Safely build your bioclimatic house in an earthquake zone with Xella

The Ytong mortise and tenon thermopierre version, subject to technical advice, is recommended for the construction of bioclimatic houses in seismic zones.

The Thermopierre Ytong mortise and tenon block version from Xella, the world's leading manufacturer of cellular concrete, has just obtained a technical opinion from the CSTB allowing it to be used for the design of bioclimatic houses in seismic zones. The mortise and tenon block is a jointed interlocking block with high thermal performance whose installation principle ensures speed and simplicity of implementation. Thanks to its lambda of 0,09 W/(mK), it displays very high thermal performance, for example, with a 36,5 cm thick block, the U of a wall rendered with plasterboard is only 0,242 W/(m².K)! The mortise and tenon also has fire-resistant properties in a self-supporting separating wall (CSTB test report No. RF08-089).

Technical advice for bioclimatic houses in seismic zones

After initial tests carried out in partnership with the CSTB, followed by close collaboration with the CERIB* to define calculation methods and modeling, the performance of the mortise-and-tenon system has just been validated by obtaining a technical opinion. This recommendation recommends the simultaneous use of the blocks in seismic zones (for houses up to R+2) and for the design of bioclimatic houses, making Xella the only manufacturer to offer a unique solution for this dual problem!

This certification comes as the publication of the new seismic map of France is imminent. This map will be introduced by the implementing decree of Eurocode 8, which aims to replace the construction regulations. earthquake-resistant "PS 92 ”.  

With this technical advice, Xella is the only manufacturer able to offer a block in a seismic zone whose assembly is carried out with a dry joint (not glued) vertically!

*CERIB : Concrete Industry Study and Research Center

A practical and economical Thermopierre block

The Thermopierre mortise-and-tenon version is an interlocking joint block with one "grooved" side and one "tongue" side. The installation principle of this product is both simple and quick to implement and avoids spaces between the blocks. The mortise-and-tenon is also a more economical construction solution that requires less glue and less time. Indeed, the thin adhesive mortar joint is only applied to the horizontal edges, the vertical edges interlocking without glue (dry joints).

The 25, 30 and 36,5 cm thick blocks are used particularly for load-bearing walls (exterior walls) or self-supporting walls (infill walls and curtain walls). The block heights are 25 or 50 cm for a length of 62,5 cm.

For fire-resistant applications, 15 cm or 20 cm thick blocks are recommended for self-supporting fire-resistant separating walls (fire resistance up to 4 or 6 hours) by the

CSTB test report No. RF08-089 of September 29, 2008.

Available in 5 thicknesses and 2 heights, the Ytong Tenon-mortise block is available for sale.