THIS IS CONCRETE

SECRETS of A LONG LIFE

The exceptional whole-life
performance of concrete
and masonry …

… and how
it can create
resilient homes
for residents of
all ages

WHAT DOES ‘WHOLE LIFE’ NEW TOOLS REVEAL THE TRUE THE RACE TO AVERT AN
MEAN ANYWAY? IMPACT OF MATERIALS OVERHEATING CRISIS
 2 THIS IS CONCRETE

CONTENTS WELCOME
Whole-life carbon���������������������������������������� 4 For many years, the Holy Grail of
sustainability has been to understand the
Resilient thinking: buildings��������������� 10
impact of different design choices over the
Resilient thinking: landscape ������������� 11 whole life of a building. There has been
much discussion over how to achieve this
Product lifecycles������������������������������������� 12 with available data, with emphasis shuttling
between embodied and operational
High-performance homes������������������� 16 impacts. The best answer needs to consider
the lifecycle of the building’s components
Concrete’s whole-life credentials ����� 20 and materials and their contribution to
minimising the overall impact.

This is now within reach of the designer. The

challenge has been to identify the many
complex factors that come into play before
a building gets to site and over the rest of its life and eventual demolition,
and then to define appropriate metrics by which to measure them. Happily
there is now a European standard, EN 15804 for products, which provides the
The Concrete Centre provides guidance, seminars, courses, online
framework for measuring whole-life impacts, reassuring specifiers that they are
resources and industry research for the design community. Our vision comparing apples with apples. In time, EN 15978 for whole buildings is likely
is to make concrete the material of choice, and to enable all those to become the dominant calculation method used by the industry, bringing
involved in building design, construction and maintenance to realise together all the elements of whole-life assessment into a single methodology.
its full potential.

The Concrete Centre is supported by industry to inform, educate Eight years ago, the first Concrete Industry Sustainable Construction Strategy
and inspire. Our members are Aggregate Industries, Allen Newport, was launched with the ambition to contribute to this complete picture and
Breedon Aggregates, Brett Group, Britannia Aggregates, Cemex, Deme provide usable data to the design community. We’ve come a long way since
Building Materials, Gallagher Aggregates, Grundon, Hanson, Harleyford
then, reducing the embodied impacts of the materials themselves – the carbon
Aggregates, Hills Quarry Products, Hope Construction Materials, J &
J Franks, J Clubb, Kendall Brothers, Lafarge Tarmac, Marshalls Group,
intensity of concrete has dropped by 13% – and improving transparency
Moorhouse Sand & Gravel Pits, Moreton C Cullimore, Morris & Perry, in areas such as responsible sourcing. Now, Ecobuild 2016 marks one of
Myers Group, Northwood (Fareham), Rotherham Sand & Gravel, the most significant developments yet – bringing us much closer to a clear
Salop Sand & Gravel, Sea Aggregates, SRC Aggregates, Smith & Sons, understanding of whole-life performance. The launch of our project to prepare
Springfield Farm, Tudor Griffiths and Volker Dredging.
generic environmental product declarations (EPDs) in accordance with
The Concrete Centre is part of the Mineral Products Association, EN 15804 for a range of concrete products will provide designers with a key
the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, component of their whole-life sustainability assessments through the different
dimension stone, lime, mortar and silica sand industries. design stages of a project.

www.concretecentre.com
@concretecentre
During Ecobuild, the three-day seminar programme at the Concrete and
Masonry Pavilion will provide essential advice on whole-life performance from
This is Concrete shares interesting facts about different angles, encompassing specification, designing for material efficiency
concrete and showcases amazing projects and lifecycle analysis. We are also publishing two new guidance documents on
via our website, blogs twitter feed and our
“Whole-life Carbon and Buildings” and “Material Efficiency”, available from our
project and fact ads. Our mission is to engage
the design community and share the endless stand or to download from www.concretecentre.com.
possibilities of concrete.
www.thisisconcrete.co.uk This magazine explores these themes in more detail, and hopefully indicates
@thisisconcrete
the scale of our ambitions for the future. We are far from complacent on the
Executive editor: Claire Ackerman, The Concrete Centre
work still to do – I’d like to invite readers to share their thoughts and discuss the
Edited and produced by Wordmule www.wordmule.co.uk journey ahead, both at Ecobuild and over the coming months.
Design by Nick Watts Design www.nickwattsdesign.co.uk
Cover illustration by Nick Watts Andrew Minson, executive director, The Concrete Centre
 SUSTAINABILITY HIGHLIGHTS 2015 3

Ñ Burntwood School
An exposed concrete
structure helped AHMM’s
south London school to a
BREEAM Excellent rating
– as well as last year’s
Stirling Prize.

Ò Alder Hey Children’s

Hospital
BDP’s Liverpool health
campus also claimed
BREEAM Excellent status –
thanks in part to a precast
concrete frame and a
series of vast green roofs.

Ñ Lyme Regis Sea Wall

The 2015 Concrete
Society Award winner
is a graceful concrete
promenade that plays a
vital role in preserving
Dorset’s Jurassic coast.

Ò Lancaster University
Engineering Building
The insulated concrete
envelope of John
McAslan’s BREEAM
Outstanding faculty
building boasts U-values
as low as 0.1W/m2K.

Photos: Timothy Soar; David Barbour; West Dorset District Council; David Millington; Crossrail; St George
Ñ Paddington
Crossrail Station
The use of concrete
with up to 72.5%
GGBS in the station’s
roof slab has cut
embodied carbon by
up to 670 tonnes.

Ò One Blackfriars
Laing O’Rourke’s
24-hour concrete pour
in February created
the raft slab for One
Blackfriars, a 50-storey
post-tensioned
structure targeting
BREEAM Excellent.
 4 THIS IS CONCRETE

THE TEST OF TIME

Whole-life factors such as future flexibility, ease of maintenance,
durability, even lasting appeal, are now seen as crucial measures
of a building’s environmental performance. So the end of the
construction process is really just the beginning …

8%
Photos: Fotolia, Corbis

The typical reduction in

embodied carbon of a
concrete building during
its lifecycle
 WHOLE-LIFE CARBON 5

T
he idea of analysing the He admits that marketing, as
“whole-life” impact of much as concern for the planet,
a building has steadily can be a driver: “Banks are very
gained currency over the concerned about their image and
last 20 years – but even though want to be seen to do the right
it is increasingly accepted as an thing environmentally. Clients with
essential part of good design, high-profile sustainability agendas
the concept remains surprisingly are increasingly focused on whole
hard to define. life, and you can get kicked off their
So what does “whole life” mean tender lists if you are not delivering
to you? Is it a building which on sustainability.”
has a minimal carbon footprint Many such clients represent local
throughout its lifetime? Do you or national government and are
want to reduce pollution, or responding to political stances
improve the building’s interaction on the environment – not least
with local ecosystems? Or you the UK’s commitment to reduce
might be looking for a low-energy carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
building with reduced operating This longer-term thinking is also
and maintenance requirements, now starting to be seen among IN PRACTICE
or one that can adapt to changing private investors.
uses over time. You may even want
a building that can be recycled.
Waddelove says that clients’
priorities are also strongly
The Pantheon, Rome
While there is growing awareness influenced by their attitude to Designing with whole life in mind necessarily involves peering
of the concept, priorities will vary risk: “For example, you can build a into the future – but for a good example of a building with
by sector, says Andrew Waddelove, robust business case for a certain proven whole-life credentials, you could do a lot worse than look
senior sustainability consultant at sort of building – but if that to the past and consider the magnificent domed Pantheon in
Arcadis. “The oil and gas industry involves a new process, system or Rome, completed in 126AD.
was one of the first to understand technology, then the risk will be When its builders reused the foundation materials from the
whole life: it wants long-term too high for some. Also, what is the previous building on the site (which had burned down), they
reliability. Owner-occupiers and timeline? If it’s too long, that also were applying best whole-life principles, if unintentionally. The
major retailers such as Marks & adds risk.” Pantheon is also centrally located so most visitors can easily walk
Spencer know the value of their Whatever the motivation, whole- there, and its open-plan, column-free layout has been able to
buildings to their business and will life thinking is clearly here to stay. adapt over the centuries to accommodate many different users.
invest accordingly in whole-life So how do we go about good Initially a temple, it has subsequently been used as a political
strategies. In the commercial whole-life design, and how can it forum, a Catholic church, a prestige tomb, and latterly a tourist
sector, employers are increasingly be measured? attraction and occasional concert hall.
understanding that their staff are In the UK, BREEAM is the most Remarkably, the Pantheon’s unreinforced concrete dome is still
the most expensive element of a commonly used tool for rating the largest such structure in the world, with a diameter of 43m.
building and that investing in the a building’s environmental A circular opening, or oculus, at the top of the dome allows the
working environment will pay back performance. Buildings can obtain interior to be naturally lit and ventilated.
over time in terms of productivity.” accreditation by achieving positive The 4,535-tonne concrete structure is ingenious, 6.4m thick
ratings for good performance at the base but slimming down to 1.2m around the oculus.
across nine wide-ranging criteria The materials used in the concrete also vary so that the stresses
including energy and water use, in the dome are substantially reduced by the use of successively
THE OIL AND GAS health and wellbeing, pollution, less dense aggregate, moving from travertine to pumice in the
INDUSTRY WAS ONE transport, materials, waste, ecology higher layers.
Words: Tony Whitehead

OF THE FIRST TO and management processes. Not least, of course, the Pantheon has lasted nearly 1,900
There is some flexibility within years and counting, so the effort and raw materials put
UNDERSTAND WHOLE the system, so it is not necessary into its construction are now barely more than a blip in its
LIFE: IT WANTS LONG- to score well in all criteria to whole-life performance.
TERM RELIABILITY achieve a high rating. Nevertheless,
6 THIS IS CONCRETE

says Waddelove, because clients doesn’t consider the whole story. Right: The 10-storey Two Pancras
may have different priorities, “Carbon and energy account for Square (on the left), with One
BREEAM certification is not always just a quarter of a BREEAM rating. Pancras Square behind
perfectly aligned with corporate That means that there can be Bottom right: The post-tensioned
requirements: “Instead, we look highly rated buildings that are in floor slabs at One Pancras Square
at how a whole-life approach fact not great when you look at the are left exposed
can deliver better outcomes for embodied energy involved or the
clients based on an understanding energy they consume to run.” Some materials may be marketed
of their business.” Appearances, she adds, can be as “green” on the basis of just one
It’s a view partially echoed by Dr deceptive, pointing out that while part of the lifecycle, she notes. “An
Gillian Menzies from the Centre of timber is instinctively viewed as example might be plastic soffits
Excellence in Sustainable Building a sustainable material, taking a because they are supposedly
Design at Heriot-Watt University in whole-life point of view gives a maintenance-free. Yet they are
Edinburgh. She acknowledges that new perspective: “Take timber- fossil-fuel-based and difficult to
BREEAM has contributed to a leap frame windows on a tall building, recycle. Others, such as concrete,
forward in whole-life thinking – “In for example. If you have to put up have an interesting story to tell
the UK, it is the best rating system scaffolding to repaint them every throughout the life of a building,”
we have available” (see Toolbox, five years, the energy involved in says Menzies. “You can start by
overleaf ) – but cautions that it that process is huge.” using recycled aggregate to make

TOOLBOX the slab and the depth of slab needed.

3. Concrete slabs are typically designed to be
continuous over columns and supports. Bringing
Material efficiency the columns inside the building allows this
continuity to be exploited and reduces deflections.
Jenny Burridge 4. Flat slabs increase the efficiency of the
formwork and allow for many reuses.
Designing for material efficiency means 5. The use of lattice slabs with a precast soffit
concentrating on the first, and most effective, providing permanent formwork reduces the
of the three “R”s of sustainability: reduce. Each material used during construction.
element of a project affects the others and taking There are also a number of ways to maximise the
a holistic view can lead to savings in materials, as efficiency of the finishes:
well as in time. Using concrete or masonry as the 1. Flat slabs, available for both in-situ and
main structural material offers opportunities to precast concrete frame construction, allow the
simplify both the structure and the finishes. simplification of both the M&E services and the
There are a number of ways to cut the amount of sealing of partition heads to the soffit.
material used to take the same load. For example: 2. Flat slabs provide thin construction, reducing
1. Prestressed slabs (either precast or in situ) the overall height of the building and therefore
reduce both the concrete and the reinforcement the amount of cladding material required.
used. Typically an in-situ post-tensioned (PT) flat 3. Concrete and masonry construction can remove
slab will be 50-75mm shallower than a normally the need for finishes, reducing the material used in
reinforced flat slab, and will use one-third of the construction as well as maintenance requirements.
steel. This reduces the size of the columns and 4. Concrete and masonry are fire-resistant, do
foundations too. not burn and do not produce noxious chemicals
2. Void formers and hollowcores within the in the event of fire. This eliminates the need for
structural slab will reduce the amount of concrete additional fire protection and its maintenance.
used and hence the self-weight of the structure. Jenny Burridge is head of structural engineering at
This significantly reduces the load to be carried by The Concrete Centre
 WHOLE-LIFE CARBON 7

IN PRACTICE

Pancras Square, London

One way to cut a building’s whole-life carbon is to reduce the materials
in its structure. Here, post-tensioned (PT) concrete slabs are a key tool
in the designer’s armoury, as demonstrated on the 27ha redevelopment
of King’s Cross in London. Their use was in part inspired by planning
restrictions that limited most new buildings in height, so the challenge
for the designers was to achieve commercially viable floor areas while
also satisfying strict criteria on sustainability, as well as developer
Argent’s preference for high ceilings.
At Two Pancras Square, for example, a 10-storey prestige office
building, architect Allies and Morrison specified a concrete frame with
bonded PT floor slabs. Because PT slabs are more structurally efficient
than standard reinforced-concrete slabs, they can be thinner. This allows
minimal floor-to-floor height, with maximised floor-to-ceiling heights.
PT slabs are poured in situ and have steel tendons cast in ducts which
are tightened after the concrete has set. Unbonded PT slabs have “free”
tendons, whereas bonded PT slabs include grouting in the tensioned
tendons. This means that they can be cut, which makes them more
flexible and easy to adapt to meet the needs of future tenants.
The same solution was applied on the neighbouring One Pancras
Square, a nine-storey, 59,000ft2 retail and office building by David
Chipperfield Architects known as “The Gridiron”. Here, bonded PT
concrete allowed the floor slabs to be reduced in thickness to around
250mm from a more standard 350mm. Mick Kelly, project director
with contractor BAM, told Concrete Quarterly magazine: “This means
you use less concrete in the slab, less reinforcement, and the floors
are lighter, allowing the whole frame to be slimmer. There is less
product altogether.”
Both buildings enjoy the top BREEAM rating of Outstanding.

Photos: John Sturrock

8 THIS IS CONCRETE

reduce active heating and cooling

TALKING needs, then that makes an ongoing TOOLBOX
POINTS contribution to the whole-life
performance of the building.”

How do we
Talking with Menzies, it becomes BREEAM and whole-life performance
clear that the science of whole-life
make whole-life analysis is still very much a work in Elaine Toogood
performance an progress: “In a lot of areas we just
integral part of the don’t have the data. For example, In many respects, whole-life sustainability is at the core of a
design process? the embodied energy involved in BREEAM assessment. The current version rewards consideration
building services is very difficult to of whole-life issues during the design and construction process of
measure, not least because of the new buildings in a number of ways.
How do we reconcile
number of components involved.” The Energy and Water categories encourage the specification of
whole-life thinking One way around this is to reduce energy and water-efficient building solutions, setting the goal of
with clients’ services altogether – so buildings reducing energy (carbon) and water use over the life of a building.
investment cycles? that use exposed concrete soffits Two credits are also available in the Land Use and Ecology
to cool air can obviate the need category for a long-term biodiversity management plan.
How can whole-life for suspended ceilings as well as In the Management category, three credits are available for
air-conditioning plant. “The rule of carrying out a lifecycle cost analysis and demonstrating its
performance be
thumb is that 80% of a building’s influence on the building design – this is intended to encourage
measured? embodied energy is in the structure an understanding and awareness of service-life planning. As with
and envelope, and the remaining most assessments, the focus is on finishes and M&E equipment,
20% is in fit-out, services and so so it takes an enlightened consultant to recognise the long-
it in the first place, and it is on. But research indicates that term benefits of an exposed concrete structure with passive
a material that has dynamic new fit-outs are typically carried ventilation to reduce maintenance costs. This joined-up thinking
properties once in position.” out every seven or eight years and is not necessarily encouraged in this part of the BREEAM process,
One of these properties is the new services installed every 15 though it is rewarded elsewhere.
ability to absorb CO2 during its years. Factor that into a lifetime Most significant perhaps are the newly introduced credits for
life and at end-of-life. This results analysis and the structure and “designing for durability and resilience”, “functional adaptability”
in a reduction of about 8% in envelope become less dominant, and “adaptation to climate change”, which all encourage
embodied CO2 over the lifecycle of representing more like 50% of the appropriate design for long life, and perhaps illustrate a growing
the building, helping to offset the embodied energy.” recognition of the importance of whole-life issues.
carbon footprint of its manufacture. As designers take such research Lifecycle analysis (LCA) is behind many of the scores in the
Menzies adds: “And if the thermal on board, it seems likely their Materials category for material selection, but this assessment
mass of the concrete is used to thinking will focus more and is changing with the growing availability of environmental
performance declarations (EPDs – see pages 12-15). Uplifts
in scores are available, on top of those achieved using the
established Green Guide rating, irrespective of the EPD’s actual
sustainability content. This recognises the more accurate and
recent data contained in EPDs, with a greater uplift available if the
LCA is “cradle to grave” rather than “cradle to gate”.
Whole-life aspects related to manufacture, construction and
occupation are addressed through the BREEAM assessment,
Visualisation: Bennetts Associates

though there is little visible reward for good practice in potential

end-of-life scenarios. Demolition waste is not included in the
Waste category, except for one potential exemplary credit for
diverting it from landfill. Similarly, the use of recycled aggregates
in new concrete is encouraged by up to two credits in this
category, which are not available to other materials.
Elaine Toogood is senior architect at The Concrete Centre
Above: Bennetts Associates’ Royal College of Pathologists HQ
 WHOLE-LIFE CARBON 9

more on the role that structure

can play in reducing whole-life
carbon footprint and simplifying
services. There are signs that this
is already happening. Currently
taking shape are new premises for
the Royal College of Pathologists
headquarters in London. Designed
by Bennetts Associates, the building
already includes many classic
whole-life features, as project
architect Rob Bearyman explains.
“We plan to reuse the foundation
slab of the existing building and
further reduce material use by
coffering the floor slabs. Exposed
concrete walls, columns and soffits
mean the thermal mass of the
building will help to keep it cool.”
Passive chilled beams, he adds,
are restricted to just a few highly
populated areas, while layouts have
been kept simple and flexible to
help adapt to changing needs.

Photo: Timothy Soar

The scheme is expected to
achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating,
though formal whole-life analysis
has not been feasible. But the fact
that Bennetts has still produced a
design that performs well on whole- IN PRACTICE
life issues can be seen as positive
news for all designers wanting to Angel Place, London Steve Smith, project architect with Allford
enshrine a longer-term view in their Hall Monaghan Morris, explained: “Replacing
buildings. Perhaps we are moving With its dramatic sweep of curved frontage the frame would have ‘cost’ 2,000 tonnes of
towards a time when whole-life and cool, bare concrete interiors, Angel Place CO2 in embodied energy. Once we made
thinking becomes second nature, in Islington appears the epitome of high-end that decision to keep the frame, we started
and simply an integral part of any contemporary office accommodation. It is a far appreciating the money saved by not having to
good, intelligent design. cry from the dated brown granite and smoked- rebuild it, and the benefits of knocking several
glass facade that used to stand at this busy months off the programme.”
London crossroads. Even those who work here The high thermal mass of the concrete frame
In 2014, the concrete may be unaware that the new building contains also acts as a “thermal flywheel”, evening out
much of the old. diurnal temperature variations. At the Angel
industry used

107
The concrete frame of the former building, Building, this effect is boosted by the use of a
built in 1980, has been retained and extended low-energy displacement ventilation system.
outwards from the perimeter, and also inwards Smith said that heat generated by the building’s
where new concrete has created an atrium in 3,000 occupants means that for most of the year
space previously occupied by an open courtyard. the building does require cooling: “But if the
times more recovered The result is a lettable area of 265,000ft2 – a hefty outside temperature is only a few degrees cooler
63% improvement on the original. than inside, sufficient cooling can be achieved by
and waste materials
Speaking to Concrete Quarterly magazine, drawing in large volumes of air.”
than it sent to landfill
10 RESILIENT THINKING: BUILDINGS

insulation to save heating energy

with a greater drive on preventing WE HAVE YET TO SEE
overheating to reduce the likely TRUE RESILIENCE
energy demand for cooling.
EMBEDDED IN
None of this is entirely new. But
it is made more difficult by the MANDATORY
emphasis emerging from Europe, GUIDELINES
which in order to promote growth
is beginning to prioritise economic extra city dwellers by 2037. At
concerns over both social and the same time, the number of
environmental ones. This is perhaps people over 85 is set to double
understandable during times by 2030, further complicating
of economic crisis, but can be the challenge.
dangerous in the long term. The National Infrastructure Plan
This new emphasis is already 2010 highlighted climate change
evident in the UK, where the as a factor in the growing threat
government remains formally of “cascade failures” between
committed to carbon reduction energy, transport, ICT, waste and
targets for 2050 and 2080, but has water infrastructure. This is where
delayed uplifts in energy standards a breakdown in one system has

PARALLEL
via Building Regulations until knock-on effects on others. For
2018/19. While increasing housing example, if the power network is
supply is a key priority, failing to taken out by flooding, how does
reduce emissions now may cost this impact on communications or

WARS
us dearly later on. A truly efficient essential building systems?
approach to materials would see us On a positive note, there are a
building more with less as well as number of initiatives providing
more for less. much-needed joined-up thinking
The importance of making – the roll-call of their members
buildings and infrastructure indicates the scale of the challenge
We must act now to mitigate the immediate resilient to extreme weather events that faces us. The London Climate
effects of climate change – but don’t lose sight is now being recognised, following Change Partnership, for example,
a series of devastating weather includes local and national
of the bigger picture, writes Guy Thompson events over recent years. The government agencies, utilities
Department for Communities and providers, insurers, charities,

W
e are in the eye of on carbon and energy reduction Local Government has estimated universities and industry bodies
a perfect storm. as well as longer-term issues and that 87% of our current buildings including The Concrete Centre.
Projected onto an impacts. We need to fight a parallel will still exist in 2050, so we will Designers will also find many
already complex war against the more immediate need to carry out considerable facets of resilience are covered by
built environment, we face a effects – especially flooding and adaptation work, as well as voluntary schemes such as BREEAM
wide range of present and future drought – as well as the predicted designing new buildings to be and CEEQUAL, and the new
issues and threats, requiring longer-term impacts such as resilient to a range of impacts. Homes Quality Mark. We have yet
responses from an equally wide overheating and more frequent These will include flooding, to see true resilience embedded
range of responsible agencies extreme weather events. drought, higher temperatures, in mandatory guidelines, but
and participants. Designers need to recognise high winds and storms and these at least provide an excellent
Thus it’s going to take a the convergence and potential potential power outages, as well starting point for those who want
multi-faceted approach to conflicts in the mitigation and as increased threats of combustion to get ahead while the policy
ensure our housing, buildings adaptation strands of building and and to security in denser urban environment catches up.
and infrastructure are resilient to infrastructure design. For example, environments. If cities continue Guy Thompson is head of
climate change. Our solutions we will have to rebalance the to track the projected UK growth architecture, sustainability and
must address the current focus emphasis on ever greater levels of rate, we expect to see 5.2 million housing at The Concrete Centre
 RESILIENT THINKING: LANDSCAPE 11

THE BIG SEEP

Nick Gorst explains why concrete block
permable paving is a key tool in protecting our
towns and cities from extreme rainfall

W
hen rain falls on a to store and/or slow down runoff
natural landscape, before it can inundate pipes
it percolates into and watercourses. In addition to
the ground. It may reducing the causes and impact
then evaporate, be taken up by of flooding, SuDS can also remove
plants or find its way into the pollutants at source and combine
underlying groundwater, from water management with green
which it may eventually join a space, benefiting wildlife and
watercourse. recreational users.
But in an environment that In November 2015, CIRIA
has been modified by human published its second edition of The
activity, ground surfaces tend to SuDS Manual. A key concept in this
be less permeable, so more rainfall comprehensive technical guide
turns into surface water runoff. In is the SuDS Management Train.
urban areas, this runoff is usually This comprises a series of SuDS a minimum of manpower, saving
conveyed away by highway drains, components that work together to CONCRETE BLOCK time and money
combined sewers or watercourses provide the processes necessary • It can be used immediately after
(open or culverted). Increased to control three aspects of surface
PERMEABLE the laying procedures have been
runoff means that flooding and water runoff: frequency, flow rate PAVING REQUIRES completed
pollution events (including sewer and volume. A SuDS component ONLY MINIMAL • It has excellent load-bearing
flooding) are more likely. will provide at least one of the MAINTENANCE OVER capabilities
Climate change models predict following functions: • It can tolerate settlement and
that heavy rainfall events with • Pervious surfacing
ITS LONG LIFE differential movement
associated flooding will become • Infiltration where it is stored (storage) and then • It is unaffected by frost or
more prevalent. In the UK, • Conveyance released slowly into the ground de-icing salts
however, providing larger diameter • Storage (infiltration), or to the next SuDS • It requires only minimal
drains and sewers to deal with • Treatment management stage or to a drainage maintenance over its long life.
increased volumes of surface water • Rainwater harvesting. system (conveyance). Guidance on the design,
is generally unaffordable. One Pervious surfacing comprises There are numerous advantages construction, operation and
answer therefore lies in modifying hard-paved areas that carry traffic to using CBPP as part of a resilient maintenance of CBPP for pervious
the landscape – making it more and/or pedestrians and allow landscape, in which surface water pavements is contained in Chapter
resilient to climate change and water to pass through. Concrete is managed to reduce flooding 20 of The SuDS Manual. Further
extreme rainfall events. This can block permeable paving (CBPP) is a and create high-quality urban detailed information can be found
be achieved through the use of popular form of pervious surfacing, environments for this and future in the latest edition of Permeable
sustainable drainage systems in which the joints or voids between generations. These include the Pavements – Guide to the Design,
(SuDS), which are designed to the concrete blocks are filled with following: Construction and Maintenance
control surface water runoff close a free-draining material. The joints • It is a prefabricated recyclable of Concrete Block Permeable
to where it falls and mimic natural allow rainwater to pass between product Pavements, published by Interpave.
drainage as closely as possible. the concrete blocks and into the • It can be installed mechanically, Nick Gorst is engineering technical
Put simply, the landscape is used underlying permeable sub-base allowing large areas to be laid with manager at British Precast
12 THIS IS CONCRETE

LIFE
GOES ON
When it comes to environmental impact, a
construction product is far more than the sum
of its parts. Lifecycle data can now provide a full
picture from cradle to grave (and beyond)
 PRODUCT LIFECYCLES 13

W 89%
hat does true environmental impact is known
sustainability look as a lifecycle assessment (LCA). TALKING
like? Sometimes
it depends on
In A Guide to Understanding the
Embodied Impacts of Construction
POINTS
where you stand. Products, published in 2012, the
What data can
Much attention has been of concrete tonnage Construction Products Association
devoted to the energy efficiency (CPA) defined two types of LCA: be used to make
is certified to the informed choices on
of buildings and to incorporating generic assessments that collate
renewable energy technologies responsible sourcing data from several manufacturers embodied impacts?
to create a more sustainable built standard BES 6001. of the same type of product to
environment. But as the energy 100% of cement and create an average, and proprietary How do you make a
consumed by buildings themselves assessments that use information
GGBS already meets true comparison of
diminishes, the embodied impacts from a single manufacturer, specific
of the materials used to build them the standard to a particular product.
the impacts of very
loom much larger. The construction industry has different materials?
When you zoom out to take now started to communicate
a whole-life perspective, true Embodied energy is a complex LCA outputs in the form What’s the
sustainability is also inseparable thing to get to grips with. A broad of environmental product relationship between
from context: because a building range of materials are used to declarations (EPDs), to enable
whole-life carbon
product is a component of a make a vast number of different specifiers to make an informed
building, its environmental impact construction products, which choice on impacts. In 2014, the UK
and whole-life costs?
must be considered in the context are then assembled into buildings. cement sector published an EPD
of its role. A reinforced-concrete The constituents of concrete, covering all domestically produced
floor in an office building, for for example, include aggregates, Portland cement, with data on
example, will have the strength lime, cement, admixtures, possibly the impacts of raw materials
and durability to last for decades fly ash or GGBS, and reinforcement, acquisition, energy use, content of to plug information on concrete
or even centuries, which enables in varying proportions. The materials and chemical substances, into a project environmental
its environmental impact to be resulting concrete is then used emissions to air, soil and water, and assessment, and therefore show
mitigated over a long period. The in the manufacture of a range of waste generation. Manufacturers how its sustainability credentials
concrete can also provide thermal products such as precast elements of concrete-based products have can reduce a building’s impact. In
mass, which can help to moderate or blocks or supplied to site for since used this to develop their future, the project will move on to
temperature fluctuations in a space casting in situ. own declarations. create product-specific EPDs.
Words: Andy Pearson; illustrations: Nick Lowndes

and reduce demand for heating Every product has some impact This is the goal of a project “Generic EPDs are useful at
and cooling energy over the on the environment. This may carried out by the Mineral Products early-stage design when you are
building’s lifetime. By contrast, occur at any time in its life: in the Association and concrete industry looking at the overall building
a shopfitting might only be extraction of raw materials, in bodies British Precast and the impact and how you can reduce
expected to last for years or even their processing, manufacture and British Ready-Mixed Concrete it using different building forms
months, so if its environmental transport, or in its usage, repair Association, working with and construction approaches,”
impact is to be minimised, its or disposal at end of life. When sustainability consultant thinkstep. explains Jane Anderson, principal
production impact should be low considered together, these stages Generic EPDs will be launched at consultant at thinkstep and
or it should be able to be easily form a product’s lifecycle and the Ecobuild 2016, which will enable co-author of the CPA’s embodied
recycled or reused. measurement of their combined designers, contractors and clients impacts guide. “As the design
14 THIS IS CONCRETE

develops, product-specific EPDs

become useful to understand
embodied impacts during options
appraisal, and manufacturer-
specific proprietary EPDs can
provide information at the
procurement stage.”
In theory, EPDs should allow
similar products from different
manufacturers to be compared,
although comparisons are only
valid when the same product-
category rules and lifecycle stages
are considered. It is also important
to bear in mind that products
cannot be fully compared unless
their functionality and use are
considered at the building level.
This point is best illustrated
with the example of a building’s
structural frame: it is not possible
to compare the EPD for 1kg of
concrete used to cast a structural
frame with 1kg of structural steel.
For an accurate comparison, the
two products must be considered

TOOLBOX
Specifying sustainable granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS). In performance while using fewer resources.
addition to lowering the carbon footprint These might include slabs with void formers
concrete of the concrete, these also offer potential or post-tensioned slabs, or precast and low-
benefits in the look and durability of the waste solutions.
Elaine Toogood finish. 2. Use concrete to improve material efficiency
2. Consider the use of recycled or secondary for ongoing trades. This includes exposed
Concrete is often specified for the aggregates if appropriate sources are readily concrete, avoiding the need for linings, and
sustainability performance benefits it offers, available. Natural aggregate has a very low flat slabs (soffits) for efficient installation of
such as thermal mass, durability, fire and carbon footprint so alternatives should be internal partitions and services.
flood resilience. In addition, the UK concrete sourced locally to reduce embodied carbon. 3. Optimise the thermal mass of concrete
industry’s annual report demonstrates Many concrete blocks contain high levels of as part of a low-energy strategy. Used
continued progress in the sustainable recycled content. with adequate ventilation, this can offer a
manufacture of concrete and concrete 3. Admixtures can reduce water content and significant reduction in energy use over the
products. Even better news for designers is improve the strength of concrete without life of the building.
that these credentials can be enhanced still adding embodied carbon. Finally, consider the long-term viability of a
further with just a little extra consideration at 4. Specify responsibly sourced concrete and building, its reuse potential and adaptability
the specification and design stages. reinforcement. for alternative uses/tenancies and under
future climatic conditions – issues pertinent
Specification Design to any construction material.
1. Consider the use of low-carbon cements 1. Consider material-efficient design Elaine Toogood is a senior architect at
such as those that include fly ash and ground solutions, which can offer the same level of The Concrete Centre
 PRODUCT LIFECYCLES 15

Over the last seven

THE EIGHTH CONCRETE INDUSTRY years, the carbon
SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE REPORT intensity of concrete
production has
In 2008, the concrete industry The eighth report summarises GGBS sectors achieving 100% dropped by

13%
embarked on a mission to the industry’s performance certification.
deliver a more sustainable in 2014 across a range of For the first time, this year’s
built environment with the performance indicators. publication has reported
launch of the Concrete Industry For example, the industry’s both energy efficiency and
Sustainable Construction commitment to reducing waste CO2 production data using a
Strategy. Since then the to landfill, its increasing use rolling mix and a standardised
industry has made significant of waste as a fuel source, and baseline mix. This is because the
progress towards meeting the use of by-products such as rolling mix cannot differentiate is removed or replaced, there is an
its strategy commitments, as fly ash and GGBS in concrete between the impacts of additional cost and an additional
the publication of the Eighth have resulted in the net waste production and specification. environmental impact. The profiles
Concrete Industry Sustainability consumed being over 100 By contrast, the standardised are very similar.”
Performance Report shows. times higher than the net waste mix fixes in time the proportions Just as LCA can be applied
This year the concrete produced and sent to landfill. of constituent materials and at either a product or building
industry has been more 2014 also saw the responsible the proportions in the market level, so can WLC. For a building,
committed than ever to resourcing of materials become of ready-mixed and precast you can look at the initial cost
creating a sustainable future, increasingly rigorous with concrete to enable each year’s of construction and the cost
with increasing numbers more demanding requirements performance to be standardised of operation, occupancy and
of companies joining the imposed for BES 6001, the and compared to the maintenance. The cost of
Sustainability Forum – the responsible sourcing standard. proportions recorded in 2008. maintenance can be further
group of industry associations The report shows that 89% In 2014, the standardised mix subdivided into major replacement
and companies who have of the concrete produced had a carbon intensity of 76.3kg – for example, windows will need
signed up to the Sustainable by weight is certified to this CO2 per tonne, a 13% reduction to be replaced after 35 years –
Construction Strategy. standard, with the cement and since 2008. general maintenance, facilities
management and operational
costs such as cleaning.
WLC also takes account of energy
in terms of the total quantities to carry out a whole-building Clients are increasingly taking a costs. So for a concrete building,
needed to support the building. assessment, but we have developed whole-life view of buildings, with a it captures the energy savings
The comparison must also take into a tool to plug into Revit that particular focus on another aspect: from being able to use a smaller
account other materials that might enables the computer to calculate cost. While lifecycle analysis deals air-conditioning system, or running
be required, such as fire proofing, the mass of the different materials with the environmental impact of it for less time, as a result of the
and aspects of in-use performance used in the BIM model. So as you materials, whole-life costing (WLC) material’s high thermal mass.
such as acoustic isolation or design it, you can see the impact of considers the economic impact of “Concrete does well from a WLC
potential energy savings from material selection on the building.” their selection. This enables owner- perspective,” says Waterman. “It
thermal mass. For those not yet up to speed occupiers to make more effective lasts a long time and needs very
One of the most exciting uses on BIM, research organisation decisions upfront, and to manage little maintenance.” If a high-quality
of EPD data is within building BRE has compiled a database of resources and expenditure over the finish is specified, moreover, the
information modelling (BIM). the environmental profiles of life of the building. concrete will not have to be
Manufacturers who develop LCAs hundreds of building products, But it’s not only useful from painted, which can save costs both
and EPDs for their products will be based on an assessment of their an economic point of view: “It is initially and on an ongoing basis.
able to offer quantitative data to impact using 13 environmental directly linked to sustainability,” says It’s just another example of
input into BIM, which will enable categories. This database is also lifecycle costing expert Anthony the many varied factors that
a more rapid, cheaper assessment a major component of the BRE’s Waterman of ADW Developments. go into assessing a product’s
of building performance. “EPDs Green Guide to Specification, “Every material or product you put impact – whether environment or
will come into their own when which is itself referenced under into a building has both a cost and economic. But one thing’s for sure:
used in BIM,” says Anderson. “At the BREEAM environmental an environmental impact, and at for construction products, life is a
the moment, it is time-consuming rating scheme. the end of its life, when the product complicated business …
16 THIS IS CONCRETE

SHELTER
be considered as a matter of
urgency, according to Rob Pannell,
managing director of non-profit

FROM THE
organisation the Zero Carbon Hub,
which has been commissioned
by the Environment Agency to
research overheating. He fears

STORM
that many of those involved in
designing housing “don’t fully
understand” the impact that climate
change could have in the not-so-
faraway future: “The people who are
today looking at risks to buildings,
From starter flats to care homes, our housing such as overheating, are generally
faces an overheating crisis – unless we start five years ahead of industry,” he says.
There are several key factors. As
designing for a future climate now well as the prospect of a significant

H
increase in temperature, there is
ousing comes in many How can architects and housing a requirement for ever-more low-
forms, from the high- providers ensure that their energy buildings with better air-
rise apartment towers designs are future-proofed to tightness and insulation. Last year,
popular with younger cope with higher temperatures the government shifted its policy
city dwellers, to individual family and extreme weather conditions? from zero carbon towards low
homes, through to extra-care Are we sleepwalking towards an energy in preparation for European
housing for the elderly. But one overheating crisis in our housing Performance of Buildings Directive
thing these typologies all share stock? And how can we close the requirements for “nearly zero” energy
is a need to address the new performance gap between how housing by 2021. In 2018, Part L of
challenges presented by climate a building is expected to perform the Building Regulations is expected
change and the move towards and how it does in reality? to be revised to take account of
“nearly zero” energy dwellings. These are all issues that must this target. But this perfect storm

IN PRACTICE

Lexicon tower, east London is positioned next to the western facade and
linked via outrigger walls to two large blade
The recently completed Lexicon accommodates columns close to the eastern facade. This uses
146 apartments in a 36-storey tower, intended the entire width of the building to stiffen
to appeal to a youngish demographic working in the structure while hiding the columns and
London’s tech industry. outriggers within party walls.
The fully glazed, 120m-high building, designed by SOM prioritised dual-aspect apartments and an
Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM), has a concrete openable facade: “This is particularly advantageous
core, floor and perimeter column structure in terms of daylight quality and for getting better
which, as well as providing good fire and acoustic ventilation through the apartments,” says Martin
separation, adds much-needed mass to aid wind Grinnell, associate director. “Although the building
resistance without compromising the layout of has a complex double-skinned facade, we built in
the apartments. some panels which could be opened up to increase
Instead of a central core, a slender slip-form core ventilation when required.”
 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOUSING 17

TOOLBOX
The design perspective
Guy Thompson

The projected life of a building is very

rarely defined by the client’s brief, and
architects asking the question are likely
to have been met by blank looks. But
increasingly clients and their design
teams are using whole-life assessments
as the basis for long-term decisions.
Conventionally, this has meant applying
economic measures of initial construction
costs and costs-in-use. Now, however,
we are being asked to carry out lifecycle
analysis (LCA) of environmental impacts.
Energy consumption and greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions are often seen as
interchangeable drivers in design –
reducing the energy use of a building
through improved design leads directly
to a reduction in GHG emissions. But
buildings contribute to emissions over
their entire lifecycle, so design must
take a wider perspective: the whole-life
emissions of a building are the sum of
both its operational and its embodied
emissions. Furthermore, emissions are not
the only measure of a sustainable design
– a building often performs better over
the full lifecycle due to lower whole-life
maintenance costs and energy use.
Many of these broader aspects are being
considered as part of BRE’s Home Quality Words: Pamela Buxton; photo: Ben Veasey; visualisation: SOM

Mark, offering buyers a comprehensive

picture of the performance of new
housing. Meanwhile, the cement, brick
and concrete industries have produced
a range of environmental product
declarations (EPDs), which provide data
on the embodied impacts of masonry
construction and will be launched initially
at Ecobuild, with more to follow.
Guy Thompson is head of architecture,
All images: The Lexicon tower’s slender profile is made
housing and sustainability at The Concrete
possible by its concrete core, floor and perimeter column
Centre
structure. This allows all apartments to be dual aspect
18 THIS IS CONCRETE

will begin to struggle.” finding just the right balance as we where emerging government
TALKING The challenges vary according meet ever stricter environmental regulations on overheating will

POINTS to housing type. For tall apartment

buildings, increasingly extreme and
regulations,” says Grinnell. “We
have to start to bring in more of
drive improvements.
“One issue is the potential for
unpredictable weather patterns the thinking from office buildings, solar gain and for internal heat gain
How can we close mean that heavyweight structural which are more advanced in the from people in a very small area as
the performance gap systems are all the more suitable, way that the thermal mass is being they cook, heat and use electrical
between design and quite apart from the thermal, activated to help to temper the devices,” says Elrond Burrell, an
acoustic and fire protection occupied space. Current building associate at sustainable design
reality?
benefits that they can bring. regulations don’t really give practice Architype. In such contexts,
“Concrete is very good for enough credits for the beneficial he adds, it is even more critical
How do we reduce stability for tall buildings under effects of thermal mass.” that designers get the glazing size
energy demand wind effect and for getting a Single-aspect apartments present and specification right as well as
in winter without very stiff building with very particular issues regarding heating, providing sufficient shading and
causing overheating controlled movement,” says ventilation and indoor air quality ventilation. Another priority is
in summer? Martin Grinnell, associate director because they are surrounded limiting excessive heat gain from
at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, by other units and lack cross- district heating systems by making
architect of the Lexicon tower (see ventilation. Another factor is the sure the main pipework passes
case study, previous page). He reduced opportunity for openable through lobbies rather than the
expects to see more awareness windows in high-rises, and the apartments themselves.
of higher temperatures and of the thermal consequences of challenge of providing adequate Well-insulated family houses
increasingly super-insulated low- lightweight skins in such high- ventilation. Solutions are being present different challenges for
energy housing could potentially rises, leading to improvements in developed, such as the use of achieving sufficient ventilation to
– without careful design – create curtain-walling design to provide double facades, ventilation panels combat overheating. On the one
knock-on effects of overheating and greater thermal control. and stack ventilation through hand, there is greater potential
poor air quality. “The hard thing at the moment is common spaces. This is an area for natural cross-ventilation than
“We know that low-energy
buildings are reasonably easy to
achieve with the fabric, but there
are unintended consequences to
TOOLBOX
be mindful of,” says Pannell. “The
government is increasingly worried Airtightness and masonry that is not overly reliant on tape and sealant. This
about the risk of overheating.” helps to ensure its integrity over the life of a home,
It’s still early days for Tom De Saulles and not merely for initial Part L purposes. Some
understanding how to deal evidence for the long-term airtightness of masonry
with this, according to Richard The performance gap between the design and homes can be found in a recent study by the NHBC
Partington of architect Studio operation of homes continues to be an issue. But Foundation (Ageing and airtightness – NF 24).
Partington. “It’s very hard to there is another gap that’s been firmly closed: one The performance of masonry homes has also
persuade anyone that an between masonry and timber-frame housing. This been enhanced through the minimisation of
overheating strategy is important centred on airtightness and came to light 10 years thermal bridging, which has been improved by the
in housing,” he says. “It’s only since ago when the introduction of pressure testing for development of new construction details. These
we’ve realised reasonably good Part L compliance revealed masonry construction are freely available and offer a significant uplift in
thermal standards in the last few to be marginally leakier. Since then, however, the performance over older details and the SAP default.
years that we’re understanding air permeability of new masonry dwellings has The standard of fabric performance achievable
that overheating can be a problem. improved significantly. Today, new masonry homes today ensures masonry homes easily meet current
When we start to have consecutive easily match or exceed the performance of other needs and will continue to do so in the event
days and nights without any forms of construction, with wet plastered masonry of any uplift arising from the 2020 European
temperature reduction (in an occupying the top spot for maximum airtightness. requirement for “nearly zero” energy buildings.
urban environment, for instance), From a whole-life perspective, masonry has the Tom De Saulles is senior manager, building
then current ventilation strategies added advantage of offering a durable air barrier sustainability at The Concrete Centre
 HIGH-PERFORMANCE HOUSING 19

in many apartments. However,

residents don’t always understand By 2080, the
that venting at night is generally temperature in York is
most effective, rather than waiting predicted to rise by

7.5%
until the hottest time of the day.
Opening windows at lower levels
can present security risks too. As in
high-rises, mechanical ventilation
or secure ventilation panels can
be the way forward. There are
also potential health risks where
housing is near busy roads – once regarding insulation, ventilation
polluted air has entered a house, and a sensible glazing strategy.
Visualisation: PRP Architects

improved airtightness means that Architype is currently designing

air quality will be adversely affected a Passivhaus-standard extra-care
for longer. “Often designers don’t housing scheme, taking into
look at locations very carefully,” account the particular needs of
warns Pannell. the occupants. “Another challenge
Over-glazing will also make of extra-care is the restaurant
it harder to control the internal facility and kitchen, which has to
IN PRACTICE environment as temperatures be designed very carefully. Its own
rise, and increase the need for ventilation system which pushes
Red Lodge, York night-time cooling. “If you design warm air out needs to be kept
a building with a lot of glazing separate and away [from where the
Architect PRP modelled the impact of climatic conditions up facing south or east or west, the residents live],” says Burrell. “There’s
to 2080 as part of its design for 140 apartments/care beds at overheating risk goes up,” says quite a lot of careful consultation
Red Lodge, a community in New Earswick created by Joseph Burrell. “If you have a sensible needed to ensure that the client
Rowntree more than a century ago. It was the first time the proportion of windows, you’re okay.” understands the technical as well
practice had looked beyond 2050 conditions. The ambition The need for high-performance as the social issues.”
was not only to understand what was required to cope with insulation and ventilation is even Without action on housing
a predicted temperature rise of 7.5°C in York by 2080, but to more critical when designing care design that takes account of new
understand whether this capability should be built in from homes or housing for the elderly. climate challenges, Pannell fears
the start, or whether and how the building could be adapted over Concerned that this sector of the that by 2050 there may be a need
the coming decades. population is more vulnerable to for a “reverse” Green Deal-type
PRP used overheating risk mapping to identify areas of higher the health risks of climate change, scheme to address overheating.
risk – those further up the three-storey building and south-west the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust The ability to look beyond
facing – and the impact of thermal mass. commissioned PRP Architects to standard responses is hindered by
The conclusion was to use thermal mass, high-performance research climate adaptation and the lack of up-to-date prediction
glazing and natural ventilation with scope to add in additional resilience when designing a new tools and by the frequent
measures in 2030, 2050 and 2080. By then, says PRP partner scheme in York (see box, left). marginalisation of the architect,
Andrew Mellor, the climate will be comparable to that of southern “Young people, old people and says Partington. “You very rarely get
Europe today. “The important thing isn’t to install everything those with illnesses are more a chance to see a project through
now because the client would be paying for something that susceptible to heat stroke – perhaps to the end. It’s likely that there’s no
wasn’t yet needed, but to build so it could be incorporated in they don't have the ability to know continuity between those who did
the future.” This included the provision of hooks and fittings for when to ventilate the room they’re the strategic design and those who
future blinds and shutters, and electrical spurs above windows in,” says PRP partner Andrew Mellor. carry it out. So you tend to end up
to operate the shutters. Essentially care homes function with the industry norm.
The project also considered resilience to flooding, including as an apartment building with “At least overheating is now
access and how to make the building safe for staff and residents if added communal areas, but with a increasingly on the agenda – but
it was cut off and had to operate autonomously. particularly high level of efficiency we need to act fast.”
THE WHOLE-LIFE CASE FOR CONCRETE
Whole-life performance takes in a broad range of factors. Here’s how concrete stands up

ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL ECONOMIC

Concrete is non-combustible, helping Concrete reduces the spread of fire, Regulations require the safe
to ensure its longevity and avoiding helping to provide life safety and evacuation of occupants but do
the need for additional fire-proofing property safety. During construction, not ensure the survival of property.
materials. a concrete frame presents no fire risk Concrete structures comply with life
to neighbours. safety regulations but also resist fire to
FIRE RESISTANCE enable cost-effective repair and reuse.

Concrete’s thermal mass can reduce or The thermal mass inherent in concrete Using the thermal mass provided by
avoid the need for mechanical cooling. provides long-term resilience to the concrete can lower the running costs
This inherent property of concrete can issue of overheating – a growing health of a building. It can also reduce the
save hundreds of kilograms of CO2 over and wellbeing issue, particularly among amount of M&E equipment needed,
a building’s life. the very young and the elderly. leading to lower operating and
THERMAL MASS maintenance costs.

The durability of concrete structures The durability of concrete structures Concrete is a very stable and durable
helps them to achieve a long life and means that, once built, they are rarely material with an extremely long life.
maximise their performance, keeping out of use for maintenance and hence As a result, maintenance costs are
their whole-life environmental impact cause minimal social disruption. very low.
to a minimum.
DURABILITY

Concrete offers good inherent acoustic Concrete’s mass provides a good Concrete provides good inherent
performance, requiring very little in barrier to noise, improving quality acoustic separation. This can result
the way of additional finishes and of life, particularly in high-density in cost savings because minimal
materials, which often have a short housing or near busy roads. supplementary design measures
lifespan. As a result, less material is are required.
ACOUSTIC ISOLATION used and potential waste is avoided
PERFORMANCE over the life of the building.

Concrete can provide a robust, Solid concrete and masonry party Concrete structures, particularly those
finished surface, avoiding the need walls result in safe, secure buildings, with minimal finishes, will suffer
for additional materials, which would preventing unwelcome intruders. less damage and cost less to repair
require maintenance and periodic and maintain.
replacement over a building’s lifecycle.
ROBUSTNESS
AND SECURITY

Concrete retains its structural integrity, Concrete and masonry structures Downtime of businesses, homes
resulting in minimal waste of materials can be designed to resist water and essential community services is
following a flood. penetration, keeping inconvenience minimised if flooded buildings have
and disruption to businesses, been constructed in concrete, as
homeowners and the community to they will require less repair work.
a minimum.
FLOOD RESILIENCE