Concrete Perspectives March 2020


CONCRETE NEWS


COVID-19: Joint statement by CPE and the main EU construction stakeholders

In response to coronavirus crisis, Construction Products Europe and fourteen other main stakeholders of the construction sector have issued a joint statement asking for urgent measures to protect workers’ health, support economic activity and accelerate the recovery.

The signatories also ask the European Commission to open a dialogue, as soon as the circumstances allow it, in order to jointly identify and implement appropriate measures to limit the downturn and facilitate a rapid recovery of all construction activities.

Specific short-term measures are as follows:

  • Put in place tailor-made health and safety measures, protocols and guidelines with the active involvement of relevant stakeholders
  • Support the construction supply chain by putting in place measures allowing the efficient functioning of the EU internal market
  • Carry out massive support and stimulus programmes
  • Ease the administrative burden and the conditions for employers to implement temporary unemployment measures.

64. The COVID-19 Industrial Clusters Response Portal

© European Commission

The EC has launched a new portal (the Covid-19 Industrial Clusters Response Portal) to support the efforts of industrial clusters to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic in Europe. This portal has been created to facilitate the interaction of the industrial cluster community to allow fast and direct responses within the community itself too. Its objective is twofold:

·       Serve as a one-stop shop where reliable information can be found on actions and decisions of the European Commission for industry and especially industrial clusters

·       Support an open discussion forum where actors can share their experiences, solutions, requests and questions

Demand from public authorities can be channeled to industrial actors through cluster organizations across the EU and beyond. Public authorities in need can send an e-mail to: covid19response@clustercollaboration.eu.


New Offsite Concrete Construction Guide

The new Concrete Centre ‘Offsite Concrete Construction’ guide is available to download from the Concrete Centre, British Precast and British Precast Architectural and Structural (BPAS) websites. The guide written in collaboration with the BPAS membership offers guidance and technical information about how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can be delivered using precast concrete. Offsite concrete solutions range from whole building and structural systems, to precast construction components including walls, stairs, floors and cladding. They can be of bespoke design or standardised components offering the opportunity for creativity and efficient construction best suited to the project criteria. The publication includes guidance on the benefits of using offsite concrete construction and delves into details of some of the more common techniques. Download it here.


Sustainable Concrete initiative (Denmark)

The purpose of the Sustainable Concrete initiative is to pave the way to halving the CO2 footprint from Danish con­crete construction by 2030 in relation to 2019 levels, while simultaneously maintaining the high concrete quality and the robust life cycle costing linked to concrete construc­tion.

This ambitious vision is to be achieved by establishing broad working relationships within the construction in­dustry. For this reason, partners from a number of Danish producers of concrete and cement are becoming involved in the Sustainable Concrete initiative, as are a wide variety of developers, architects, engineers, contractors and aca­demic institutions.

The roadmap contains 35 different suggestions for reduction of CO2 emissions from concrete constructions, and the initiative is working on different projects. Right now, the focus is on the the COVID-19 situation.

The publication has been prepared in partnership between the Danish Concrete Association under the Danish Construction Association (danskbeton.dk) and the Danish Technological Institute. You can find an English version of the roadmap here.

More information: https://baeredygtigbeton.dk/


BIBM NEWS


Public consultation and feedback

2030 Climate Target Plan

BIBM is providing feedback to the Climate 2030 target action plan. The EU aims to become climate-neutral (net zero greenhouse gas emissions) by 2050. To achieve this, it will propose a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 50% to 55% for 2030 from 1990 levels, rather than at least 40% currently, including an amendment to the recently proposed European Climate Law. The initiative will also assess the economic, social and environmental impacts and possible policy measures.

Roadmap – feedback period: 18 March 2020 – 15 April 2020

Public consultation – feedback period: 31 March 2020 – 23 June 2020

European Climate Pact

BIBM is responding to the public consultation on the future European Climate Pact. The European Commission’s European Green Deal is the new growth strategy for an EU economy that is sustainable, cleaner, safer and healthier. The engagement of the public is critical to instil a new climate culture, awareness and motivation for climate action, bringing together citizens, industry, civil society and authorities at all levels. To achieve this, the Commission will consult the public and interested stakeholders in order to launch a “Climate Pact” in the 3rd quarter of 2020. The roadmap can be found here.

Feedback period: March 4 – May 27, 2020


BIBM Congress POSTPONED

You can find more information on the 2020 BIBM Congress here.

Due to the recent COVID-19 developments and in order to protect the health of our participants, exhibitors and speakers, BIBM, host of this years congress, and BCF, the organizer, have decided to reschedule #BIBMCongress2020 to November 15 – 17, 2020.

Registrations for both, stands and tickets, can be made as usual. We are already looking forward to welcome you in Copenhagen at the end of this year and to enjoy networking and future driven lessons.

We confide in your help to raise awareness within your clients and stakeholders, through organising “national” visits, providing possible exhibitors and sharing the available promotional material.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES/UPDATES: 

  • BIBM Congress is rescheduled to November 15-17, 2020
  • Congress Delegate online registration and price list here
  • Download the final program here (Program->Conference Program)
  • The BIBM Congress 2020’ official slogan: “The Future of European Construction – Precast Excellence in Nordic Countries”  
  • LinkedIn and Twitter BIBM Congress hashtag: #BIBMCongress2020 (please follow the hashtag to keep up with related images and posts)
  • VEEP Final Conference at BIBM Congress (BIBM delegates can choose the option of Workshop in the registration process; the fee for non-delegates is 120 €). Register and find the final agenda here (Program->VEEP Workshop)

BIBM APRIL – JUNE 2020 AGENDA


APRILMAYJUNE
2: CEN/TC 229
Editorial Panel Common Rules
Confcall
7: BIBM
General Assembly
Confcall
9: CPE WG on CPR
Confcall
8: BIBM
AhG Eurocode 2
Confcall
13: BIBM
CC WG Green Book
Confcall
Environment Commission
Confcall
20: CEN/TC 350/WG 3
Product Category Rules
Confcall
18: ECP
TF HEH
Confcall
16: BIBM
Technical Commission
Brussels (tbc)
19: CPE Sustainability WG
Confcall
18: CPE
General Assembly
Brussels (tbc)
26: BIBM
Board
Confcall
19: ECP
TF Fire and Eurocodes
Confcall
22: ECP
Board and General Assembly
Brussels (tbc)

BIBM PARTNERS NEWS


Extension of the deadline for the NEPSI KPIs reporting

NEPSI have asked the European Commission for an extension of the end date of the NEPSI Projects, due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis, and it was immediately accepted. They have obtained a 4-month delay. The Project will end on 31 May 2021 instead of 31 January 2021. Therefore, NEPSI set the deadline for the NEPSI KPIs reporting at 30 September 2020 to allow more time to companies in this difficult period.

The calendar of NEPSI meetings is adapted as follows:
18/06/2020: NEPSI Council meeting CANCELLED
10/09/2020: NEPSI TC meeting in Brussels with presentations of SME guidance, Training tools and RCS measurement protocol
30/09/2020: END OF THE KPIs REPORTING
10/12/2020: NEPSI Council Meeting in Brussels to discuss the 2020 Report of indicators
04/03/2021: NEPSI Closing Conference of the EC Grant Projects (Brussels)

The two working groups on the training tools and SMEs guidance will continue their work by webinars as they are currently doing.


RE4 project showcased as a success story of the H2020 programme

The RE4 project has been showcased by the European Commission as a success story of the European Horizon 2020 programme. RE4’s success was built on four pillars: maximising the amount of valuable materials recovered; designing reusable building components; improving CDW management through digitisation; and increasing the acceptance of CDW-based products. Find out more here.

Moreover, the project has been honoured with the Hans Sauer Award 2020 – Designing Circularity in the Built Environment in the category Tools | Materials | Methods.

Project details:

Project acronym: RE4

Participants: Italy (Coordinator), Spain, Sweden, Germany, Czechia, UK, Belgium, Taiwan

Total costs: € 5 117 524

EU contribution: € 4 808 149

Duration: September 2016 to February 2020


2020 Concrete Dialogue policy debate POSTPONED

The 2020 Concrete Dialogue policy debate, organised by The Concrete Initiative and The Parliament Magazine, had to be postponed until later in the year. The health and safety of the delegates, guests, clients and staff is a number one priority and after monitoring the situation regarding COVID-19 closely, carefully and regularly the Concrete Initiative have concluded that it would not be possible to deliver this event as planned. As soon as a new date for the event is confirmed, we will share that with you. If you have any questions, please contact Diane Rolland at events@theparliamentmagazine.eu.


VEEP Final Conference POSTPONED

On March 17, VEEP partners were taking part in a 42 Month Project General Assembly online in order to understand how to deal with the COVID-19 emergency and achieve the last project results. The VEEP Final Conference organised by BIBM in cooperation with RINA in the framework of BIBM Congress in May has been postponed. More details will follow in due time.


INDUSTRY4EUROPE welcomes an important industry focus from the European Commission

Industry4Europe (I4E) is pleased to receive the publication by the European Commission (EC) of its much-awaited New Industrial Strategy for Europe. The EC has presented an EU Industrial Strategy that recognises industry as central to Europe’s future progress and prosperity. Launched three years ago, the I4E coalition has consistently called on the European Institutions to develop an ambitious EU industrial strategy that helps Europe remain a hub for a leading, smart, innovative and sustainable industry.  The sector Associations of the Coalition will now carefully review and assess all individual measures proposed by the Commission. I4E wants to thank the EC for its hard work and for identifying seven main pillars of the Industrial Strategy that echo those recommended by the Coalition. The I4E coalition very much looks forward to further working with all policymakers – notably the Executive Vice-Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis (the Euro and Social Dialogue) and Margrethe Vestager (Competition) and Commissioner Thierry Breton (Internal Market)  – with the aim to cooperate in making the industrial strategy a success.


LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION


The European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan

© European Commission

A New Circular Economy Action Plan provides a future-oriented agenda for achieving a cleaner and more competitive Europe. It aims at accelerating the transformational change required by the European Green Deal, while building on circular economy actions implemented since 2015.

Construction and buildings

By the end of 2020, the EC will launch a new comprehensive Strategy for a Sustainable Built Environment. It will promote circularity principles throughout the lifecycle of buildings by:

• addressing the sustainability performance of construction products in the context of the revision of the Construction Product Regulation (CPR), including the possible introduction of recycled content requirements for certain construction products, taking into account their safety and functionality;

• promoting measures to improve the durability and adaptability of built assets in line with the circular economy principles for buildings design and developing digital logbooks for buildings

• using Level(s) to integrate life cycle assessment in public procurement and the EU sustainable finance framework and exploring the appropriateness of setting of carbon reduction targets and the potential of carbon storage

• considering a revision of material recovery targets set in EU legislation for construction and demolition waste and its material-specific fractions


Circular Economy – Principles for Building Design

© European Commission

The European Commission has recently published a paper on circular design in construction sector: “Circular Economy – Principles for Building Design”. To inform and support actors along the construction value chain, this document provides principles for circular design of buildings. Behind these principles lie a vast amount of knowledge and information. The document is aligned with the launch of Level(s), a voluntary reporting framework to improve the sustainability of buildings. In particular, this document contributes to Level(s) Macro-objective 2: Resource efficient and circular material life cycles. This macro-objective is about the reduction of waste, the optimisation of material use, and the reduction of environmental impacts of designs and material choices throughout the life cycle.


New Industrial Strategy announced

© European Commission

The European Commission has announced a new strategy that focuses on a new approach to European industrial policy. The strategy aims to drive competitiveness and strategic autonomy by supporting all players of European industry. A dedicated strategy for SMEs will assist enterprises within and beyond the single market and guide them to bring about the digital and green transitions.

The strategy will deliver on three priorities:

  • Maintaining European industry’s global competitiveness
  • Making Europe climate-neutral by 2050
  • Shaping Europe’s digital future

Some of the initiatives that have been announced include:

  • Measures to modernise and decarbonise energy-intensive industries
  • An action plan on Critical Raw Materials
  • A clean hydrogen alliance
  • Legislation on green public procurement
  • A renewed focus on innovation, investment and skills

The proposed actions are aimed at achieving an industrial transformation across Europe in light of the new climate neutrality and digital leadership ambitions.


OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS


The Vibe, East London

The Vibe is an unusual and innovatively designed residential scheme in fashionable Dalston, East London, where precast cladding is one of the signature features of the building envelope.

British Precast Architectural and Structural members Decomo UK supplied the precast cladding to the project.