Cheaper, safer, greener.
Most homes in Nepal are still built with fired bricks. These are too expensive for poor and low-income families, and cause major CO2 emissions and air pollution. Our interlocking eco-bricks are based on Compressed Stabilised Earth Brick (CSEB) technology. We have optimised the brick mix, which is made using locally available materials and compressed, not fired.
Compared to traditional coal-fired bricks, our eco-bricks are:
Cheaper: 25% less to build a two-room house, 40% less to build walls
Safer: Disaster-resilient interlocking feature, withstood 2023 earthquake
Greener: 75% less CO2, 90% less air pollution
What are interlocking CSEB?
What are interlocking eco-bricks?
Interlocking eco-bricks are made by mixing and compressing sand, soil and minimal (7%) cement in a machine. They can also be made using stone-dust and cement. The bricks are then stacked and cured for 21 days – the cement sets and bonds with the sand stabilising the brick.
Disaster resilient
We utilise interlocking brick masonry and reinforce the walls with rebar, both horizontally and vertically, adding to the strength and making the structure earthquake resistant.
Vertical rebar are put in each corner, at doors and windows and evenly spaced throughout the walls. This is then connected with horizontal seismic bands making the whole structure interconnected and earthquake resistant.
All our eco-brick structures withstood Nepal’s devastating 2023 earthquake (which destroyed 79,000 homes) and saved lives. Read our Damage Assessment here.
Government approved
The government of Nepal approved interlocking CSEB technology in 2017, and recommended it in 2024 reconstruction guidelines.
Download DUDBC Volume 2 model houses in Nepal: DESIGN-CATALOGUE-VOLUME-II-FINAL.pdf
The technology is also approved in India, New Mexico, New Zealand and Thailand.
Machines & training
We provide a range of machines – from manual to larger hydraulic ones – and training to produce and build with interlocking eco-bricks.