How Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is Shaping Construction in Bangladesh

Tanvir Shahriar Rimon, CEO Rancon FC Properties Ltd., Bangladesh

The adoption of autoclaved aerated concrete in Bangladesh has begun, but the journey is far from complete. But for us at Rancon, the journey began with a clear commitment to sustainability. As strong advocates for eco-friendly construction, we were actively searching for a viable alternative to traditional bricks. Then, in early 2022, a chance conversation set everything in motion.

One cozy afternoon, as I sat in my office with a cup of coffee, Mr. Shahriar Sajjad, Managing Director of NextBlock AAC, came to visit. During our casual conversation, he shared something exciting – they were about to launch AAC blocks in Bangladesh. At that moment, I felt a rush of excitement. This was exactly what we had been looking for!

I immediately asked him, “Can you ensure a seamless supply chain?” With confidence in his voice, he assured me they could. That’s when I made him a proposal: “Let’s work as partners. We will promote your product, not just as a business decision, but as a responsibility to society and the planet. But in return, you must guarantee an uninterrupted supply at a competitive price because we intend to ban traditional bricks in our projects.”

At that time, awareness about AAC was low, and the market was dominated by bricks made from topsoil and coal-fired kilns, which were destroying our environment. Seeing the long-term damage, we took a bold step – we decided to completely stop using traditional bricks and lead the shift toward sustainability.
Since then, we have been at the forefront of integrating AAC into large-scale developments. We didn’t just use the product – we actively championed its adoption, engaging with industry leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to highlight its environmental, energy-saving, and structural benefits.

Over time, as sustainability became a priority, AAC started gaining momentum. More manufacturers entered the market, supply chains became stronger, and costs became more competitive. Today, AAC has started getting acceptance, and we are proud to have played a role in this transformation.
By making AAC the standard in our projects, we set an example for the industry. Some of our iconic projects – Z70, Hillcrest, Queen’s Park, Khan Plaza, Rosewood, Omeras, Novera, Greenwood, Oriana, KD Anthem, and Aura – stand as testament of our commitment to sustainable materials.

As a green evangelist, I have continuously advocated for sustainability, sharing insights through forums, discussions, and vlogs to educate people about the benefits of AAC. Our efforts have helped accelerate the shift toward a greener, more eco-conscious construction industry in Bangladesh.

Statement from Shahriar Sajjad, Managing Director, NextBlock AAC

At present, NextBlock AAC manufactures only AAC blocks, which are tailored for a wide range of construction needs. NextBlock AAC is an enterprise of Tilottoma Bangla Group. Tilottoma has been involved with construction materials since its inception approximately 45 years ago.

Efforts are actively underway to position AAC as a value-driven solution that extends beyond its initial cost. These efforts emphasize the lifecycle cost advantage by highlighting significant savings in foundation costs, construction time, utility bills, and long-term maintenance – critical factors that resonate with cost-conscious developers. The lightweight and easy-to-install nature of AAC enables quicker construction and earlier project completion, leading to faster monetization of assets.

Awareness campaigns and direct engagement with architects, engineers, and developers serve to demonstrate the economic benefits of AAC. This is achieved through the provision of technical support, collaborative design consultations, and on-site training. Additionally, policy advocacy plays a key role in aligning AAC with government sustainability goals, including the encouragement of incentive frameworks such as green building certifications and tax breaks that directly benefit adopters of AAC.

AAC demonstrates superior performance in several key areas when compared to traditional building materials. It offers excellent durability due to its dimensional stability and resistance to rot, mold, pests, and age-related degradation when used properly. In terms of thermal insulation, AAC blocks significantly reduce heating and cooling loads, contributing to up to 30% annual energy savings and lower operating costs. The material is also non-combustible, offering fire resistance ratings of up to 4.5 hours, which enhances overall building safety. Thanks to its porous structure, AAC provides strong sound insulation, making it suitable for urban and industrial applications. Its lightweight nature reduces structural loads and enhances seismic resilience. From an environmental perspective, AAC is produced using industrial by-products and consumes fewer raw materials, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.

The outlook for AAC adoption is strong, supported by market demand and policy alignment. The Bangladesh government is promoting sustainable construction materials through measures such as the Green Building Guidelines and planned updates to the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC). Urban development authorities, including RAJUK, are supporting emission-reducing materials, positioning AAC as a compliant and eco-friendly alternative. The public sector’s increasing preference for low-carbon materials is also opening new segments for AAC in infrastructure projects. With rising levels of awareness and education, a market shift from traditional bricks to AAC is expected across both urban and semi-urban construction sectors.

Statement from Samiul Islam, Executive Director, Maxcrete Limited

Currently, Maxcrete Limited produces approximately 35,000 m³ of AAC blocks annually. We currently have the largest production capacity of approximately 1000 m³ per day. However, we are planning an extensive market awareness campaign since it’s a new product for Bangladesh which will allow us to reach at least 240,000 m³ per year in the near future. At present, we manufacture AAC blocks exclusively, but we already implemented the technologies and intend to expand our product range to include AAC panels and lintels.

We are actively exploring the integration of recycled materials into our AAC production process and we have an in house research and development laboratory including a water treatment plant inside our facility. In particular, we aim to utilize fly ash and recycled AAC waste. While fly ash is not currently widely available in Bangladesh, several coal-based power plants are being established, which will provide fly ash as a byproduct of coal combustion. This will not only help reduce industrial waste but also lower carbon emissions compared to traditional clay brick manufacturing.

Additionally, during transportation and installation, sometimes AAC blocks may be damaged or broken. These can be crushed and processed into aggregates, which are then reintegrated into the production cycle for new AAC blocks – significantly reducing the demand for virgin raw materials.

To minimize energy consumption, Maxcrete has installed a 357 kW solar power system, with plans to expand to 1 MW. Once completed, solar energy will account for 30–35% of our total energy use. Furthermore, we have converted our boiler system from diesel to CNG, leading to a projected reduction of fuel consumption by 30–35%.

Maxcrete employs various energy-saving measures during production. For instance, steam used in the curing process is recycled, and condensate water is reused as preheated feed water for the boiler – resulting in a 25–30% reduction in fuel energy consumption.

As for the end product, AAC blocks offer superior thermal insulation due to their low thermal conductivity (0.12–0.15 W/m·K), compared to traditional clay bricks (0.8–0.81 W/m·K). This results in a 25–30% reduction in air conditioning energy usage. Additionally, AAC blocks provide enhanced fire resistance (4+ hour rating for 200mm thickness) versus conventional clay bricks (2 hour max rating). Overall, the widespread use of AAC blocks could contribute to an estimated 30% energy savings, positively impacting the national power grid.