Concrete Perspectives September 2016
Construction Sector
EBC and FIEC issues position paper on the Inclusion of Silica Dust
On 12 September, the European Builders Confederation (EBC) and the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) issued a Press Release entitled “The Inclusion of Silica Dust in The Carcinogens Directive is not adequate to protect workers”.
The joint position paper to speak up against the inclusion of the Respirable Crystalline Silica dust in the proposal to revise the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive.
The joint position paper can be read here.
CEN holds conference on Standards for circular economy
On 8 September, the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) held a conference entitled “Standards for circular economy: waste management and secondary raw materials”.
The conference addressed the question how industry is making the shift from the linear approach to a circular thinking, with a focus on waste and secondary raw materials.
Construction Products Europe internal debate on CE marking
On 7 September, Construction Products Europe (CPE) held and internal debate on CE marking. Earlier this year, CPE has developed the concept of smart CE marking and now held an internal debate to discuss its implementation.
In the meantime, the European Commission issues a study entitled “Opportunity now: Europe’s mission to innovate”. The study also mentions smart CE marking (section 54).
Live from the European Union
Building materials CEOs send letter to the European Commission
On 23 September, a group of 42 CEOs from construction and building materials companies signed and sent a letter to European Commission, asking for a “high level political commitment” in order to achieve EU’s target of a “Nearly Zero Energy” building stock by 2050.
URBAN Intergroup extraordinary meeting
On 6 September 2016, the URBAN Intergroup of the European Parliament co-organised a meeting with UN HABITAT in the preparation of HABITAT III (will be held in Quito, Ecuador 17-20 October 2016).
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the forthcoming European Cities Report which will be published during the European Week of Regions and Cities 10-13 October.
After the introductory remarks of MEP Jan Olbrycht, Mr Paulius Kulikauskas (Chief of Office for Europe and European Institutions, UN-HABITAT) gave some insights into the cooperation between the European Commission and UN. The European Cities Report is a joint report built on mutual confidence between the two institutions (UN and European Union).
Last year UN adopted the agenda entitled “Transforming our world-the 2030 agenda for a sustainable development” in which Member States commit to work together and make cities inclusive, safe and resilient.
Earlier this year (30 May 2016) the European Union adopted the EU Urban Agenda, as a step toward the future common work, the review of urban development policies in the EU.
Lewis Dijkstra (Deputy Head of Unit of the Economic Analysis Unit from DG REGIO) gave a detailed presentation about the report that includes the following chapters:
- Demographic changes
- Urban economic development
- Social issues
- Urban mobility
- Resource Efficiency of cities
- Land use change
- Urban environmental & climate change
To read the full article, please contact zk@bibm.eu.
European Commission launches study on Façade fire testing
DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) launched a call for tender to assess façade fire testing in the European Union and to develop a standard, following a consultation process with the Member States technical experts in late 2015. The deadline for submissions was mid-September and the Commission now will announce the consultant who will deliver the study by mid-October 2016.
Fire Safe Europe welcomed the initiative of the Commission towards better regulation of façade testing, however, it expressed its concerns over the small scale test, whose fire exposure is ten times lower than the large scale tests.
Fire Safe Europe openly advocates for a European harmonised large scale façade test method which will ensure higher quality of fire safety across the European Union.
The study is foreseen to be finished autumn 2017.
National Award Winner Project
Stormen Concert Hall and Library (Norway)
The Norwegian Precast Concrete prize 2015 was awarded to DRDH Architects for Stormen Concert Hall and Library.
The new library and concert hall, Stormen, in the city of Bodø, realizes an important though previously undeveloped part of the city centre in an outstanding way. The new buildings contribute to a revitalization of the area Storgata, Sjøgata, the harbour and Hålogalandsgata. Stormen and its public areas create space for activities in the previously empty harbour quarter.
The buildings are situated in a challenging context where they must relate to the existing street grid, the harbour, the landscape as well as the diversity of the surrounding existing buildings. The challenge is met in an exemplary way by creating two volumes that complete the block without dominating the cityscape. The context is underlined by a specific expression in the different facades through a conscious composition of the façade elements.
The two buildings comprising Stormen have facades of precast concrete. The white facade elements are brushed and lightly polished highlighting the marble structure in the surface. The geometry of the façade elements is complex; with its precise joints, corners and window openings, it expresses a serene elegance. Mirrored in the two buildings, the geometrical design relates them to each other in a distinct way. The facades and columns reaching upwards give the buildings dignity in interaction with the surrounding buildings and coastal landscape, and emphasize the important role of the buildings in the city centre.
The materiality and the white surfaces of the facades change with the seasons; reflecting the low Northern sun at the streets, or the rain subduing the concrete surfaces. This adds character and variety of expression to the buildings. At the same time, the white colour and shape of the buildings create associations to mountains and winter landscapes.
The innovative use of precast concrete façades is essential for the unique design of the building. The details are thoroughly planned and consistently implemented, from the size and form of each element to the small details in the columns, windows and entrances. The precast façade elements are used in a challenging manner, partly due to the overlapping corners in masonry. The complex pattern of division in the elements invite curiosity regardless of the perspective from which they are viewed.
Through superior architectural and functional quality, Stormen Concert Hall and Library constitute two important buildings in the centre of Bodø city. The project is the result of a courageous process and excellent cooperation between client, architect and the precast concrete producer.
Facts:
Category: Cultural building
Client: The Municipality of Bodø
Architect: DRDH Architects, London
Local coordinator: Dark Arkitekter AS
Landscaper: Dark Arkitekter AS
Acustics and scene technics: Arup
Landscaper: Dark Arkitekter AS
Size: 18 038 m2
Localization: Storgata 1A og 1B, Bodø
Finalized: 15 november 2014
Precast Concrete: Overhalla Betongbygg AS
News in brief
Agenda
OCTOBER
6 October 2016
Environment Commission
Brussels, Belgium
6 October 2016
SG 13 (notified bodies)
Brussels, Belgium
14 October 2016
European Masonry Alliance meeting
Brussels, Belgium
19-20 October 2016
VEEP kick-off meeting
Brussels, Belgium
25 October 2016
CPE Sustainability WG
Brussels, Belgium
26 October 2016
CPE CPR WG
Brussels, Belgium
NOVEMBER
2 November 2016
Fire Safe Europe meeting
Brussels, Belgium
16 November 2016
BIBM Board meeting
Brussels, Belgium
17 November 2016
Concrete Dialogue – Concrete Initiative
Brussels, Belgium
22 November 2016
ECP TF Fire and Eurocodes
Brussels, Belgium
24-25 November 2016
CEN/TC 229
Vienna, Austria
30 November 2016
European Concrete Platform Board
Brussels, Belgium
DECEMBER
7 December 2016
CPE CPR implementation
Brussels, Belgium
To the Newsletter of Construction Products Europe (former CEPMC), please follow this link.
To read the Newsletter of CEMBUREAU, please follow this link. You can also subscribe directly following this link http://www.cembureau.eu/newsletter/subscriptions.
To read the Quarterly Newsletter of The Concrete Initiative, please follow this link.
List of Acronyms:
CPE – Construction Product Europe
DG GROW – Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
ECP – European Concrete Platform
EMA – European Masonry Alliance
IPHA – International Pre-stressed Hollowcore Association
TF – Task Force