Concrete Perspectives February 2021


CONCRETE NEWS


Virtual 65th BetonTage

© BetonTage

The BetonTage 65th conference – one of the most important meeting place for the precast and concrete products industry – was run virtually this year from 23 to 26 February, under the motto “Intelligent building – megatrends in concrete”.

This successful event was accompanied by numerous webinars and exhibitions of the supplier, engineering and software industry. The companies presented their products and services for the first time on their virtual stand and, from there, interacted with the visitors.

FBF Betondienst GmbH, organizer of the BetonTage, is already inviting you to its 66th edition  from 22 to 25 February, 2022.


More Of Everything – A film about Swedish Forestry

© More of Everything

The European Commission is currently working on a new EU forest strategy focusing on protection, restoration and sustainable management of EU forests. In this context, it might be useful to watch the newly released documentary “More Of Everything – A film about Swedish forestry” to look at the forestry subject from a different perspective. In this film, produced and published by Protect the Forest and Sweden & Greenpeace Nordic, a number of prominent independent scientists and experts are helping to examine the claims made by the forest industry about the Swedish forestry model and the bio-economy.

Learn more about the project here.


Project BUILD UP – contribute to the Topic of the Month

© BUILD UP

Every month, the European Portal for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (BUILD UP) highlights publications covering a specific topic. The motivation behind this inititiative is to involve the community and encourage the contribution of articles, events and much more under the same theme. The topic of the month for February was ‘Building operation and smart buildings’ and for the month of March is ‘Low carbon construction materials’​​. The current relevant content must be related to:

  • Interventions related to (a) systems and indoor climate, and (b) materials
  • New insulation materials
  • Materials and environmental impact assessment
  • nZEB and +Energy technology packages
  • Craddle to craddle materials

Join the BuildUp community: in order to contribute sign up at http://www.buildup.eu/en/user/register or contact the team: contact@buildup.eu.


BIBM NEWS


Public consultation and feedback

Energy efficiency – Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

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: 22 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

EU energy efficiency directive (EED) – evaluation and review

BIBM provided feedback and responded 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.

Commission adoption: Second quarter of 2021

EU Action Plan Towards a Zero Pollution Ambition for air, water and soil

BIBM provided feedback and responded to the 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.

Commission adoption: Second quarter of 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)

BIBM AGENDA


MARCHAPRILMAY
1.EMA
Confcall

2: BIBM
Technical Commission
Confcall

8: ECP
Board
Confcall

16: VEEP
General Assembly
Confcall

19: BIBM
AhG EC2
Confcall

22: CPE
WG Sustainability
Confcall

30: CEN/TC 229
WG4 – Horizontal items
Confcall

31: CEN/TC 229
WG1 – Structural product standards
Confcall
8: CEN/TC 229
WG5 – Concrete cPCR
Confcall

12: BIBM
Environment Commission
Confcall

13: BIBM
Board
Confcall

22-23: CEN/TC 229
Plenary
Confcall

22: NEPSI
E-learning training session

23: BIBM
Directors’ meeting
Confcall
4: BIBM
Communication Commission
Confcall

4: CEN/TC 350
SC 1 – Circular Economy
Confcall

27: ECP
TF Health Environment and Hygiene
Confcall

WEBINARS / ONLINE EVENTS


DateOrganiserInformation
9 MarchVEEP ProjectFinal webinar ‘Circular Economy for Buildings’ Registration
10 MarchVEEP ProjectReplication workshop Registration
15 MarchThe Concrete CentreReinforced Concrete Detailing to Eurocode 2 Registration
16 MarchDigiPLACETowards a Reference Architecture Framework for a Digital Industrial Platform for the construction industry Registration
17 MarchThe Concrete InitiativeConcrete Dialogue 2021 Registration
23 MarchFire Safe EuropeDigital Roundtable on energy-efficient and fire safe renovations under the EU Green Deal Registration
23 MarchEuractivHow to decarbonise heavy industry: From quick wins to long-term solutions Registration
23-25 MarchThe Concrete CentreNHBC Building For Tomorrow 2021 Conference Registration
23-25 MarchBREEAMBREEAM Awards 2021 Registration
24-25 MarchIBOBauZ! Vienna Congress on Sustainable Building Registration
31 MarchERABuilding a sustainable future – Transitioning towards a circular and low-carbon construction sector Registration
19 April – 12 JulyThe Concrete CentreDesign and Detailing to Eurocode 2 Online course
21 AprilChemical WatchThe Scip Database: First Experiences and Next Steps Registration
28 ArpilDemolition & Recycling InternationalDemolition Equipment Challenges Registration

BIBM PARTNERS NEWS


Concrete Dialogue 2021, 17 March

You are invited to join MEP’s, policy advisers and industry leaders online on the 17th March at the re-scheduled Concrete Dialogue 2021.

For the 2021 edition, the Concrete Dialogue aims to highlight real projects that have contributed not only to environment but have also benefited society and the economy.

The lively webinar debate, kindly hosted by MEP Sandro Gozi and moderated by journalist Jacki Davis, will be a chance to listen to a panel of leading EU politicians and experts, city project leaders and housing association representatives, to hear their views on the policies needed in the years ahead.

Learn more, register, and join the amazing speakers and topics!

Find out more here.


GCCA announces new biodiversity policy

The Global Cement and Concrete Association is announcing its commitment to supporting global biodiversity throughout its operations. To underline this, the GCCA has launched a new policy document which outlines steps that GCCA members commit to taking to work towards the achievement of Net Positive Impact in cement, concrete and aggregates operations.

The biodiversity policy outlines four specific key actions to ensure ecosystems can flourish:

  • Formulating and executing effective and progressive quarry rehabilitation and biodiversity management plans;
  • Tracking, monitoring, reporting, and establishing assurance of information through Key Performance Indicators;
  • Highlighting concrete’s strong sustainability characteristics, such as high versatility, which enables material efficiency aligned with Nature Based Solution initiatives;
  • Working in partnership to scale up efforts, building close ties with civil society organisations.

For more information: check the GCCA policy document, press release, and a video that summarises the industry’s contribution to enhancing global biodiversity.


DG EMPL refers to NEPSI as a social dialogue success story

The European Commission has posted a News on “The NEPSI Social Dialogue Agreement success story” on the Social Dialogue page of DG Employment’s website. It says that the European Network for Silica (NEPSI) is the first European multi-sectoral social dialogue agreement of its kind. Since 2006, it aims to protect the health of employees occupationally exposed to respirable crystalline silica in 18 industry sectors, minimising such exposure by applying good practices, and increasing the knowledge and awareness about potential health effects of respirable crystalline silica as well as about good practices. NEPSI is a valuable instrument to complement regulatory measures, including those laid down in the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive.

With the support of the Social Dialogue EC budget line, the NEPSI Good Practice Guide was completely updated in 2020 and a series of tools were specifically developed to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises including an e-learning module.

Through online reporting by industrial sites of eight key performance indicators every two years, partners can monitor the state of application of the agreement. Find the latest reporting exercise in NEPSI’s 2020 summary report here.


LIVE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION


New EU Climate Adaptation Strategy

© European Commission

On 24 February, the EC adopted its new EU strategy on adaptation to climate change. The new strategy sets out how the EU can adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change and become climate resilient by 2050. The Strategy has four principle objectives: to make adaptation smarter, swifter and more systemic, and to step up international action on adaptation to climate change. It proposes actions that push the frontiers of knowledge on adaptation so that EU citizens can gather more and better data on climate-related risks and losses, making them available to all. Climate-ADAPT (check the chapter concernig Buildings), the European platform for adaptation knowledge, will be expanded.

On buildings, the strategy promises that the Commission will:

  • enhance climate proofing guidance, and promote its use in Europe and abroad;
  • develop an EU-wide climate risk assessment and strengthen climate considerations in EU disaster risk prevention and management;
  • increase cooperation with standardization organizations to climate-proof standards and to develop new ones for climate adaptation solutions;
  • support the integration of climate resilience considerations into the criteria applicable to construction and renovation of buildings and critical infrastructure.

Digital Building Logbook – final report

© European Commission

 The EC has recently published its final report of the “Study on the development of a European Union framework for digital building logbooks”. The study was commissioned by  EASME for the development of an EU framework for a Digital Building Logbook and follows after the publication of the definition of the Digital Building Logbook and the report on Building Logbook state of play earlier in 2020. The Logbook will establish a common European approach that aggregates all relevant building data and ensures that the right person has access to the necessary information of the building.


First meeting of the new Industrial Forum

© European Commission

In early February, the European Commission hosted first meeting of the new Industrial Forum to support greening, digitalisation and resilience of EU industry. DG GROW decided to set up this Expert Group in the framework of the “New Industrial Strategy for Europe”. The Forum will support switching industrial transformation into higher gear by advising the Commission on the implementation of the Industrial Strategy and contributing to the analysis of the main industrial ecosystems, i.e. construction.

Morover, EU Industry Days took place virtually from 23-26 February –  EU’s flagship annual event on industry to discuss industrial challenges and co-develop opportunities and policy responses in an inclusive dialogue with a wide range of partners. You can find all the video and other event materials on www.euindustrydays.eu.


OUTSTANDING PRECAST CONCRETE PROJECTS


Raiffeisenbank, Oberriet

© CRE Panel

The new Raiffeisenbank building in the Swiss municipality of Oberriet, is a prime example of high-quality precast concrete elements made by the Austrian company CRE Panel GmbH. The open white concrete façade has a total surface of 340 m² comprising 59 made-to-measure elements, of which 47 are straight and 12 are rounded. The textile-reinforced precast concrete elements were cast in special silicone formliners from Herne-based company Reckli using Dyckerhoff Flowstone white high-performance binder.

Project: Raiffeisenbank, 2019

Architect: Carlos Martinez Architekten AG

Companies involved: CRE Panel GmbH, RECKLI, Dyckerhoff Flowstone                                                                                                                  

(Source: BFT International)