Company Profile

Aruba Building Systems is a Western Cape based operation in the Republic of South Africa.

The concept was born from the proven use of flame – retardant expanded polystyrene (EPS) in building construction in Europe over the past four decades. Aruba Construction married the European concept with the ideal of a fast, cost effective building system that would suit local conditions, comply with all statutory requirements and facilitate the use of unskilled labour.

EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) - The raw material for EPS is produced in the form of small polymer beads containing a blowing agent (pentane) which, when exposed to steam, expands to form a lightweight "prefoam" of required density.

EPS is made up of organic materials, primarily carbon and hydrogen, and is therefore one of the most ecologically harmless products ever developed. It also contains no CFC's and therefore does not damage the earth's sensitive ozone layer.

The low coefficient of heat conduction of EPS limits it's capacity to transmit Heat and Cold. This attribute of Aruba is the cornerstone of the Key Advantages of the Aruba 2000 Series Building System, viz. excellent thermal properties such as warm and cosy in Winter, cool and comfortable in Summer.

Water absorption in EPS is negligible as the non-inter connecting cell structure prevents capillary absorption into the interior of a moulded product. EPS will remain effective as an insulant for the life of buildings since the product will not decay, and is non-nutritive to pests and rodents.

The benefits of Aruba is endless, walls are structurally secure, soundproof and water resistant. The lightweight modules (ca. 615 gms.) are fast and easy to place. Aruba walls has a huge advantage over conventional brick-and-mortar when a comparison is made between the respective in-situ weights of the two products. By way of an example ; an Aruba wall 180 mm thick weighs 240 kgs./ square metre whereas, a brick-and-mortar 230 mm or a 280 mm thick cavity wall weighs 400 kgs./square metre.

Sustainable Story

The Aruba 2000 Series Building System is permanent polystyrene formwork comprising of interlocking modular, hollow Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) modules filled with concrete. The EPS is environmentally safe, it contains no CFC's, HCFC's nor HCF's, will not decay and is vermin proof with very low water absorption properties. It also has the advantage of excellent thermal insulation and acoustic properties.

The modules are press-fitted together to form permanent insulation and shuttering for concrete-filled load bearing and non-load bearing walls in buildings. The walls can be plastered with conventional sand/cement plaster or alternatively, with generic coatings or cladded with any one of a choice of cladding products.

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