EcoPrefab employs a system of pre-fabricated timber wall and roof panels, produced to high quality in a controlled factory environment. On site, the wall panels are inserted into a light-weight steel frame, and fixed on top of a pre-cast concrete upstand.
EcoPrefab’s inputs consist almost entirely of locally sourced and regenerative materials such as stone, sustainably sourced pine and eucalyptus, lime and sawdust, resulting in ultra low-carbon buildings.
The complete encasement of the walls in lime plaster not only ensures the long-term effectiveness of the anti-insect and fire treatment, it also provides the building with a masonry look preferred by many users.
The resulting school buildings are durable and comfortable, presenting a 75% carbon footprint reduction when compared to conventional construction methods. The naturally pigmented render surfaces don't need regular repainting.
Designed for durability.
Foundations: Locally sourced packed rubble stone strips for optimal moisture protection
Plinths: Mass concrete upstands with steel spacers to protect walls against rising dampness
Walls: Treated wooden frames, pressed sawdust-lime blocks, lime plaster or timber plank finish
Roofs: Corrugated zinc-al roofsheets on eucalyptus trusses and purlins; PVC gutters
Floors: Thin layer of smooth-floated structural concrete on hardcore bed
Doors & Windows: Lockable steel framed timber shutters provide security and shelter
Certified timber: All wood – pine for walls and eucalyptus for roof trusses and cladding – is from FSC-certified sustainable plantations
Treatment: All timber is treated in borax and boric acid which provides long-term mould and termite control and acts as fire retardant
Fire: Through treatment and encapsulation, the system achieves a two hour fire resistance exceeding the 60min required by the code
EcoPrefab carefully balances functional and aesthetic requirements with durability and maintenance considerations. The outcome are resilient timber-framed buildings with a design life of 50 years.