MlCROFlCHE REFERENCE LIBRARY A project of Volunteers in Asia Makina Euildina Blocks with the CINVA-Ram Published by: Volunteers in Technical Assistance 1815 North Lynn St. Suite 208 P.O. Box 12438 Arlington, VA 22209 USA Paper copies are $ 2.50; a Spanish-language edition is available. Available from: Volunteers in Technical Assistance 1815 North Lynn St. Suite 200 P.O. Box 12438 Arlington, VA 22209 USA Reproduced by permission of Volunteers in Technical Assistance. Reproduction of this microfiche document in any form is subject to the same restrictions as those of the original document. VITA MANUAL AKING BUILDI G BUNKS ITH THE CINV A SUPERVISORaS MANUAL NOTE TO THE READER: VITA's publications are compiled by VITA volunteers because they Tgant to help people in developing areas. With your field experience, you are in a unique position of oeing able to increase the usefulness of this work by'sharing what you have learned with the people 'who will use the publications in the future. You are strongly urged to complete the following questionnaire, tear it out and send it to: VITA 230 State Street Schenectady, N.Y. 12305 U.S.A. Date Name Agency Address 1. Is the material in this manual presented so that you can follow it to use the CINVA-Ram Block Press? 2. Have you followed it to use the machine? 3. Where do you find it unclear? 4. Where do you find it incomplete? 5. Where would more diagrams be helpful? 6. Rave you made any improvements on the instructions contained in the manual? If so, please describe them including photographs or sketches if possible. 7. Would you suggest other publications which would be useful in your part of the world? TABLE OF CONTENTS - I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 II. EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 III. 'IkSTING FOR THE SUITABILITY OF THE SOIL. . 4 IV. MAKING BLOCKS AND TILES. . . . . . . . . . 6 V. BUILDING ................ 19 VI. REFERENCES ................ 19 VII. OTHER MACHINES FOR IdAKING BLOCKS FROM STABILIZED EARTH . . . . . . . . . . 20 This manual was compiled by VITA (Volunteers for International Technical Assistance) from material based on.the experience of several field work- ers who have used the CINVA-R& Block Press; It is hoped that the manual will make it easier to use the machine. VITA would appreciate receiving any criticisms'& suggestions for improving the manual. . . . , ,.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,’ ! . . . . . . ..’ ,‘, ,’ . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . Volunteers for International Technical Assistance (VITA) 230 State Street Schenectady, N.Y. 12305 U.S.A. 1966 I INTRODUCTION 1. Purpose This manual combines the experience of four men who used the CINVA-Ram Block Press and figured out answers, bit by bit, to the in- evitable problems of-detail as they came up day after day. This was the hard way to learn how to use the press; this handbook is intended to make it easier, 2. The Press The CINVA-Ram Block Press is a simple, low-cost,portable machine for making building blocks and tiles from common soil (see Fig. 1). The press, made entirely of steel, has a mold box in which a hand-operated piston compresses a slightly moistened mixture of soil and cement or lime. (An equioment list is on page 3.) M A. cover B. Upper Saddle C. Mold Box D. Baseboard E.&F. Upper Adjusting Bolts G.&H. Lowr Adjusting Bolts I.&J. Guide Plates K. Pilrton L, Lower Rollers M. Lever Latch N. Handle Fig. 1 - The CINVA-Ram Block Press and its Parts. -l- 3. 4. 5. 6. The press was developed as a tool for small individual or mutual self- help programs (see Fig. 2.) It was designed by Raul Ramirez, an engin- eer, at the Inter-American Housing Center (CINVA) of the Organization of American States in Bogota, Colombia. I 'ig. 2 - CINVA-Ram House, E Advantages CINVA-Ram blocks and tiles have many advantages over other building materials. ** They are easier to make than concrete blocks: they can be removed immediately from the press and stacked for curing without the use of a pallet. * The cost of building material is greatly reduced, since most of the raw material comes from your own land. ** Transportation costs are avoided, since the blocks are made near the construction site. * Depending on the quality of materials used, CINVA-Ram blocks can be superior to adobe and rammed earth which were used in buildings now 100 years old, still standing and in good condition. ** The blocks are easily handled. * The blocks need no baking, since the curing process is completely natural. * The press makes variations of the block, adapted to the various phases of construction. Note to the Field Worker When teaching people how to use the CINVA- Ram Block Press, make your instructions as simple and clear as poaai- ble. oh not quote from this manual, but master each phase of the operation so that you can teach it in your own words. Encourage the workers to take satisfaction from the completion of each step, every one of which is a move toward the final goal. Soil teszing, block production and,the use of the blocks are all important, but they are less important than the will of the families to help themselves in building a home, This may well need to be awakened and supported by your words of encouragement and inspir- ation. Try to make at least one person in the group familiar with the whole-, operation, so that the local community will posses the skill to carry on the work alone. -2- II EQUIPMENT 7. CINVA-Ram Block Press - .. Weight: Height and base width: Application force of lever: Bearing Strength Size of block (3y' X 5%" X 11%') Size of tile (1%" X 5%,I X ll+$') Average number of blocks or tiles can be made by two people per day: Average number of blocks needed '. -. for a twqdroom hquse: Average number of blocks per 100 lbs of cement: _ 140 lbs. 10" X 16" X 20" 80 lbs. 200-500 psi lays up 4" X 6" .X 1;2" lays up 1%" X 6" X 12" 300-500 2500 150 !'. -;, Inserts: Four different molds for producing different kinds of blocks and tiles. * ,,"' '- '- : * Cost in United States: $175 FOB in New York L'.L... - ..- .AVAILABLE FROM:. 'IBEC Housing'Division ..._: .30 Rockefeller