IIT-M experiments with budget houses Engineering Entrance , Engineering Entrance (PG)
A 500 sq. ft. house could costa Rs. 1.25 lakh less to construct, and be built in lessthan a month, if a new technology developed by IIT-Madras delivers on its promise. The first model of such a house — built with Australian technology that was taken forward by IIT-M students and faculty — is currently on display on the campus. Instead of bricks, sand, cement and steel, the two-storey flat is made of gypsum — a waste by-product of the fertiliser industry — and reinforced with glass fibre. This housing technology costs just Rs. 1,250 per square foot, compared to Rs. 1,500 for concrete structures. The model building is made ofpanels, known as glass fibre-reinforce d gypsum (GFRG). These panels are made of gypsum, combined with special additives and glass fibres. For construction, the panels are cut to desired sizes based on room dimensions, with openings made for doors andwindows. This makes the construction process faster, said Devdas Menon, professor, civil engineering department.