The present invention relates to a process for producing a foam ceramic comprising the steps: producing an aqueous suspension of a first mineral raw material; foaming the suspension with air while adding a foaming agent and a binder to form a light foam; mixing the light foam with a powder or slip of a second ceramic raw material to form a heavy foam; pouring the heavy foam into a mold; drying the molded heavy foam in the mold to form a solid foam; and firing the solid foam in the mold to form the foam ceramic.

A lid for a utilities vault having a moldable core and a reinforcement matrix positioned within the core, the reinforcement matrix including longitudinally and laterally extending intersecting members and a plurality of lid feature housings positioned on and attached to the intersecting members, the lid feature housings extending through the core and protruding to the upper and lower surfaces of the lid, and the plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending intersecting members have a height sufficient to provide reinforcement without a perimeter member for the reinforcement matrix.

A lid for a utilities vault having a moldable core and a reinforcement matrix positioned within the core, the reinforcement matrix including longitudinally and laterally extending intersecting members and a plurality of lid feature housings positioned on and attached to the intersecting members, the lid feature housings extending through the core and protruding to the upper and lower surfaces of the lid, and the plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending intersecting members have a height sufficient to provide reinforcement without a perimeter member for the reinforcement matrix.

Provided is a cement composition that has high fluidity (for example, a 0-drop flow value of 200 mm or more) before curing and exhibits high compressive strength (for example, 320 N/mm.sup.2 or more) after curing. The cement composition includes a cement, a silica fume having a BET specific surface area of from 10 m.sup.2/g to 25 m.sup.2/g, an inorganic powder having a 50% cumulative particle size of from 0.8 μm to 5 μm, a fine aggregate having a maximum particle size of 1.2 mm or less, a water reducing agent, an antifoaming agent, and water. The ratio of the cement is from 55 vol % to 65 vol %, the ratio of the silica fume is from 5 vol % to 25 vol %, and the ratio of the inorganic powder is from 15 vol % to 35 vol % in the total amount of 100 vol % of the cement, the silica fume, and the inorganic powder.

Provided is a cement composition that has high fluidity (for example, a 0-drop flow value of 200 mm or more) before curing and exhibits high compressive strength (for example, 320 N/mm.sup.2 or more) after curing. The cement composition includes a cement, a silica fume having a BET specific surface area of from 10 m.sup.2/g to 25 m.sup.2/g, an inorganic powder having a 50% cumulative particle size of from 0.8 μm to 5 μm, a fine aggregate having a maximum particle size of 1.2 mm or less, a water reducing agent, an antifoaming agent, and water. The ratio of the cement is from 55 vol % to 65 vol %, the ratio of the silica fume is from 5 vol % to 25 vol %, and the ratio of the inorganic powder is from 15 vol % to 35 vol % in the total amount of 100 vol % of the cement, the silica fume, and the inorganic powder.

A formwork for performing horizontal castings for the provision of floors, of the type comprising a series of props, and supporting heads to be arranged on the props for the resting of panels designed to form a surface for a concrete casting, each panel comprising at least two longitudinal profiles, for resting on the supporting heads; each one of the longitudinal profiles comprises a central body, a first longitudinal part, for the fixing of the transverse elements, and an opposite second longitudinal part, each one of the supporting heads comprises a plate-like base from which there extends at least one lateral shoulder for the resting of the central body of a longitudinal profile in an intermediate configuration for assembly or disassembly, and a central protrusion, which protrudes from the same side as the lateral shoulders.

A formwork for performing horizontal castings for the provision of floors, of the type comprising a series of props, and supporting heads to be arranged on the props for the resting of panels designed to form a surface for a concrete casting, each panel comprising at least two longitudinal profiles, for resting on the supporting heads; each one of the longitudinal profiles comprises a central body, a first longitudinal part, for the fixing of the transverse elements, and an opposite second longitudinal part, each one of the supporting heads comprises a plate-like base from which there extends at least one lateral shoulder for the resting of the central body of a longitudinal profile in an intermediate configuration for assembly or disassembly, and a central protrusion, which protrudes from the same side as the lateral shoulders.

A system and method for manufacturing a set of cast stones includes a set of spray stations, a set of fill stations, a set of vibration tables, a drying rack, and a demolder connected to the drying rack. A controller is connected to each of the set of spray stations, the set of fill stations, the set of vibration tables, the drying rack, and the demolder, each of which has a set of sensors connected to the controller. The set of spray stations include a set of release stations and a set of color stations. A mold is sprayed with a release product, a set of colors, and then filled with a cementitious material. Once vibrated, the cementitious material is dried to form the set of cast stones, which is then automatically released from the mold utilizing the demolder.

An apparatus and method for precision forming a precast concrete flight of stairs is disclosed and where precision cut form components provide plural tread supports, plural sideboards, plural tread/riser combinations and a center tread support that upon assembly, the form components, automatically square and align treads and risers with upper and lower landings for installation to provide access between vertically spaced apart floors of a structure.

In some embodiments, a method may include preparing building forms including at least some cementitious materials. The method for preparing forms may include mixing substantially dry cementitious material particles with closed cell foam particles to form a substantially dry composition. In some embodiment, at least some of the cementitious material particles may adhere to at least some surface deformations on the surface of the closed cell foam particles. In some embodiments, the method may include mixing a second portion of water with the substantially dry composition for a second period of time to form a partially wet composition. In some embodiments, a method may include forming a building form including at least some cementitious materials from the partially wet composition. In some embodiments, the closed cell foam particles may include expanded polystyrene. In some embodiments, a ratio of the water to cementitious material particles may range from 0.20 to 0.40.