Concrete Perspectives February 2022
1. CONCRETE NEWS
MPA Precast – British Precast merges with MPA
British Precast (BP), whose members include manufacturers of concrete masonry, paving slabs, structural sections, and drainage systems and Mineral Products Association (MPA), which represents all the UK’s cement makers, over 90% of aggregates producers, and more than 70% of ready-mixed concrete suppliers , joined forces in one association to represent the industry and accelerate its journey to beyond net-zero carbon emissions. The merger gives the British concrete industry a single voice, with the sector’s advocacy vehicle – UK Concrete – driving forward a common agenda to set the record straight about concrete’s role in sustainable construction and address the challenges of climate change.
Two new MPA product groups have been formed as a result of the merger – MPA Precast and MPA Masonry. Along with existing MPA product groups, especially The Concrete Centre and BRMCA, the combined trade association has unparalleled breadth and wealth of concrete expertise.
As of 1st January 2022, the British Precast Drainage Association (BPDA), along with the Precast Flooring Federation (PFF), British Precast Architectural & Structural (BPAS) and Interpave, have now been integrated under MPA Precast.
Sustainable building with concrete – Practical Guidance of the DAfStb
The German Committee for Structural Concrete (DAfStb) has recently published its practical guidance: ‘Sustainable construction with concrete’. Applicable to the different kind of buildings (residential buildings, administrative buildings, event venues, shopping centers, industrial halls, etc.), it is intended to support investors, builders, planners, contractors and representatives of the building supervision for decision-making processes in sustainable construction with concrete. The guidence shows how sustainable planning can be carried out with the already existing set of rules in concrete construction and is a first step towards implementing the DAfStb objective of achieving the climate neutrality of concrete construction by 2045 at the latest.
Download the guideline (in German and English) here.
Digitisation for construction product manufacturers – a plain language guide
Construction product manufacturers need to start sharing data digitally to support a safer and sustainable construction industry, says a new guide released by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
It has been produced to help decision-makers in manufacturing identify:
- Why supplying structured data is important;
- How to avoid poor investment decisions;
- How to set priorities and implement information management;
- And safe ways to share this information about products across the supply chain.
This new plain language guide can help the industry embrace digitisation. You can download the guideline here and join Digitisation for Construction Product Manufacturers LinkedIn Group.
‘Do It Yourself safely without dust’ website
IMA-Europe, the European Industrial Minerals Association, has recently created a website: ‘Do It Yourself safely without dust’. Based on NEPSI, it provides good practice for consumers exposed to dust during their activities (drilling, mixing materials, cutting, sawing, polishing, sanding, emptying bags, cleaning after work and waste disposal) to minimise it as much as possible through very simple measures. As the inhalation of the dust generated by certain DIY actions can be harmful to our health in the long term, reducing and preventing dust during DIY works is a sensible precaution.
2. BIBM NEWS
Public consultation and feedback
Stakeholder consultation on the Staff Working Document: “Scenarios for a transition pathway for a more resilient, greener and more digital construction ecosystem “environment”.
The Commission services have prepared a Staff Working Document to outline possible scenarios for a transition pathway for a more resilient, green and digital construction ecosystem. For the creation of this Staff Working Document, the service responsible engaged in dialogue with the construction ecosystem.
BIBM input can be found here.
Energy efficiency – Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
In 2020, the Commission presented its ‘Renovation Wave’ strategy to boost energy renovation of buildings in the EU. This strategy contains an action plan with: (i) regulatory, financing and enabling measures; and (ii) the goal of at least doubling the annual energy renovation rate of buildings by 2030. This goal requires a revision of the relevant EU legal act, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The revision will focus on provisions that are central to boosting building renovation.
Feedback deadline: 31 March 2022.
Chemicals legislation – revision of REACH Regulation to help achieve a toxic-free environment
The European Green Deal sets out the ambition to reach zero pollution for a toxic-free environment. As part of this ambition, the chemicals strategy for sustainability announces actions to better protect people and the environment against hazardous chemicals and to encourage innovation to develop safe and sustainable alternatives. Achieving these goals requires revising the rules governing the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals in the EU.
Feedback deadline: 15 April 2022.
Certification of carbon removals – EU rules
This initiative will propose EU rules on certifying carbon removals. It will develop the necessary rules to monitor, report and verify the authenticity of these removals. The aim is to expand sustainable carbon removals and encourage the use of innovative solutions to capture, recycle and store CO2 by farmers, foresters and industries. This represents a necessary and significant step towards integrating carbon removals into EU climate policies.
Public consultation and feedback deadline: 02 May 2022.
Microplastics pollution – measures to reduce its impact on the environment
This initiative aims to tackle microplastics unintentionally released into the environment. It will focus on labelling, standardisation, certification and regulatory measures for the main sources of these plastics.
Public consultation deadline: 17 May 2022.
3. BIBM AGENDA
| MARCH 2022 | APRIL 2022 | MAY 2022 |
| 07/03: ECP Board Confcall | 04-05/04: CEN/TC 229 Plenary meeting Confcall | 06/05: The Concrete Initiative Concrete Dialogue, Workshop 1 Brussels, Belgium |
| 09/03: Construction 2050 Confcall | 06/04: CEN/TC 104 WG19 – Decarbonisation Confcall | 10/05: ECP Board Brussels, Belgium |
| 10/03: BIBM Environment Commission Confcall | 07/04: BIBM Board Brussels, Belgium | 16/05: BIBM Communication Commission Confcall |
| 14/03: BIBM Technical Commission Confcall | 23/05: BIBM Technical Commission Confcall | |
| 24/03: BIBM Directors’ meeting Confcall | 30-31/05: BIBM General Assembly Epernon, France | |
| 25/03: The Concrete Initiative Confcall | ||
| 30/03: CEN/TC 229 WG1 – Structural products Confcall | ||
| 30/03: CEN/TC 250 SC2 – Concrete Eurocode Confcall |
4. WEBINARS / ONLINE EVENTS
5. BIBM PARTNERS NEWS
C2050 Alliance webinar: Sustainable access to primary & secondary raw materials
Circularity is at the core of this ecosystem. Construction has made significant progress regarding the use of secondary raw materials, and this will continue to be a priority over the years to come. Equally, we will continue to depend on primary resources, to ensure a safe and steady supply of raw materials for the desired output. Let’s discuss how to secure sustainable access to primary and secondary raw materials in the European construction sector on 24 March, 10.00-12.00.
Find out more and register here.
New European Bauhaus Prizes 2022
The Festival of the New European Bauhaus will take place from 9 to 12 June 2022 as a hybrid event. The core activities will take place in Brussels, with side events across the EU and beyond. The Festival brings together different stakeholders to debate and shape the EU Bauhaus. A future that is sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. It is a great opportunity to network, exchange and celebrate – from science to art, from design to politics, from architecture to technology. Find out more here.
You can propose your activities, projects, venues or side events. The deadline for submission of activity proposals for Festival of NEB is 21 March 2022.
The NEPSI Reporting 2022 open
The implementation of the NEPSI Social Dialogue Agreement and our commitment to improve the health and safety of workers continues in 2022, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 reporting of NEPSI Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the 2 last years (2020, 2021) starts on 17 January 2022 and will end on 17 March 2022.
Guidance documents for Associations and companies/sites are available on the website.
For more information, pleae have a look at the UEPG video tutorial for companies and national associations., or contact the NEPSI helpdesk: helpdesk@nepsidata.com.
The Executive Summary of the NEPSI 2020 Report is available here.
6. LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
EU Standardisation Strategy is out
The EU Standardisation Strategy, unveiled on 2 February, seeks to solve some of the most pressing problems standard-making is facing, including delays in the approval of new standards, as well as a need for more inclusiveness for societal stakeholders.
CEN and CENELEC, two of the three officially recognised European Standardization Organizations, welcome the new European Standardization Strategy which reinforces the common efforts to deliver on the ambitions of the twin transition.
‘An EU Strategy on Standardisation – Setting global standards in support of a resilient, green and digital EU single market’ can be found here.
‘European Data Act’ unveiled
On 23 February, the European Commission published its Data Act and the construction industry should take note as “…construction companies will be in a position to take better decisions such as buying higher quality or more sustainable products (…), contributing to the Green Deal objectives.” verifying.
The Data Act is a key measure for making more data available for use in line with EU rules and values. The proposed Regulation is on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data. It will make an important contribution to the digital transformation objective of the Digital Decade. See the official press release here.
Take-aways from the EU Industry Days
The Pact for Skills in Construction by EFBWW, FIEC and EBC was officially launched during the EU Industry Days panel on the construction ecosystem. The pact is an initiative promoted by the European Commission in the framework of the “EU Skills Agenda”, calling for concrete commitments by construction and education stakeholders. It aims at mobilising a concerted effort among private and public partners for investment in knowledge, skills and competences to benefit the European construction sector workforce. During the Industry Days, panellists also highlighted the importance to consider the intersections between industrial ecosystems in developing transition pathways, the need to ensure data standardisation and data availability for a digital transition, and to also collaborate with partners outside of the EU.
New tools for Level(s) available
Two new tools will make Level(s) framework more approachable and easier.
Level(s), a European framework for sustainable buildings, provides a common language for assessing and reporting on the sustainability performance of buildings. It is a simple entry point for applying circular economy principles in our built environment.
To further support Level(s) users, Directorate-General for Environment developed a comprehensive set of online training materials. Their eLearning course provides a detailed overview of Level(s) and prepares you to start using it in your working environment.
For those already using Level(s), the Calculation and Assessment Tool (CAT) makes it easier to complete your sustainability performance assessments.
7. OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS
GCCA Concrete in Life 2021 – Winners
The 3rd Annual GCCA Global Photography Competition ‘Concrete in Life’ celebrates the essential nature and beauty of concrete in our lives.
Congratulations to Agung Lawerissa, the overall winner of Concrete in Life 2021, who wins the $10,000 grand prize.
The other winners can be found here: https://gccassociation.org/concrete-in-life-2021/.
