Concrete Perspectives December 2014
Construction Sector
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Commission publishes study on voluntary EU certification scheme for non-residential buildings. It suggests building the new EU scheme on the basis of the updated CEN standards and starting with offices and hotels as a pilot for initial launchThe Concrete Initiative –article
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Private Finance for Energy Efficiency instrument to finance energy efficiency. The instruments is primarily targeted at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as private individuals (such as house owners), small municipalities or other public sector bodies undertaking small energy efficiency investments
The Concrete Initiative – article
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DG Enterprise and Industry’s survey on the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation came to an end on 18 December 2014. RPA, the UK-based consultancy, who was in charge of carrying out the online survey on behalf of the European Commission.
BIBM decided to respond to the survey through Construction Products Europe in order to have a common and strong approach on the assessment of the implementation of the Regulation.
In April 2016, the Commission will publish a CPR implementation report based on the input provided through this survey.
Survey DG Enterprise and Industry
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On 10 December 2014, the European Economic and Social Committee issued its opinion on “The circular economy: job creation and the Green Action Plan for SMEs”.
EESC: “The circular economy: job creation and the Green Action Plan for SMEs”.
Live from the European Union
European Commission’s Work Programme 2015
On 16 December, the European Commission adopted its Work Programme for 2015. The main objectives of the next years’ Work Programme are creation of jobs, growth and investment; and bring concrete benefits for citizens.
The new Work Programme is a “New Start”, said Mr Juncker, the President of the European Commission who also announced the withdrawal of several legislative initiatives which, he claimed, were not anymore a priority of the new Commission. Amongst others, the review of the Waste Framework Directives has been withdrawn and a new, stronger proposition was announced to be issued during 2015.
At the same time, EU Environmental ministers expressed their opposition to ditching the circular economy package, on 17 December. Eleven environmental ministers, including Germany and Italy, wrote a letter to the Commission to express their concerns over the move.
Website- European Commission Work Programme 2015
List of withdrawals of pending initiatives
National Award Winners
Inspiration for Austria’s New Railway Stations ©
Concrete Student Trophy 2014
Project definition: fictitious new railway station on the site of an existing station in Münchendorf (to the south of Vienna), where a lot of commuters are living. The solutions have to include island platforms for regional trains as well as passing high-speed trains, parking lots for busses, cars and bicycles, safe access for pedestrians, comfortable waiting areas as well as a good noise protection for the inhabitants of Münchendorf.
Furthermore not only a good idea with respect to architecture has to be found, but it is also necessary to make calculations and develop building procedures, due to the main goal of the CST: architects and civil engineers must learn to work hand in hand. The students furthermore have to present detailed descriptions and models for visualisation.
The sophisticated solutions presented by the students were highly appreciated by the members of the jury, consisting of architects, civil engineers, representatives of the building and cement industries as well as the railway company ÖBB.
The first (€ 4000.-) and third (€ 2000.-) prizes were awarded to teams from the Vienna University of Technology, the second prize (€ 3000.-) went to students from the Technical University in Graz. In addition four teams won appreciation awards of € 1000.- each.
Winning Project: “inside out” (Bernhard Ramsauer and Christian Szalay, pictured below) The winning team was the only one which dared challenge the ÖBB guidelines by opening the platforms for the local trains to the surroundings and guiding the high-speed and freight trains through a noise protection trough. Thus the station becomes integrated into the expanding town and the projecting parts of the noise protection walls shelter the passengers under a canopy.
Second project is “Trendy Station Münchendorf” (Bernd Hausegger, Theresa Reisenhofer and Stefan Leitner with Mélanie Bouissiere /absent in the picture/). The second project transforms the underpass into a bridge – the station concourse is lowered into the ground, the rails cross on a bridge construction. Step-like seats and ramps with integrated lights define the building similar to an artificial topography.
Third price project is called „Concrete Waves“ (Eva Himmelbauer, Isabella Penthor and Erasmus student Jakub Bielski). After a lot of trials the engineer was committed to this “crazy project”. The near-by river offered the context of waves which in the end set the course for the whole project. Parts of the roof let the natural light to enter, the divided supports offer comfortable seats for users. The noise protection walls stretch out “wave-like”, they are structured by translucent openings and elements with greenery.
© Zement+Beton, Vienna, Austria
Additional information and pictures you will find under
http://www.zement.at/services/publikationen/wettbewerbe
News in brief
Agenda
JANUARY
8 January 2015
BIBM advocacy event
Brussels, Belgium
12 January 2015
Masonry Alliance
Brussels, Belgium
14 January 2015
CEN/TC 229/WG 1 and WG 4
Brussels, Belgium
21 January 2015
ECP TF Sustainable Concrete
Conference Call
23-23 January 2015
Safecladding
Athens, Greece
27 January 2015
AHG Concrete Initiative
Brussels, Belgium
27 January 2015
Masonry Alliance Dinner
Brussels, Belgium
FEBRUARY
3 February 2015
CPE TF Implementation of CPR
Brussels, Belgium
4 February 2015
BIBM Board meeting
Brussels, Belgium
11 February 2015
CEN/TC/229 WG4
Brussels, Belgium
23 February 2015
BIBM Directors meeting
Ulm, Germany
27 February 2015
ECP TF Fire and Eurocodes
Brussels, Belgium
MARCH
6 March 2015
ECP Board
Brussels, Belgium
24-25 March 2015
BIBM Technical Commission
Brussels, Belgium
To the Newsletter of Construction Products Europe (former CEPMC), please follow this link.
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To read the Quarterly Newsletter of The Concrete Initiative, please follow this link.
List of Acronyms
CPE – Construction Product Europe
CPR – Construction Products Regulation
ECP – European Concrete Platform
TF – Task Force
AhG – Ad-hoc Group