Is Lightweight Concrete All Wet?
Lightweight concrete is occasionally
thought to be the primary culprit
in moisture-related failures...Learn more!
Fire Ratings
Lightweight concrete structures have a higher fire resistance than normal weight concrete. This is due to their low heat conductivity, resulting in better insulation of the reinforcement, which leads to decreased heating of the reinforcement and reduced thermal stresses.
Expanded Shale & Clay is a better insulator and loses strength less rapidly in fire than normal weight concrete. Consider that a 3.75" thick, sanded lightweight concrete panel will supply two-hour fire endurance, while under the same conditions, it would take a 5" heavyweight concrete panel to supply equal endurance, illustrating that ES&C has the capability to deliver fire safety without compromising strength and durability.
Additional Resources
Fire Rating Performance of Lightweight CMU Using TXI ES&C
