Concrete Perspectives January 2021
CONCRETE NEWS
New Managing Director of VÖB, Austria
Thomas Mühl became the new Managing Director (MD) of the Association of Austrian Concrete and Precast Plants (VÖB), succeeding the retiring Gernot Brandweiner, VÖB Managing Director for over 18 years.
As the new MD, Thomas Mühl (44) is driving forward a strategic reorientation of the VÖB with the aim of enabling a fair competitive environment in the construction industry in which the importance and advantages of precast concrete elements become even more visible. As he said: “On the one hand, we would like to provide targeted and timely information about the advantages of precast concrete elements, and on the other hand, we would like to sustainably strengthen the reputation of our industry”.
Thomas Mühl is a trained business economist and international industrial engineer. Before joining the VÖB, he worked for many years at Schiedel, an international industry leader in roof and chimney systems, where he was most recently a member of the Executive Committee.
Read the full press release here.
Bertrand Bedel elected new President of CERIB
Bertrand Bedel was elected as the new President of CERIB (the Concrete Industry Research Centre) on 26 January 2021 for a three-year term. He succeeds Philippe Gruat, President since 2018. Bertrand Bedel has been involved in the precast concrete industry for many years and has been a member of CERIB’s Board of Directors since 2012 and President of the Fédération de l’Industrie du Béton (FIB) since June 2019.
Read the full press release here.
CEN-CENELEC’s Work Programme 2021
The CEN and CENELEC Work Programme 2021 has been recently published. 2021 will be a strategic year in the evolution of the European Standardization System: European standards can support some of the most important priorities of the EU, such as the Recovery Plan, the European Green Deal, and the Digital Transition.
The Work Programme 2021 gives an overview of the main standardization developments and strategic priority areas CEN and CENELEC are ready to implement in 2021 across 14 business sectors (Construction sector – pages 9-14). For each sector, the reader will find a list of the technical bodies involved in carrying out the work, the number of standards published by CEN and CENELEC, a detailed overview of the topics where standardization work is expected and the standardization requests received from the Commission.
The Work Programme also presents a focus on three horizontal business topics: Accessibility, Sustainability and Smart Technologies.
Launch of the 2020 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction
The Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction recently launched its report for 2020. The fifth edition of this annual report provides a snapshot of the progress of the buildings and construction sector globally towards the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement. The report highlights an increase in energy-related CO2 emissions, to 9.95 Gt CO2 in 2019. This increase was due to a shift towards electricity in the use phase, with a higher carbon content due to the high proportion of fossil fuels used in its generation. When emissions from operations are added, the construction sector accounted for 38% of total global energy-related CO2 emissions.
This year’s Buildings-GSR shines a light on the disruptions of COVID-19 and some of the responses in 2020, and includes a snapshot on emerging key issues: materials, nature-based solutions, health, and cooling for resilience. It also introduces a new index to track progress in decarbonisation in the sector – the Buildings Climate Tracker (BCT).
BIBM NEWS
BIBM became an affiliate member of GCCA
This year BIBM became a partner of the Global Cement and Concrete Association (so far BIBM was affiliated with GCCA only through the European Concrete Platform).
The goal is for the GCCA’s membership to represent at least fifty percent of the global cement and concrete production capacity.
GCCA is working with national and regional cement and concrete organisations, many of whom have become the affiliate members. Affiliates are not formal members, but are partners who the GCCA consult and work with across different projects, in order to help achieve shared goals and specific objectives. Check more here.
New Chairwoman of the BIBM Technical Commission elected
At the January 2021 Board meeting, BIBM has elected Pernille Nyegaard as a new Chairwoman of the BIBM Technical Commission. Pernille (Denmark, 1972) is a civil engineer and has worked with concrete and the precast industry since 1999. She is a member of several national and European standardization committees, e.g. CEN/TC 104, and has also worked in the Technical secretariat of the Group of Notified Bodies under the Construction Products Regulation. Pernille is Managing Director at Betonelement-Foreningen, the Danish Precast Concrete Federation, since 2017. Welcome on board, Chairwoman Pernille!
BIBM would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our outgoing and long-time Technical Commission Chairman and member of the Board, Gernot Brandweiner (former VÖB Managing Director, Austria). Thank you Gernot for over 12 years of dedicated service, your exceptional expertise and great cooperation! We wish you all the best for your retirement.
Public consultation and feedback
EU energy efficiency directive (EED) – evaluation and review
BIBM will provide answer to the public consultation on the European Commission’s review of the Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency.
Under the European Green Deal, the Commission has committed to stronger action on climate change. It aims to assess how the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions could responsibly be reduced by at least 50% to 55% by 2030.
As the efficient use of energy is key to achieving such a target, the review aims to provide insights into how the EED could be revised to:
- achieve a higher level of greenhouse gas reduction by 2030;
- contribute to other European Green Deal initiatives.
Public consultation deadline: 9 February 2021
EU Action Plan Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil
BIBM provided feedback and will respond to public consultation on the EC’s Communication: EU Action Plan Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil.
To secure clean air, water and soil, healthy ecosystems and a healthy living environment for Europeans, the EU needs to better prevent, remedy, monitor and report on pollution, mainstream the zero pollution ambition into all its policy developments and decouple economic growth from the increase of pollution, in line with United Nations driven efforts.
Public consultation deadline: 10 February 2021
Health & Safety at Work – EU Strategic Framework (2021-2027)
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the crucial importance of health, including health & safety at work.
This initiative builds on the previous EU Strategic Framework 2014-2020. It aims to maintain and improve the high health & safety standards for EU workers – also in light of new circumstances, and will help to prepare for new crises and threats.
It will identify key objectives and set out a strategic framework to encourage EU countries and stakeholders to work together on common priorities.
Public consultation deadline: 01 March 2021
Industrial pollution – European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (updated rules)
The register contains key data on pollutants emitted by industrial facilities in Europe. The Commission has been tasked with revising the EU rules on addressing pollution from large industrial installations.
This initiative aims to:
- improve public access to environmental information;
- support the revision of closely related legislation on industrial emissions;
- help achieve the European Green Deal goals on zero pollution, climate neutrality;
- biodiversity and a cleaner, more circular economy.
Public consultation deadline: 23 March 2021
BIBM Congress 2021, 14 – 16 November
Registrations for both, stands and tickets, can be made as usual. We are already looking forward to welcoming you in Copenhagen at the end of 2021 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 materials.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES/UPDATES:
• BIBM Congress is rescheduled to November 14 – 16, 2021
• Congress Delegate online registration and price list here
• Download the final program here
• The BIBM Congress 2021’ official slogan: “The Future of European Construction – Precast Excellence in Nordic Countries”
• LinkedIn and Twitter BIBM Congress hashtag: #BIBMCongress2021 (please follow the hashtag to keep up with related images and posts)
• Learn more about the Speakers and Exhibitors on the Building Congress Forum LinkedIn page here
• Abstract submission: the Speakers are invited to send 1 to 2 pages summary of their presentation to Ms. Magdalena Herbik (mh@bibm.eu)
• The VEEP Final Webinar “Circular Economy for Buildings” will be hosted by the European Portal for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EU Build Up) on 9 March 2021
BIBM AGENDA
| FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL |
| 8: BIBM Communication Commission Confcall | 1.EMA Confcall | 8: CEN/TC 229 WG5 – Concrete cPCR Confcall |
| 9: CPE Communications group meeting Confcall | 2: BIBM Technical Commission Confcall | 12: BIBM Environment Commission Confcall |
| 11: CEN/TC 350 WG3 – Product level Confcall | 10: VEEP Replication workshop Confcall | 13: BIBM Board Confcall |
| 18: ECP ECP TF HEH WG Microplastics Confcall | 30: CEN/TC 229 WG4 – Horizontal items Confcall | 21: CEN/TC 229 Plenary Confcall |
| 18: ECP TF Health, Environment and Hygiene Confcall | 31: CEN/TC 229 WG1 – Structural product standards Confcall | 23: BIBM Directors’ meeting Confcall |
| 18: GCCA Partnerships Council Update Confcall | ||
| 25: BIBM Wastewater Engineering group Confcall | ||
| 25: ECP Task force fire & eurocodes Confcall |
WEBINARS / ONLINE EVENTS
| DATE | ORGANISER | INFORMATION |
| 3 February | EP Intergroup | ‘Enabling impactful investments via the next EU budget and Next Generation EU: From policy to implementation’ Streaming link |
| 5 February | European Parliament | Webinar on the New Industrial Strategy Streaming link |
| 15 February | CEN-CENELEC | BIM supports digitalization of standards for the Construction sector Registration |
| 25 February | FEICA | Webinar ‘Review of the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR)’ Registration |
| 23-26 February | European Commission | EU Industry Days Registration |
| 23-26 February | FBF Betondienst GmbH | BetonTage 2021 Registration |
| 9 March | VEEP Project | Final webinar ‘Circular Economy for Buildings’ Registration (coming soon) |
| 17 March | The Concrete Initiative | Concrete Dialogue 2021 Registration |
| 28 Arpil | Demolition & Recycling International | Demolition Equipment Challenges Registration |
BIBM PARTNERS NEWS
Final SeRaMCo Conference ‘Precast in the Circular Economy’
On the 20th of January SeRaMCo held its final web conference “Precast Concrete in the Circular Economy”. The numerous international speakers presented the outcomes of the SeRaMco project, from theoretical research to implementation of pilot projects made of recycled concrete. Alessio Rimoldi from BIBM was discussing the role of precast concrete in achieving circular construction from the industry’s reduce, re-use and recycle perspective.
To relive the highlights and read up on all presentations on a sustainable construction sector, please visit the project results section here.
Construction 2050 Alliance: meeting with the Cabinet of Commissioner Breton
The Construction 2050 Alliance recently held a meeting with Eszter Batta from the Cabinet of Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for Internal Market, discussing about the construction-related priorities for the Commission for 2021, the forthcoming new Industrial Policy and the role of construction in the recovery from the Covid pandemic.
The Renovation Wave, the Affordable Housing initiative, the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings, the digital transition, the revision of the Construction Products Regulation and the Taxonomy for sustainable investments are only some of the issues on which the Construction 2050 Alliance need to focus this year.
One of the main role of the Construction 2050 Alliance, which gathers around 50 European organisations involved in the construction value chain, is to strengthen the visibility and the voice of the sector towards the EU Institutions.
LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
Portugal takes over EU presidency
On 1 January, Portugal took over the rotating Council Presidency from Germany. In its work programme, Portugal has defined the main priorities and a number of action points, under the motto: “Time to deliver: for a fair, green and digital recovery”. Given the current uncertain times, Portugal is committed to promoting a resilient, green, digital, social and global Europe. The Presidency is expected to emphasize the implementation of the EU recovery package and the MFF 2021-2027.
When it comes to the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Presidency will encourage reflection at EU level on:
- secondary raw material markets, waste management for existing goods and equipment (life cycle, product quantity);
- intelligent production and use (reduction of raw materials and greater innovation in product design);
- prevention and minimal use of raw materials (including ecodesign), reusability, repairability and remanufacturing.
Portugal will aim to ensure links between different sectoral policies, including the consolidation of industrial clusters.
New European Bauhaus: EC launches design phase
The European Commission (EC) has launched first phase of the New European Bauhaus – an environmental, economic and cultural project, aiming to bring together the world of art and technology, to combine design, sustainability, affordability and investment in order to help deliver the European Green Deal.
This design phase will lead to the opening of calls for proposals in autumn this year to bring to life New European Bauhaus ideas in at least five places in EU Member States, through the use of EU funds at national and regional level. Organisations that want to took part in this co-design process can become ‘Partners of the New European Bauhaus,’ by responding to the call on the website.
In the next phase of the initiative – the ‘delivery‘ phase, five pilot projects will be set up to co-design new sustainable and inclusive solutions with style. The objective of the third phase – ‘dissemination‘, is to spread the ideas and concepts defining the New European Bauhaus via new projects, networking and sharing of knowledge, in Europe and beyond.
European Commission postponed green finance rules
The EC has asked the Platform on Sustainable Finance to rework the EU’s taxonomy rules after member states rejected draft implementing guidelines. The advisors will examine how the taxonomy could facilitate all companies to transition toward improving their environmental performance.
The EU executive published its draft implementing rules (so called ‘delegated acts’) on 20 November 2020, touting the proposal as the world’s first ‘green-list’ of economic activities that could drive billions of euros of private investments into the green economy.
The draft list defines CO2 emissions thresholds for a wide range of energy and climate mitigation technologies – from electric cars to building insulation materials – effectively defining what is ‘sustainable’ and what is not.
The publication of the rules (predicted beginning of 2021) were postponed after a group of ten EU states threatened to veto the proposal, saying the suggested emissions thresholds for gas were too strict. The exact date of publication of the new draft rules is still unclear.
(Source: Euractiv)
OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS
The ‘Scheldezicht’ project was recently completed in Antwerp. The project is one of the highlights of the urban development project ‘Nieuw Zuid’ (New South), a new vibrant and sustainable district. ‘Scheldezicht’ is divided into a residential high-rise supplemented with offices, commercial spaces, and communal areas. The visual architectural effect of Scheldezicht is characterized by the “white framework”, due to the use of white designed concrete. The “bigger and cheaper” façade principle offers space within the precast concrete exoskeleton for individual outdoor spaces in the form of terraces and gardens.
Architect: C.F. Møller Architects and BRUT
Client: Triple Living
Contractor: Interbuild
(Source: FEBE)