Concrete Perspectives January-March 2017

Construction sector 

  • Industry launches responsibly sourced concrete certification

On 1 January 2017, the Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) published the concrete certification scheme. The global responsible sourcing certification system is designed to help concrete, cement and aggregate companies obtain insight in the level to which a company operates in an environmentally, socially and economically responsible way.

The scheme was initiated by concrete industry partners from Europe, USA, Latin America and Asia.

For more information please visit: Concrete Sustainability Council

  • European Masonry Alliance (EMA) dinner on housing

On 31 January 2017, 5 Members of the European Parliament attended the dinner of the European Masonry Alliance to discuss the possibilities to foster the housing market in Europe with an input from the European institutions. Both Cathrine Sthiler (MEP, rapporteur for the Construction Products Regulation) and Marlene Mizzi (MEP, rapporteur for the Standardisation package) gave their valuable input in the discussions on how to use the renewed package for energy efficiency in buildings to stimulate the housing sector.

Besides them, MEP Clare Moody, MEP Emma McClarkin and MEP Neena Gill participated in a broader discussion about the contribution to jobs, growth and social value of both the housing and the masonry sector.

  • High­-tech evolution in construction

On 21 March, Construction Products Europe organized an event on High-tech evolution in the construction sector. The vent was hosted by MEP Catherine Stihler (UK, S&D) and it was held in the European Parliament.

Experts discussed what the expected changes are the construction sector has to face with in the future.

More on the program can be found here.

  • Latest developments regarding the Construction Products Regulation

The European Commission is considering to revision of the Construction Products Regulation in 2018.

In preparation for the possible revision, the Commission held several technical platforms between January- March. In January they discussed the “Simplification, including SME related provisions”. Experts agreed that there are some articles which are difficult to be applied and interpreted.

The second meeting took place on 14 March and discussed the issue “Information flows and needs within the supply chain”.

Furthermore, the European Parliament held a public hearing on CPR, hosted by MEP Stihler and it focused on the future of the legislation and the improvements required to better apply it. Construction Products Europe was invited to the event. For more information on the outcome please see here.

Last but not least, the Commission published its study on the Economic impacts of the CPR which looks into the cost of implementation. Results of the cost evaluation show that construction product manufacturers’ regulatory costs are estimated at € 2.62 billion per year to comply with CPR obligations.

  • The World Economic Forum published the study “ Future of Construction initiative” which was conducted last year and it offers innovative solutions on how to address the construction sector’s key challenges.

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UNIFE, the European railway supply industry association invited BIBM to join the Declaration that calls for a strong European Industrial Strategy. BIBM co-signed the paper which now has 125 co-signatories. The Declaration united European industry in preparation for the EU Industry Day (28 February 2017) organised by President Juncker. The declaration calls for the development of a strategy to support European manufacturers in delivering growth & jobs.

Demolition, Decontamination and Recycling forum and Expo will be held on June 14-16 where The Concrete Initiate will hold a workshop (14 June) on the following issues:

– Cement, concrete and aggregates
– Towards sustainable business models

Furthermore, on 15 June, there will be another concrete related issue presented titled Recycling Concrete: A Circular Economy Model- Best practices and Innovation and initiatives of the stakeholders.

Live from the European Union 

European Commission to study smoke toxicity

Thanks to the advocacy work of Fire Safe Europe, the European Commission decided to prepare a study to assess the need to regulate smoke toxicity generated by construction products in fire within the framework of regulation (EU) No 305/2011. The study will be delivered by BRE, Ecorys and Vito who have already held their first meeting. The final study is expected to be ready by May this year.

EU Environment ministers agree on ETS revision

On 28 February 2017, the Council agreed on the revision of the Emission Trading System. The proposed directive contains economic incentives for industries to adapt cleaner technologies. It is expected that the new regime will ensure a greater reduction in greenhouse gases while offering protection to energy intensive technologies.

The revised rules will contribute to the EU’s goal of cutting its emissions by at least 40% by 2030, as committed under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The proposed directive is now subject to trialogue negotiations between the Council, European Parliament and Commission. Final agreement is expected to be reached by May this year (end of Maltese Presidency).

European Environment Agency (EEA) published report ‘Financing urban adaptation to climate change’

On 27 February, the European Environment Agency published a report entitled ‘Financing urban adaptation to climate change’.

Th report shows that cities are making a lot of efforts and putting place measures to tackle climate change related changes and adaptation. It includes case studies and it analyses 11 cities across Europe are developing, funding and implementing urban adaptation measures.

National Award Winner Project

Apartment building Heka won the Concrete Structure of the Year Award 2014

Apartment building Heka in Helsinki, Finland has won the Concrete Structure of the Year 2014 award for skilled and demanding architectural and structural design as well as high quality of implementation.

The lace-like residential high-rise building complete with a tower is an impressive landmark in the Jätkäsaari environment, con­necting the view axis all the way to downtown Helsinki.

The competent use of concrete combined with good cooperation among all the parties of the construction value chain has produced an architectural whole that reflects a high standard of construction technology and is full of expression.

Concrete has been used in diverse ways. The facade of the ten-storey tower and full apartment-width balcony wall has been executed with fibre concrete as a lace-like structure. The fibre-concrete facade solution is based on a precast unit manufactured from glass fibre rein­forced concrete with new production technology. It can be used to produce cladding units of various sizes and shapes and three-dimensional units.

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The white concrete facades of the external sandwich walls of the precast concrete building feature three different types of mold finish: graphic concrete, sandblasted and ground finish. The dif­ferent structures of the facade reflect light in dif­ferent ways making the facade puzzle-like, without traditional unit division.

News in brief 

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Agenda

APRIL 2017

11 April

BIBM Board meeting

Brussels, Belgium

24 April

BIBM Wastewater Engineering
product group

Brussels, Belgium

25 April

CPE TG Implementation of the CPR

Brussels, Belgium

26 April (AM)

CEN/TC 229/WG 1

Brussels, Belgium

26 April (PM)

CEN/TC 229/WG 4 AHG Performance Durability Requirement

Brussels, Belgium

MAY 2017

9 May

ECP TF Fire and Eurocodes

Confcall

17 May

VEEP Workshop

Madrid, Spain

17 May

Marketers’ Conference

Madrid, Spain

17-19 May

BIBM Congress

Madrid, Spain

18 May 2017

BIBM General Assembly

Madrid, Spain

22-23 May

CEN/TC 104/SC 1

Berlin, Germany

23-24 May

CEN/TC 104

Berlin, Germany

29 May

ECP Board and GA

Brussels, Belgium

JUNE 2017

7 June

CPE General Assembly

Brussels, Belgium

14-16 June

DDR forum and expo 2017

Brussels, Belgium

21-23 June

Hiser Conference

Delft, The Netherlands

21 June

CPE Sustainability WG

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

VEEP Project- Cost-Effective Recycling of CDW in High Added Value Energy Efficient Prefabricated Concrete Components for Massive Retrofi