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International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 12 Issue: 05 | May 2025

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p-ISSN: 2395-0072

Exploring Smart Alternative to Brick in Construction: An Analysis of Material Performance and Environmental Impact Ramya K1, Fathima Taskeen2, Anitha V3 1Post – Graduate student, Faculty of Architecture, Dr. M.G.R Educational and Institute – Chennai, India 2Asst. H.O.D, Faculty of Architecture, Dr. M.G.R Educational and Institute – Chennai, India

3Assoc. Architect, Faculty of Architecture, Dr. M.G.R Educational and Institute – Chennai, India ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------

Abstract - Construction is a major contributor to the

planet’s carbon emissions, and making regular bricks is an energy-draining process that damages the environment. The study investigates K-Briq, Gent waste bricks and Breath brick as smart alternatives of fired clay bricks through lab testing, case studies and life cycle assessment (LCA). K-Briq contains 90% less carbon and offers better insulation, and consists of 90% construction and post-consumption waste. Gent Waste Brick enables a reduction of emissions by 60-75% with a costreduction. Filtering: Breath bricks clean the air inside when you breathe through them. While the cost of such materials is high, they still allow net energy and waste savings in the long run, and qualify for building incentives aimed at green projects. The study ends with a more general referral recommendation which illustrates the need for more supportive guidelines and cross sector working.

1.2 Significance of the study To this end, this study builds on the growing body of knowledge on sustainable construction materials to provide empirical evidence on the performance and sustainability of smart bricks. For developing countries like India, where rapid urbanization is a pressing and unsustainable challenge, empirical data on smart brick performance and sustainability provide an essential input for policy formulation, architecture and building practice.

Two such alternatives, smart (sustainability-engineered materials) materials and sustainable materials that are not limited to renewable feedstocks, have come to attention to aid in solving and mitigating these problems. These resources contain recycled waste and use less energy to produce, while also providing added benefits such as increased thermal insulation and air purification. In this work, we consider three promising ones:

2. METHODOLOGY 15 smart materials were initially reviewed across relevant criteria like structural and thermal performance, sustainability, scalability, cost-effectiveness and relevance to the Indian construction market. From these fifteen materials we selected K-Briq, Gent Waste Brick and Breath Brick for further analysis on the basis of their proven performance and adaptability.

K-Briq (made from 90% recycled construction waste, doesn’t need to be kiln fired).

Impact Factor value: 8.315

Breath Brick (air filter design for healthier indoor air).

Economically, smart materials may cost more in the beginning but the long-term benefits (e. g. lower energy consumption, improved maintenance and longer service life) make up for the cost of investment. Market analysis also shows a growing willingness to adopt smart materials among Indian construction industry as well and hence further speeding up of adoption would involve integrating smart materials into green building rules, granting financial incentives to the undertakings, and raising awareness through pilot projects and industry training program.

The global construction industry is being urged to consider greener construction methods due to the large environmental footprint of the industry. This is due to the fact that traditional brick production causes a significant energy use from kiln firing, estimated at 1.5–2.5 kWh per brick, and thus 0.41–0.50 kg of CO₂ per brick are emitted. And it is not only destroying soils, but also contributing significantly to climate change. Adding to the harvesting of raw materials like sand and clay, India’s enormous urbanization places further pressure on the country’s environmental issues.

Technical test data prove that smart materials are better than standard bricks in terms of strength-to-weight ratios, insulating qualities, and performance under stress due to environmental factors. The life cycle of the smart materials is shown to be environmentally beneficial in terms of carbon emissions and embodied energy, and higher resource utilization throughout their life cycle, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

1.INTRODUCTION

Gent Metro Brick (80% industrial by-products, lowenergy curing).

1.1 Research Objective

Key Words: Sustainable construction, smart materials, KBriq, Gent Waste Brick, Breath Brick, carbon footprint, life cycle assessment, circular economy.

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