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Northwest AAC

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(541) 948-3076

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    • Home
    • Technical Information
      • ASTM Certification
      • Economics
      • Environmental
      • Fire Resistance
      • LEED Certification
      • Thermal Properties
    • Building Process
      • Base Course Instillation
      • Structural Components
      • Electrical/Plumbing
      • Interior/Exterior Finish
    • FAQS
      • What is AAC?
      • AAC Building Guide
    • Photo Gallery
    • Contact Us

(541) 948-3076

Northwest AAC

Northwest AACNorthwest AACNorthwest AAC
  • Home
  • Technical Information
    • ASTM Certification
    • Economics
    • Environmental
    • Fire Resistance
    • LEED Certification
    • Thermal Properties
  • Building Process
    • Base Course Instillation
    • Structural Components
    • Electrical/Plumbing
    • Interior/Exterior Finish
  • FAQS
    • What is AAC?
    • AAC Building Guide
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contact Us

Thermal Properties

Understanding the R-Value

The manufacturing process of this material creates millions of tiny air cells, which provide excellent thermal resistance. This efficiency results in a material with high DBMS (Dynamic Benefit of Massive Systems) equivalency, R-value, thermal mass, and air tightness. As a result, AAC is the only wall system currently available that meets Germany's stringent energy codes without adding insulation. 


This material outperforms a conventional wood framed wall system, reaching an R-value of 30 when constructing a 12" thick wall.   One crucial reason owners choose AAC for home construction is to save money on energy. An 8-inch-thick AAC wall is more energy efficient than a 6-inch stud wall with R-19 insulation. The energy efficiency of a building product is determined by its R-value, thermal efficiency, and the effect of thermal mass. The R-value of a material is a measure of its resistance to conductive heat transfer, which is the energy that moves from molecule to molecule. For example, the R-value of a typical 8-inch-thick AAC wall is approximately  R-22, and a 12-inch wall is R-29. 


The chart above demonstrates thermal mass inertia. In this study, one side of a 10-inch AAC wall is painted black to minimize heat absorption from the sun. A thermometer measured temperature changes on the exterior and interior surfaces over a twenty-four-hour period. The outer surface fluctuated over 126*F while the internal surface fluctuated only +2* F. 


Explore how this long-used overseas product quickly becomes a top building choice in the United States through this article and more.

Growing Popularity

AAC was perfected in the mid-1920s by the Swedish architect and inventor Dr. Johan Axel Eriksson, and the process was patented in 1924.  Since 1980, there has been a worldwide increase in the use of AAC materials. New production plants are being built in Australia, Bahrain, China, Eastern Europe, India, and the United States. As a result, AAC is increasingly used by developers, architects, and home builders worldwide.  


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  • ASTM Certification
  • Economics
  • Environmental
  • Fire Resistance
  • LEED Certification
  • Thermal Properties
  • Base Course Instillation
  • Structural Components
  • Electrical/Plumbing
  • Interior/Exterior Finish
  • What is AAC?
  • Photo Gallery