The Process for Building Dome enclosures has been refined and streamlined over the years. There are two principle types of dome enclosures: Monolithic Domes, larger insulated homes and buildings, and EcoShells, smaller domes developed especially for hot weather climates, disaster relief and redevelopment of substandard housing.

This PROCESS section provides a look at the EcoShell construction technique.

To look at the process for a Monolithic Dome.
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EcoShell Construction Process

Ecoshells represent the best option for low cost safe housing in areas where earthquakes, fires, floods and hurricanes are a possibility. Although Ecoshells are not insulated, their design maintains a cool, near constant temperature.

EcoShells are ideal for areas with high summer and moderate winter temperatures. They are constructed using concrete and rebar and can be built in a short amount of time. Limited specialized tools are needed and the skills to build these unique structures are learnt quickly. Each EcoShell airform can be used as many as one hundred times.

A footing is dug and form boards are leveled to a few cm above the leveled dirt. Rebar is placed inside the form and concrete is poured into it to create a slab.

Vertical rebar is wet set into the concrete along with heavy duty wire cable loops.

Using a steel bar and levers trapped by the wire loops

the airform is held in place and then inflated using a high pressure low volume fan.

When the Airform reaches the correct pressure, a rebar hoop is placed on the top of the airform.

Then vertical lengths of rebar are attached and more horizontal hoops added. No rebar is added where doors and windows are to be attached.

High strength concrete is placed on the airform

and when it has hardened another layer is added.

Inside the dome, the airform is deflated and removed and a layer of concrete added, to embed the rebar.

The top coat is smoothed and after the concrete has cured, a cement only layer added to help seal the concrete.

Finally the dome is painted white to reflect the sun.

Interior walls are strengthened with rebar and a second floor may be added.