Earth Covered Buildings

Environmentally Sound Earth Covered Buildings

Earth Covered buildings, or green roof buildings, are becoming a popular alternative to conventional metal and tile roofs. They are environmentally sound and bring people closer to nature. Well designed earth covered buildings are energy and water efficient.  They are low maintenance and provide effective protection from cyclones and bushfire. Earth covered buildings achieve high Green Star ratings.

Spantech developed a unique combination of technology and construction methods to deliver earth-covered buildings to the Australian Department of Defence. Defence forces internationally now use these buildings to store explosive ordnance, shelter fighter aircraft and other high value assets and to protect personnel.

For more information refer to Defence. The same construction technology is now used for Spantech’s earth covered commercial and residential projects.  For example, Spantech constructed the earth covered nocturnal animal display for the new Sydney Zoo.

Construction of Earth Covered Buildings

Construction of an earth covered building begins with construction of a Spantech ground-to-ground building. Reinforcing is fixed to the panels and shotcrete (sprayed concrete) applied over the structure.

The Spantech panels act as a composite formwork, integral to the support of the arch. The thickness of the shotcrete is designed to suit the specific application, from 160mm thick for commercial buildings, or thicker for blast resistant buildings.

Waterproofing is applied to the concrete structure and subsoil drainage systems installed. When cured the structure is covered with earth. Spantech’s earth covered buildings are based on the proven designs of specialised buildings designed and tested for the Australian Department of Defence. (See photos below)