1.

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Originally composed mainly of agricultural lands, real estate and infrastructure
development in the Philippines continues to grow as an attempt to cope up with the
developing world. Real estate development and high-rise infrastructure development use
various techniques in construction. Concrete hollow blocks (CHB) and Load-bearing blocks
(LBB) are common in residential sites. The latter are concrete blocks that are almost the
same in appearance as CHB but are thicker and has better load-bearing characteristics
(Cagantas, 2006).
In search of a more cost and time efficient method in infrastructure development,
prefabricated materials were eventually introduced in the industry. These prefabricated
materials aim to ease the installation and lessen the labor hours needed to finish a building.
Cost, as one of the major driving forces in infrastructure projects is also a target advantage of
prefabricated materials. Prefabricated materials may either be on-site or off-site. Off-site
materials are those that are made at a different location from that of the construction site. On-
site materials on the other hand are those that are made at the construction site (Emmitt &
Gorse, 2010). Frames, beams, and panels are some of the building elements that can be
prefabricated.
Throughout the following years, many prefabricated materials were developed and
introduced in the countrys construction industry. Examples of prefabricated materials are
Ecopanel walls, Reinforced Concrete Panel (RCP) walls, Glass-reinforced concrete panels
(GRCP).
Just recently, Next Century Building Systems, Incorporated, a subsidiary of Nuvoland
Philippines, Incorporated acquired the Emmedue or M2 technology from Italy. M2 is a
type of prefabricated material composed of expanded polystyrene panel sandwiched between
two wire meshes. M2 panel technology has been around for thirty years and is used in
several countries such as Italy, Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, USA, Mexico, etc. M2 panels
can be used in building exterior walls, interior partition walls, staircases, flooring, and even
roofing.
A proposed four-story residential building in McKinley Hill, Taguig will use M2 panels
for its construction. All components of the house (e.g. exterior walls, interior partition walls,
ceiling, staircase, and roofing) will be composed of M2 panels. As an attempt to evaluate
whether using M2 panels in residential building construction is more advantageous over
using RCP walls and LBB walls, observations on site and analysis of the time and cost
efficiency of using M2 in residential construction will be done.
1.2 Significance of the Study
Building residential infrastructures is all about the cost and duration of the work to be
done, and the durability of the resulting project. Contractors commonly use LBB in
construction sites in place of CHB. On the other hand, RCP is now being used in low-cost
residential construction sites in the country. RCP walls are used as both load-bearing and
non-load-bearing components in residential buildings.
It has been determined in a previous study which compared RCP and LBB that RCP is
more costly for single residential construction but on the contrary is more beneficial than
LBB when used in repeated constructions.
M2, being a relatively new technology in the country, is not yet common in the
construction industry. Questions such as cost, duration, and durability are always present. In
this regard, this study will investigate the adequacy and advantages or disadvantages of using
M2 panels in residential building construction and compare it to that of RCP and LBB wall
panels.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The general objective of this study is to investigate the usage of M2 panel system in
residential building construction.
Specifically, this study aims to:
1. Provide adequate information on the production process of the M2 panels;
2. Evaluate the structural characteristics of the M2 panels;
3. Document the actual installation process and duration of M2 panels in the proposed
residential building in McKinley Hill and compare it to that of RCP and LBB; and
4. Perform cost analysis to compare the installation and material cost of M2 with RCP
and LBB.






2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
2.1 Emmedue Building System
Emmedue panel technology started in Italy in the year 1981. Various types of
panels can be produced depending on the specifications given by the client. There are panels
that are for wall usage, both external and internal, stairway panel, landing panel, and roofing
panel. The thickness of the panels ranges from 60 mm up to 120 mm; the length is also
customizable depending on the project to be done.
2.1.1 Components of the Panel
Expanded Sintered Polystyrene (EPS)
Polystyrene beads are placed in a pre-expander and heated until the optimal size of
the beads is reached. These fresh beads are stored in Silos wherein they may be mixed with
recycled polystyrene for the production of the blocks. The produced blocks vary in density
depending on the percentage composition of the fresh and recycled beads. The blocks are cut
depending on the specifications set by the client.
EPS is non-toxic, recyclable, and self-extinguishing.
Galvanized Iron Wire Mesh
The two wire meshes are composed of 2.5 mm-diameter 124 mm-long transversal
wires welded to custom-length 2.8-mm diameter longitudinal wires. They serve as
reinforcement for the EPS panel. The two meshes are stitched together with the EPS
center via welded connectors which are also 2.8-mm diameter GI wires.
2.2 Prefabrication
Prefabrication is an engineering process wherein components of an infrastructure is
manufactured at a specific plant and delivered to the construction site. Prefabricated
materials can either be delivered as parts to be assembled or as a whole structure, in which is
just erected and connected to the foundation (Emmitt & Gorse, 2010). The problem of setting
fresh concrete during transportation for traditional in-situ assembly for large constructions is
not present in prefabrication thus reducing construction cost and enabling relatively simpler
management. Reduced construction duration allows contractors to build several units at a
faster time.
2.3 Reinforced Concrete Panel
Reinforced concrete panels (RCP) are reinforced concrete elements which are
manufactured as ready-to-assemble elements. The use of RCP facilitates faster installation
and limits the use of manual labor. RCP is more costly compared to LBB when used in
residential construction due to the price incurred from initial procurement of formworks. In
the long run, RCP becomes cheaper than LBB when used in continuous residential
development since the formworks are reusable (Cagantas, 2006).
2.4 Load-Bearing Blocks
These are construction materials with similar appearance as that of CHB. LBB are
installed in the same manner as CHB. Units are installed one after another, adding mortar in
between units and in between layers. Unlike CHB, LBB can be used as external load-bearing
elements thus reducing the need for beams and. LBB have L-shaped elements which
facilitate in the construction of corners.
2.5 Related Studies
In 2006, Caimol observed cast-in-place and pre- cast concrete stairway construction
methods and researched on the construction methods of polystyrene stair panel. On site
observations were conducted at the Lancaster Suites Tower Mandaluyong. Included in the
study are the construction methods, amount of time for the installation of various types of
stairways, types of equipment used, and cost analysis for the materials. It was determined
that the most cost-efficient, time-efficient, and labor-productive for the construction of a
staircase is the Polystyrene Stairs panel.
Cagantas in 2006 explained in detail the construction of a RCP wall using steel panel
formwork. The study, done in Camella Homes, compared RCP wall to LBB wall in terms of
strength, working time schedule, and cost. At the end of the study, RCP wall construction is
the better choice for mass residential construction under the parameters since RCP
formworks are reusable.
Caraan in 2010 compared polystyrene-filled concrete walls and CHB in terms of
material cost, labor cost, work duration, and construction methods for Parapet walls. The
study was conducted at The Residences at Greenbelt. The study encompasses the installation
of reinforcement bars until the finishing of the walls. It was found out that double CHB walls
are more economical for material costs and labor costs.



3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
Observations will be done at the production plant of the Emmedue building systems
handled by the NCBS. Each process, from the delivery of the materials until the production
and storage of the finished products will be noted.
A site visit will be done at the proposed residential project at McKinley Hill, Taguig.
Data regarding the delivery and storage of the M2 panels will be gathered from interviews
with the engineers and contractors at the site. Multiple visits will be done in order to
document the actual installation of the panels during the residential construction. Information
regarding the installation process will be observed and photos of the construction will be
taken for documentation.
In order to compare the material and labor cost of using M2 panels in construction
with that of LBB and RCP, the structural plan of the residential project will be acquired.
From the structural plan, an estimate of the materials will be done for both LBB and RCP.
The estimate will be generated basing on researches and interviews with engineers and
contractors. Regarding the labor hours and labor cost that will be incurred if LBB or RCP
will be used, interviews with engineers, contractors, and skilled laborers will be conducted.






COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EMMEDUE BUILDING SYSTEM
TO REINFORCED CONCRETE PANELS AND
LOAD-BEARING BLOCKS








MERJANNE CZARY DIONGLAY ALBONIAL






SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES LOS BAOS
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
DEGREE OF





BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING




MAY 2014










REFERENCES

BRACO, F.A.B & FERREIRA, J.P.J.G. (2007). The use of glass-fiber reinforced concrete as
a structural material. Retrieved May 23, 2014 from http://www.highbeam.com/
doc/1P3-1283394681
CAGANTAS, R.A.C. (2006). Comparative analysis of reinforced concrete and load-bearing
block wall: Camella Homes Siena Village Central Subdivision project case, Caloocan
city (north). Unpublished undergraduate field practice report Civil Engineering.
University of the Philippines, Los Baos, College, Laguna.
CAIMOL, J.A.B. (2006). Comparative analysis on cast-in-place reinforced concrete
stairway, pre-cast reinforced concrete stairway, and polystyrene stair panel.
Unpublished undergraduate field practice report Civil Engineering. University of
the Philippines, Los Baos, College, Laguna.
CARAAN, K.A. (2010). Comparative analysis between reinforced concrete with polystyrene
filler and concrete hollow block as used in parapet walls: the case of the Residences
at the Greenbelt Phase III the Manila tower. Unpublished undergraduate field
practice report Civil Engineering. University of the Philippines, Los Baos,
College, Laguna.
EMMITT, S., & GORSE, C.A. (2010). Barry's introduction to construction of buildings. (2
nd

ed.). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
The panel components. (2012). EMMEDUE en RSS. Retrieved May 20, 2014, from
http://en.mdue.it/construction-system/products/the-panel-components/