Building Materials & Environmental Sustainability (BMES)

RESEARCH AREAS

• Building Materials: Bricks, Lime, Gypsum and their Environmental impact Assessment /monitoring
• Building Termite/Fungi: R&D efforts towards anti-termite and anti-fungal treatments in buildings, control of vegetative growth (i.e., peepal, banyan, etc) from buildings
• Construction Chemicals: Polymer composite, Admixtures, Sealant materials, Water Proofing chemicals, superplasticizers, white pigment TiO₂, nano pigments)
• Materials for Heritage Conservation: Repair materials and surface treatment (nano lime, anti-fungal, transparent ,nano-titania coatings)
• Cement/Concrete Sustainability: Bio-Concrete, Pre-fabricated building element, building material atlas
• Waste-to-Wealth: Agro-industrial and metallurgical wastes in developing building Materials synergistically with emphasis on energy and environment, wastewater treatment, industrial pollution abatement, mineral carbonation.
• New Materials:Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), CO₂ Sequestration, 3-D concrete printing, Energy Efficient Materials

ONGOING PROJECTS

Industry funded:

• Performance of TermiPore reticulate pipe system to install for pre and post anti-termite treatment in buildings (SSP-0734)
• Technical Evaluation by Characterization and Comparative Study on Manufacturing of Fly Ash Block using AAC Technology with Other Similar Products (SSP0664)
• Development of Composite Plaster Using Mineral Additives & FGD Waste from desulphurisation Plant (SSP1074)

CSIR Funded:

• Encyclopaedia and development climate resilient building suiting to different climatic regions  of India under “Development of durable and energy efficient  climate resilient  building for India (HCP-59)”
• Phenome India CSIR Health Cohort Knowledgebase (HCP -47)
• Cost-effective water treatment system for use in construction purposes under “Mission mode: Climate Resilient Buildings for India (HCP 059)”
• Development of glass foam utilizing waste glasses for insulation and construction application (HCP 054)
• Development of indigenous construction chemicals: Superplasticizer for concrete & TiO₂ for paint applications (IHP240002)
• Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS): CO₂utilization in building construction (HCP-48)

Lab projects:

• Mineral carbonation of waste gypsum to produce solid carbonates for building applications (OLP-2305)
• Pre-pilot scale preparation of microencapsulation of phase change materials (PCM) at desired temperature range (ambient to 80 ℃) using spray dryer technique for building applications (OLP-2305)

COMPLETED PROJECTS

• Development Of green sustainable composite building material using biochar (2023-2024)
• Stack Monitoring of High Draught Brick Kilns and Determination of Pollution Load in Distt. Abhor, Punjab (2023-2024)
• Commercialization of Energy Efficient Burnt Clay Bricks Technology Using Internal Fuel with Low Carbon Footprints (2022-2024)
• Development of High Volume Fly Ash-Gypsum Composite Plaster for interior Applications (2022-2024)
• Development of CO₂ sequestered engineered aggregates from fly ash and industrial wastes (2022-2024)
• Physio-chemical Characterization of OPC (43G) and PPC cement (2022-2023)
• Development of CO₂ sequestered artificial aggregates using fly ash and lime sludge (2022-2023)
• Evaluation of concrete mixes made through new 4^th generation technology (2022)
• Study of environmental degradation of stone structure & development of gypsum-based repair material (January 2021 to 2025)
• Studies for flora diversity on heritage buildings and surface treatment for preservation(2021-2025)
• Physical Verification of Rectangular High Draft Brick Kilns with Zig Zag Setting to Issue Adequacy Certificates In Punjab State (2020-2022)
• Development of gypsum vermiculite plaster (GVP) using FGD gypsum (2020-2022)
• Development of High Strength Plaster Using FGD gypsum & Fly Ash (2020- 2022)
• Development of Technology for High Strength Binder Using Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) Gypsum-a By-Product of Coal Based Thermal Power Plants (2020-2022)
• Development of technology package for the manufacture of eco-friendly and energy efficient burnt clay bricks with low carbon footprints (2020-2022)
• Design and Drawing of Air Pollution Control Device (wet scrubbing) for Control of Respiratory Dust Emission from Brick Kilns (2020-2021)
• Identification of fungi on select heritage structure and development of suitable anti-fungal chemical from medicinal plants (2018-2020)
• Feasibility of studies on development of value added building components using flurogypsum (2018-2019)
• Recycling of silt from storm water drains, sludge’s from water treatment plant/sewage treatment plant and ash from waste to energy plant in to useful products (2017-2018)
• Feasibility Studies on use of ETP Sludge for Development of Value Added Building Materials (2016-2017)
• Evaluation of chemically cross link foam (2015-2016)
• Restoration and preservation of reinforced concrete heritage building-Secretariat building, Chandigarh (2014-2015)
• Development of eco-friendly component for fungi management on exterior and interior surface of buildings in sub tropical region of India (EMPOWER) (2010-2012)
• Development of environment-friendly materials/ component for termite and fungi management in buildings (2010-2012).
• Studies on building fungi and their control with selected phytochemicals (2008-2010)
• Bio-concrete as self healing material under 12th FYP of CSIR-CBRI, Roorkee (2007-2012)
• Investigation on select phytochemicals of insecticidal values to control termites and development of eco-friendly fungicides (2001-2003)
• Evaluation of bioactive plant molecules for termite control (1998-2002)
• Studies on eco-friendly termite control management for buildings (1998-2000)
• Studies on behavior and controlling measures of termite (1998-2000)
• Development of non-toxic termite control measures in buildings (1997-1999)

Last Updated on January 30, 2025

For further details please contact:

Dr. Rajesh K. Verma
Head
Building Materials & Environmental Sustainability Group
Phone     : +91-1332-283271, 283306, 283364
Fax         : +91-1332-272272
Email     : rkverma_cbri [at] csir.res.in