q-con engineer

[canopy]

Building using q-con blocks requires a great deal of precision engineering. Any suggestion on how to find someone who can make a sound design? For instance, defining the ring beam, bond beam, damp proof course, edge support, control joints, plate fastening, block sizing, and slab rebar schedule. I am looking at load bearing.

[DrAndy]

Building using q-con blocks requires a great deal of precision engineering. Any suggestion on how to find someone who can make a sound design? For instance, defining the ring beam, bond beam, damp proof course, edge support, control joints, plate fastening, block sizing, and slab rebar schedule. I am looking at load bearing.

QCON are not used for load bearing, just infill

they require little engineering other than using the correct cement and rendering

[canopy]

According to technical literature from q-con in Thailand as well as Hebel the parent company in Germany, the blocks can and are used for load bearing. Regardless of load bearing, there is a great deal of engineering specifications that need respected such as defining proper control joints to prevent cracks.

[DrAndy]

yes, the 200mm + blocks can be used for load bearing, but nobody does

Thailand building practices....

also a lot cheaper not to?

The company are very helpful and, besides their website, will tell you anything you need to know

[OhOh]

Any suggestion on how to find someone who can make a sound design?

Are you expecting a warranty of some sort from the supplier of this "sound design"?

[canopy]

I want to use 200mm blocks anyway because the insulative value which is higher than a cavity wall in fact. So building a frame would be redundant and add unnecessary cost.

I have contacted q-con, but they do not provide design services. Hence, my question on if it is possible to find an engineer to sort out all the things I listed in the first post and more.

[rickschoppers]

I would agree with Dr. A to contact the company. Everyone in Thailand says they know how to use Q-con when in fact, they don't. Wouldn't trust locals or in-store salespeople.

I was going to use Q-con for my build but now have second thoughts. As usual, everyone says they know how to use it, but few have practical experience. I do not want a bunch of cracks in my walls and since they are 4 meters high, there needs to be concrete reinforcement placed at proper intervals which the locals know nothing about.

There was a good thread on this site that gave R factors of using single block, double block with an air space, double block with fiberglass insulation in the gap and using either Superblock or Q-con. Good info and I am now thinking of using double block with fiberglass insulation for the sun facing walls and leaving an air space for all the rest.

[canopy]

Everyone in Thailand says they know how to use Q-con when in fact, they don't.

Absolutely true. You must be one that pays attention to the specifications of a product instead of just slapping it together. Seriously is there anyone, anywhere in Thailand that knows how to make a proper design with q-con blocks? Someone suggested I ask here on teak door because it is the most technical group of any forum.

[DrAndy]

the company are not going to design your building but they will give you guidelines on what the blocks are capable of

you can ask them for recommendations of an architect/engineer that has used their product frequently

[Maxion]

Q-Con provide load values for all of their products.

There are constructors in Thailand using AAC blocks to carry roof and floor loads. My first house in Thailand was constructed without columns using AAC blocks built off a raft.

Like all aerated blocks, AAC can crack over large spans if some sort of control is not introduced.

[Jesus Jones]

I would try and contact companies that design luxury homes here in Thailand and ask if they can recommend anyone. Despite the majority of workmanship here being pretty shoddy, there are some housing companies that do adhere to European standards.

[kundepuu]

maybe I can help you, but due to forum limits I cant send PM to you, before I have posting 20 times
If you are keen on send PM with your email address so I can tell more about...

[canopy]

Sorry, no can do. I haven't reached 20 yet either.

[kundepuu]

then must send nonsense posts that we reach that limits

[hazz]

I can only really talk about the situation with builders and building skills in bangkok.

There are people in bangkok who are very skilled in the building trades, but they are like gold dust and have no difficulty getting long term work on large construction sites or with the larger home building firms.
When you go looking for small building firms to do individual house builds or simple extension work, often all you can find are the people that are simply not good enough to get a job with the larger firms; although they will have huge levels of self confidence. I have come to the conclusion that unless you put a lot of effort into and are lucky enough to find the odd gem of a builder, you really have to stick to very simple standard thai building techniques or you are asking for a great deal of grief. And in thailand that limits q-con to non load bearing walls.

[rickschoppers]

^
I would tend to agree with you there Hazz.

[canopy]

I think Hazz brings up excellent points for general construction, but note just about every issue listed in the first post is also relevant to non-load bearing q-con walls.

[canopy]

Let me ask just one more thing I can think of before I give up. Any suggestions on how to go about locating a structural engineer, preferably in my province? I've asked q-con and locals to no avail. Just about at the end of my rope.

[hazz]

I think your problem is that the whole country revolves round bangkok, the salaries, the opportunities are on the whole just better there and even when they are not... people often think they are.

I can appreciate the interest in using q-con for load bearing, as the concrete is going to create thermal bridges, but I think what you will end up having to do is accept that you will have re-enforced concrete providing the load bearing and then facing that with some form of insulation to minimise the bridge effect.

As a slight aside, one thing you should be a little paranoid about is condensation. don't forget if you present any kind of cold surface to the outside air in thailand.... you are going to get conduction and all of the damp and mould issues we get in the uk with properies heated with portable gas heaters.

[DrAndy]

Any suggestions on how to go about locating a structural engineer, preferably in my province?

yes, go to the local town hall, they have all sorts employed there if the town is large enough

they do private work under the table

they must have structural engineers to sign off any planning applications

[DrAndy]

Just about at the end of my rope.

you can buy more rope at lots of places

[Digger]

I too am thinking about using these blocks but have some reservations as we used to use same sort of brick in Australia called thermalite and being a plumber the biggest problem was fixing fixtures to them but they were easy to work with. The hebal Australia web site has a good guide to specifications about design click on our systems - wall systems - internal or external walls - builders/installers

[DrAndy]

^ if you use the correct plugs, it is easy
and drilling is simple, no need for hammer drill

we have all sorts of appliances etc hanging off QCON blocks

wait a minute, just heard a crash.....

[Digger]

Dr Andy did you build double brick and did you have a cavity between the courses, I am used to double brick with a cavity then if any water gets through outside course it exits through weep holes at slab level also somewhere to hide services
With the thermalite didn't even need a drill for plugs used to hammer in a bit of 20 mm dowl and then fix to it

[DrAndy]

no, we used 10cm blocks for the infill, rendered with the correct cement mix

it is unlikely that any water can penetrate the blocks, they are aereated not full of holes....and yes, maybe a good place for the services