Background
The idea of using cardboard as a building material is not novel. On the contrary, it is currently being actively promoted in England where an experimental cardboard-based school building has been
designed and is being constructed with completion due before the end of the year 2001 http://www.cardboardschool.co.uk
The project is supported by the Department of Energy, Transport and Regions (DETR) and a world renowned engineering consulting firm Buro Happold http://www.burohappold.com . Prior to the go-ahead being given for the cardboard building project, a year long extensive study was carried out examining the physical properties of cardboard from an engineering point of view.
The findings of this study were favourable, leading to the subsequent decision to design and construct a cardboard building. It is interesting to note that the study suggests two ways of increasing the fire
resistance of cardboard: steel sheets or intumescent (expanding) paint, both of which would greatly add to the material costs (exceeding the cost of the cardboard) and therefore not provide a cost effective measure.
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