construction. Works
Respondent Project NSE Civil Roads & Dams 20
4 Manager Engineering

Respondent Project NSE Civil Roads & Dams 15

5 Manager Engineering

Respondent Construction NIOB Building Building 25

6 Manager Const. Works
Respondent Construction NIOB Building Building 25
7 Manager Const Works

Table 2. Respondents Perceptions for utilization of Clay as Building Material.

1 Familiar with characteristics of clay Respondents

Very familiar 4
Familiar 2
Not familiar 1
2 Used in the past and present projects Respondents
Very familiar 2
Just familiar 4
Not familiar 1
3 Percentage of incorporating clay in projects Respondents
60% - 90% 2
25% - 80% 1
20% - 30% 2
3% - 8% 1
4 Percentage of clay products used in most projects Respondents
70% - 90% 2
60% - 80% 3
25% - 70% 1
20% - 30% 1

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

6. Result and Discussion

Table 3 is the correlation between economic, environmental and social factors to establish elements
for improving utilization of literate and clay in as sustainable building materials in construction
industry. This is based on linked scale (i) strongly agree, (ii) disagree, (iii) not sure, (iv) agree, (v)
strongly disagree.

Table 3. Table of Correlation of Economic, Environmental and Social Factors

Factors Economic Environmental Social
Economic Pearson 1 .634** .739**
Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .006 .001
N 17 17 17
Environmental Pearson .634** 1 .659**
Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .006 .004

N 17 17 17
** **
Social Pearson .739 .659 1
Correlation
Sig. (2-tailed) .001 .004
N 17 17 17
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

7. Protection Aspects of Clay components in Buildings

The discoveries above depended on the insights that any mean underneath 3.0 of the Likert scale is
considered as not concur and mean above 3.0 to 4.5 is considered as concur, while 4.5 to 5.0 is
considered for this investigation as profoundly concur. Based on Table 4, most of the respondents
demonstrate adoption aspects for influencing use of proficient clay as feasible building structure
materials and concur for improving variables.

Table 4. Protection Aspects of Clay

Aspects of Clay as Protection Categorical
Materials in the Built Mean (x)
Environment
Economic Aspects 4.25
Environmental Aspects 4.24
Social Aspects 4.01
Mean average 4.17

8. Conclusion and Recommendations

The research investigates the properties, advantages and benefits of clay and its utilization as a
development material, is seen by development partners to upgrade built environment protection. In
view of these discoveries, the investigation reasons that monetary aspects of clay gives more
importance and advantages to clients in the built environments.
The investigation in this manner suggests:
• Governments, Partners, Non-Administrative Associations and scientists to plan a program that
will improve use of clay items especially in provincial and metropolitan zones in non-industrial
nations.

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ISCEE 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 1144 (2021) 012044 doi:10.1088/1757-899X/1144/1/012044

• The research additionally prescribes further examination that will add to social, monetary and
natural supportability aspects for environmental climate,
• The research likewise prescribes further examination that will add to social, monetary and
environmental supportability aspects for environmental climate.

9. References

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Retrieved on 30 August 2020 from http://www.unhabitat.org,
[2] Hebert P and Chaney S 2011 Enhancing facilities management through generational awareness J.
Facility. Management 2 1459–152
[3] Abdurrahman Y K 2010 Durability Properties of Stabilized Clay Bricks PhD Thesis (Penang:
Universiti Sains Malaysia)
[4] Abidin, N Z 2010 Investigating the awareness and application of sustainable construction concept
by Malaysian developers Habitat Int. 34 421-426
[5] Umaru M, Aliyu A M, Aris M I and Munir S M 2012 A Comparative study on the refractory
properties of selected clays in North Central Nigeria. Acad. Res. Inter. 3 393
[6] Su W, Gu C and Yang G 2010 Assessing the impact of land use/land cover on urban heat island
pattern in Nanjing City, China. J Urban Plan Dev. 136 365-372
[7] Berger V I, Singer D A, Bliss J D and Moring BC 2011 Ni-Co laterite deposits of the world:
database and grade and tonnage models (Reston, VA, USA: US Department of the Interior,
US Geological Survey) pp 30
[8] Kefas H M, Patrick D O and Chiroma T M 2007 Characterization of mayo-belwa clay. Leonardo
Electronic J. Pract. Technol. 6 123-130