an interview with Alex Sakota; CoFounder and Managing Director,
Simprolit Malta
You would think that COVID-19 and construction do not have much in common, and, to a certain extent, that may be understandable. However, the two subjects are not as worlds-apart as they may seem. Design & Build spoke to Mr Alex Sakota, CoFounder of Simprolit Malta and we realised how the innovative material he produces: Simprolit, is so well suited to the changed world we are now living in.
Mr Alex Sakota is a very dynamic character, the kind of person who is always on the move, who takes inspiration from different stimuli. When he spoke of Simprolit his passion for this material oozed out. “Simprolit Malta is the healthier advantage because it gives you a healthier environment…it’s breathable, it’s ecological, it’s energy efficient, it’s humid free, fireproof, soundproof, seismic proof,” he listed enthusiastically. Indeed, in an era when life threatening viruses are rampant, a building material which permits, in and of itself, an osmosis of air, may, indeed be revolutionary.
Superior product
Simprolit is a material which has superior technical, technological, physical and indeed medical characteristics. While the material is, in itself light, it has a high load-bearing capacity as well as a high co-efficient of thermal insulation.
“The material’s lightness has substantial advantages in tall buildings. It decreases the load on the foundations, but it also makes life much easier for the builders”
As Mr Sakota said, Simprolit’s specifications show that it provides excellent sound insulation as well as being practically non-flammable. These are all very advantageous benefits to have, particularly in a country where buildings are going higher and higher.
Great advantages
As is this was not enough, Mr Sakota mentioned another two very important factors: lightness and longevity. “The material’s lightness”, he said, “has substantial advantages in tall buildings. It decreases the load on the foundations, but it also makes life much easier for the builders,” observed Mr Sakota. Coupled with its loadbearing capabilities, Simprolit Malta makes it possible for structural engineers to address architectural physics in an innovative way, which more traditional materials do not permit.
At the same time, said Mr Sakota, with Simprolit, it is possible to carry out very complex constructions which span over a large area of space. It can be combined with steel reinforcements to build composite materials of different properties with diverse physical and aesthetic attributes. “We can go up to 16 floors high and up to a span of 18m without columns,” said Mr Sakota proudly.
For the professional and the DIY enthusiast
The material also opens up new vistas for the DIY aficionado. Not only, as Mr Sakota said, is it light enough to be handled without major equipment or great fatigue; it also comes with a longevity certification of a minimum of 50 years, making it ideal for those DIY jobs around the house. Simprolit has the advantages of a prefabricated material with the bonus of better physical and aesthetic range. “This makes the material a great choice for the professional as well as for the person who wants to do some house renovations,” said Mr Sakota. He also emphasised that no special skills are required: plastering, for example, can be carried out in the traditional manner.
“Simprolit does not produce the micro-particulate matter of traditional building materials”
Pro-ecology
Another great plus for Simprolit is its ecological value. Simprolit Malta’s material is all recyclable. “There is no waste matter!” Mr Sakota passionately explained.
Simprolit does not absorb water and therefore it does not accumulate humidity since its breathable as condensation evaporates through ventilation channels Because of its breathability, Mr Sakota explained that the material holds no humidity. This means that, unlike for example, traditional bricks or stone, it will not provide a way for house fungi to develop. This does away with the mould issues so many houses suffer from these days.
Another significant advantage of Simprolit is its inherent double insulation from outside and inside. The purchasing of additional insulation layers has thus been rendered obsolete. Less labour costs for material, less labour time, less opportunity for human error and less use of material needed to build the same structure are obvious and hefty advantages of this factor which immediately come to mind. Indeed, Simprolit Malta’s insulation panels are made of a special patent solution that protects from both hot and cold air.
On another level, Simprolit Malta does not produce the micro-particulate matter of traditional building materials; microscopic particles which ultimately find themselves into our lungs. “Safer, cleaner, more ecological living and working”, noted Mr Sakota, adding that Simprolit is toxin free.
“many have tried to copy or steal the patent, but none have managed so far”
Facade blocks are non load bearing which is an important factor when building on top of existing buildings like a maisonette or apartment building. These sustainable factors are to be considered when building with Simprolit Malta compared to using concrete blocks or Maltese traditional stones.
Secret ingredient
Mr Sakota explained that in reality, Simprolit Malta’s brick is a normal brick but made with lighter materials with added benefits of soundproofing, thermal efficiency and non-flammable qualities. This is the result of four elements: water, cement, polystyrene and the secret patented additive which makes the product the success it is today. Prodded about this fourth element, Mr Sakota chuckled that “many have tried to copy or steal the patent, but none have managed so far.”
This herculean product comes in various shapes and formats. It is furthermore available as plates, and as relatively large slabs used for flooring and roofing. Along with all Simprolit Malta products, these too provide inherent, immediate climate and sound insulation. And their floor slabs are also lighter and provide a less cold walking experience.
“apart from the fact that the whole operation would be dust free, it can also be carried out by anyone”
Simprolit Malta also carry their prefabricated partition wall panels, used to create partitions between rooms.. These non-load bearing walls are sound proofed, making the simple act of dividing off a room also one which gives total privacy. “Gone are the days when one has to listen to the neighbour’s TV or to the children playing,” Mr Sakota smilingly said.
Anti-heat
In a country blessed by fine weather, the sun may sometimes be a bit too much to bear, especially in the blistering summer heat. Simprolit Malta’s thermo insulation façade panels can assist in keeping the worst of the heat of summer under control; particularly if these panels are cladding the Simprolit blocks which make up the core of the building that would be a double whammy against the heat of summer.
All these products and more help to make Simprolit Malta a great favourite where keeping buildings cool is a priority. These attributes make for better quality buildings since they render the construction energy efficient and compliant with the legal requirements as well as reduce energy consumption. “Simprolit reduces energy consumption by 75% particularly on air conditioning,” said Mr Sakota.
“Having no injuries and days off work due to physical stress also works wonders for project turnaround times”
An equal opportunity company, Simprolit Malta embodies the empowerment mantra. With females largely absent from the construction workforce where heavy-duty lifting work is the order of the day, Simprolit Malta made up for this in another way. “All our directors are women,” said Mr Sakota proving that the synergy of genders in the workforce, even one as male dominated as construction can only lead to a winning formula.
Easy to use
Another positive for Simprolit is that not only is it dust free, passing channels is an extremely simple operation. “No ‘chasing’ is needed, just a simple scalpel, even a knife can be used, since the polystyrene renders the blocks very malleable,” said Mr Sakota. This means that “apart from the fact that the whole operation would be dust free, it can also be carried out by anyone.” The professional electrician will find that the ‘heavy-duty’ work of cutting out the channels has been done and they may proceed to actually lay out the electric cables without having to first resort to masonry manipulation. “And the strength of the wall is still not reduced because there is concrete in the block,” said Mr Sakota. Moreover, if one needs to store some blocks for the work that needs to be done in the building, these are not heavy or cumbersome to store.
“Lighter and easier to set, Simprolit will require far less time and material to properly finish off”
Perhaps Simprolit Malta’s most treasured advantage however is the sheer speed at which even an unskilled workforce can lay out buildings. Lighter and easier to set, Simprolit will require far less time and material to properly finish off the walls too.
The sheer lightness of a Simprolit brick enables workers to lay both quickly and with high precision, and with little to no physical stress. This in turn prolongs every worker’s peak work output throughout the entire work day,
day after day; a constant level of peak performance. Having no injuries and days off work due to physical stress also works wonders for project turnaround times.
With construction works very much on the public mind, the use of Simprolit® patented material will certainly help in many ways, by being cost-effective, by containing dust exposure, by insulating the building from heat and cold, protecting it from noise and humidity, making people’s staying in every home, industrial and commercial property really and truly healthy, breathable and comfortable.
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