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The use of local natural materials in order to reduce the environmental negative impact of buildings has become common practice in recent years; such buildings are to be found in all regions of the planet. The high level of thermal protection provided by the envelope elements made from natural materials such as straw bale insulation, hemp insulation or sheep wool, and their lack of thermal massiveness require a more complex analysis on their ability to keep interior comfort without accentuated variations. This article proposes a comparative analysis between different solutions for a residential building located near a Romanian city, Cluj-Napoca. The elements of the building envelope are designed in three alternative solutions, using as substitute to classical solutions (concrete and polystyrene, masonry and polystyrene), straw bales and rammed earth for enclosing elements. Finally, a set of conclusions are presented and future research directions are drawn.

This research investigates the feasibility of developing clay composites using natural materials and incorporating waste by-products suitable for plastering diverse support structures. The study identified a versatile composition suitable for a wide range of support materials and explored the potential of revaluing industrial waste and by-products by reintegrating them into the Circular Economy. The experimental investigation outlines the process of evaluating the influence of different raw materials on the performance of the clay composite. The findings confirm that using limestone sludge and fly ash as additives to clay contributes to reducing axial shrinkage and increasing mechanical strengths, respectively. The optimal percentage of additives for the clay used are identified and provided. Using hydraulic lime as a partial substitute for clay reduces the apparent density of dried clay composites, axial shrinkage, and fissures formation while improving adhesion to the substrate. Introducing dextrin into this mix increases the apparent density of the hardened plaster while keeping axial shrinkage below the maximum threshold indicated by the literature. Mechanical strengths improved, and better compatibility in terms of adhesion to the support was achieved, with composition S3 presenting the best results and a smooth, fissure-free plastered surface after drying.

Lately, there is a growing need for humanity to get closer to nature and to a way of life so that the negative impact on it to be as small as possible. One cannot talk about durable development without taking into account the sustainability criterion which is essential in all areas of activity. Traditional constructions made of masonry elements from unburned clay or other vernacular materials, using sheep wool mattresses for thermal insulation, successfully meet the conditions imposed by this criterion. Constructions made of natural materials, ensure the responsible use of non-renewable natural resources, the possibility of reuse and recycling of materials, contribute to environmental protection and pollution reduction, are energy saving and provide an hygienic, pleasant and healthy living climate. The aim of this paper is to present the experimental results obtained regarding the mechanical properties of the elements of unburned clay masonry with the addition of vegetable fibers from waste and of bio-eco-innovative wool mattresses, of different thicknesses. Following the results obtained on the 2 types of construction materials, based on clay with the addition of vegetable fibers, and sheep wool mattresses as thermal insulation material, it can be stated that they can be used successfully in construction.

Se cunoaşte încă din cele mai vechi timpuri eficienţa tehnologiei de construcţie a locuinţelor utilizând pământul argilos în diverse forme, bătătorit, sub formă de cărămizi sau altele. Au existat numeroase studii pentru îmbunătăţirea acestei tehnologii şi pentru obţinerea unor structuri cât mai rezistente, confortabile şi durabile, precum şi pentru valorificarea deşeurilor industriale. Această lucrare prezintă un studiu experimental privind eficienţa adaosului de deşeuri industriale la argila şi posibilitatea obtinerii unui amestec optim pentru realizarea cărămizilor din argilă nearsă. S-au realizat 6 compoziţii în proporţii diferite de argilă şi deşeuri industriale. S-a folosit cenuşă de termocentrală de la Mintia, şlam de calcar, deşeu haldat provenit de la prelucrarea minereului importat şi şlam de ipsos Analizând concomitent toţi parametrii fizico-mecanici urmăriţi, pentru amestecurile argiloase utilizate, s-a ajuns la concluzia că deşeurile industriale pot fi folosite cu success ca adaos la argilă, cu scopul de a obţine cărămizi din argilă nearsă.

Following the obvious increasingly interest for environmental protection and pollution reduction, worldwide, there is a strong orientation for identification and use in buildings some materials that require low power consumption and to determine a pollution low level in all stages of their production and exploitation. These energy and environmental protection criteria can be met successfully of masonry bodies made of earth mixed with various other natural materials. The purpose of experimental research was to identify the suitable compositions for making bricks from the clay, disperse armed with plant materials, for masonry mortar and for plaster mortar used to the walls made from these bricks and the surface treatments to increase the water resistance, all of these using the sandy clay as main material. Experimental results indicated that the introduction of hemp fiber or straw improve the physical and mechanical parameters of adobe bricks. It was identified a suitable composition for masonry mortar and plaster and the efficiency of surface treatment through impregnation with linseed oil. In conclusion, this work shows a complete system for achievement of ground walls, intended to vernacular construction.

Sustainability is a criterion defined in the 80, which is essential in all fields of current activity. At the moment, it can not talk about development without being taken into account sustainability criteria. It presents the ensuring for an harmonious development, in line with current needs, without to endanger the possibility to develop and satisfy the needs of future generations. The buildings of adobe bricks-type elements ensure successfully the conditions imposed by this criterion. This type of construction ensures the responsible use of renewable natural resources, the possibility of reuse and recycling of materials, contributes to environmental protection and to pollution reduction, to energy saving and it provides a cleaner and healthier living environment. Not least, the buildings of this type are accessible in terms of cost and can contribute to the development of other fields such as eco-tourism.

The main problem with clay-based surfaces is the reduced resistance to water action. Literature does not indicate scientifically validated solutions for surface treatment. However, there are reports that indicate the benefits of impregnating surfaces with animal oils, vegetable oils, petroleum products, etc. The aim of this paper is to identify a solution for treating the surface of earth made bricks, in order to increase the degree of waterproofing and the resistance to water action, using local materials, specific to the western part of Romania. To achieve this, was used a surface treatment based on marble, lime, sand, clay, and water permeation reducing additive. On clay surfaces treated with this material, water vapor permeability and water penetration under wind pressure tests were conducted. The experimental results obtained indicated the optimal composition for the surface treatment material so that it does not crack upon drying, have good adhesion to the substrate, and improve substrate resistance to water action.

During the period 1600-1700, the first works with parquet elements at Versailles Palace were performed, but the high cost has made that the wooden floor to be an exclusive product for a long time. Currently, the most innovated in flooring industry were aimed to improve the technological process, to reduce the losses of raw materials and to reduce the production costs. The experimental research conducted worldwide has shown that the wood processing technology, up to the flooring finite element, plays an important role in achieving a superior quality and durability and that the finishing systems have to be applied depending on the conditions of the area of use. This paper is a comparative study regarding the physico-mechanical characteristics for five types of wood flooring manufactured and marketed in Romania. The experimental results have shown that these characteristics are influenced by the wood species, the type of product (massive one or subjected to stratification technological processing), the thickness of lamellar flooring elements, and the chosen finishing method (varnishing, oiling).

This paper is a comparative study regarding the identification of an optimal method of treating clay bricks surfaces for their waterproofing, keeping the water vapor permeability. Experimental researches have studied the water absorption and the water vapor permeability of some specimens made of a mixture of clay, sand, and natural additives. Their surface has been treated by impregnating or by crystallographic changes in mass at high temperatures. The impregnation materials were various combinations of wax, linseed oil, dryind oil, petroleum or lime. The purpose of this experimental research was to find some optimum solution to obtain waterproofing and the increasing the resistance to environmental aggression of clay bricks used for vernacular construction. The experimental results showed that organic materials can minimize the using, or successfully replace of the classic building materials (concrete, cement). Sandy clay masonry surface can be easily protected against water aggression, both by impregnation treatment and by crystallographic changes, vitrification in mass.

This paper presents a comparative study on the mechanical performance of beech and ash wood laminated panels. Within the experimental study the bending strength, bending modulus of elasticity and the bonding characteristics to gluing (bonding quality) were analyzed. The experimental results emphasized the influence of the type of wood, the panel thickness, the effect on the bending strength, respectively on the gluing quality of the direction of the wood lamellas in relation with the mechanical load (direction of cutting specimens). It can be said that the use of hardwood meets the needs and demands of the construction area, but it's necessary a careful analysis of the requests that occur mainly at the site, thus an optimal direction of the wooden glued lamellas can be chosen. Laminated wood panels are a product with real physical and mechanical qualities, which can be successfully used to obtain construction elements that are bringing benefits to environmental quality of living areas.