Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or AAC, is a unique type of building material. AAC is produced using common materials such as lime, sand, cement and water, and a small amount of rising agent. After mixing and molding, it is then autoclaved under heat and pressure to create its unique properties. Starken Philippines, the local subsidiary of Starken AAC Malaysia, recently introduced the AAC lightweight blocks in a press briefing. Sam Liuson, president of Starken Philippines (See photo) said these products are becoming the preferred building products for constructing residential, hotel, industrial and public building because of their natural composition and non-toxic properties, as well as energy saving qualities. “AAC products possess the durability characteristics similar to normal concrete or stone, yet with the workability better than wood,” he explained. Autoclaved lightweight concrete was invented in the mid-1920s by the Swedish architect and inventor Johan Axel Eriksson. It is a lightweight, precast building material that simultaneously provides structure, insulation, and fire and mold resistance.