L'evoluzione dei prodotti in laterizio. I blocchi a isolamento diffuso per murature armate.

The new generation brick combines the advantages of reinforced masonry with those of diffused thermal insulation. The result of this combination is a building system with high mechanical and thermal performances. These features are added to the excellent fire behaviour typical of brick solutions. The article aims to evaluate the performance of thermal insulation that blocks of bricks with diffused insulation can guarantee. In addition, the contribution takes into consideration the improvements to the building process provided by using of these blocks. These improvements are related to both the design phase and the construction phase. Within the article, the potential of the reinforced masonry as a building system is described. These potentialities are mainly related to the possibility of improving the resistance to tensile stresses. After framing the use of reinforced masonry within the Italian regulatory framework, the article highlights improvements compared to ordinary masonry. Finally, the integrative performances of the brick block with diffused insulation, used within the reinforced masonry building system, are identified. Particularly, the article shows the integration between energy performance and better anti-seismic behaviour.