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In 1996 Practical Action commissioned Paragon Ceramics to build an experimental lime kiln at Dedza in Malawi in partnership with local lime burners.
When constructing houses, it is important to design them with simple designs to enable persons with disability (PWDs) to have access to houses. These designs should be included at the start itself...
Nearly half the world cooks on three-stone fires or basic stoves causing indoor air pollution. This technical brief looks at reducing this pollution.
Part 1 describes stone building techniques for round buildings.
Part 2 covers the stone building techniques for a square building, and describes an alternative 'single skin' wall.
Pozzolanas and lime are the basis for alternative cements used instead of ordinary Portland cement. Testing is needed to determine the quality of the pozzolanas available.
Practical guide to the design of a small to medium scale oil fuelled lime kiln.
Practical guide to uses of hydraulic limes on sites where Portland cement is unavailable or expensive.
Spurs and dykes are structures that can be made by communities from wire and stones. They are used to protect river banks and help the communities in Nepal cope with flood waters.
The acknowledged standard test for available lime is the ASTM Rapid Sugar Test which uses relatively simple, portable laboratory glassware and common reagents.