Concrete Perspectives April 2017
Construction sector
- On 19 April 2017,the German Government brought an action today against the European Commission in the General Court of the European Union regarding the Construction Products Regulation. The German government believes that the safety of construction works, environmental protection and public health would be at risk if the standards are applied in their current form.
- The European Demolition Report 2017 is ready, it was announced on 11 April 2017. The report will be published at the DDR Expo 14-16 June in Brussels.
- The Confederation of Finnish Industries published a report entitled “Together towards new growth” presents how pioneering Finnish companies are making headway in the circular economy.
- Fire Safe Europe announced the election the new president Mark Leverton who is currently Managing Director for Western Europe at Knauf Insulation.
- On 24-25 April, a conference ‘Reducing Energy Poverty by Energy Efficiency Projects in Residential Buildings: The Case for Eastern Europe’ was organized by Habitat for Humanity International with the support of USAID (Brussels).
The Conference promoted a better understanding of residential energy efficiency among EU policy makers; by introducing improved and tailor-made EU level policy measures addressing energy poverty and security. It also aimed at a clearer understanding of how investing into residential energy efficiency can contribute to reducing energy poverty in the Easter European region.
- On 26 April, a coalition of over 300 businesses and organisations from across Europe called the European Union to lead the world on cutting greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings. The coalition includes cities, public authorities, property developers, manufacturers and energy utilities, as well as trade associations, NGOs and universities.
Their recommendations are released today in a series of publications by the World Green Building Council, the coordinating organisation behind BUILD UPON.
Live from the European Union
Commission launches study on Fire performance of facades
On 22 March 2017, the European Commission launched a study on Fire performance of facades. The project includes several subcontractors to check the condition at national level and is divided in different tasks. The original scope of the project was: “to propose a complete and detailed product assessment method and a corresponding classification for fire performance of products (kits) for facades”. The first steering group meeting took place in April.
Circular Economy Package
In March, the European Parliament voted in Strasbourg on the waste package prepared by MEP Simona Bonafé. The Parliament voted on 4 different waste related directives:
- the EU Waste Framework Directive,
- the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive,
- the Landfill Directive and
- directives on end-of-life vehicles, batteries and waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The original waste and recycling targets were confirmed as follows:
- 70% recycling for household and office waste by 2030 ( an increase on the 65% target put forward by the Commission)
- 80% target for packaging waste, and separate targets for preparation for reuse of waste (5%) and for reuse of packaging waste (10%)
- landfilling is limited to 5%.
MEPs have also supported proposals to change the way in which progress towards recycling targets is measured. This includes changing the wording of laws which allow materials from sorting facilities to count towards final recycling tonnages.
In a debate preceding the vote, issues over the calculation of recycling rates were also raised by MEPs and urged to have a new method which will make it possible to compare at the right level and manner.
Importantly, the Commission’s original proposal focused on ‘recycling’ being measured at the point of input into the final recycling process, or through a derogation, the output of a sorting operation provided it is sent to a final recycling process.
The Environment Committee decided to eliminate the option of measurement at the output of the sorting stage (more information).
National Award Winner Projects
Belgium : KU Leuven’s REGA student residence wins the FEBE Outstanding Precast Award 2016
Picture: © Stradus Infra
Residents can enjoy a large indoor garden with views of the Vunt river. The design office Michel Pauwels created a terrace on the water’s edge that is also the highlight of the project.
Picture: © Stradus Infra
Prefabricated concrete blocks made to measure in various sizes by Stradus Infra nv form a terrace with different levels.
Architect: Michel Pauwels
Manufacturer: Stradus Infra
Contractor: Vanhoeyveld bvba
Client / Adjudicator: KU Leuven
The Wilrijk Square
Picture: © Stradus Infra
The Small Scale Precast Award was awarded to the Wilrijk Square project by Ontwerpbureau Stramien. Aquaflow pavement were used to create this pathway which is used for jogging and hiking. The pavement were manufactured by Stradus Infra nv. and it is a combination of two models of pentagonal shaped drainage blocks.
News in brief
Agenda
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
23 May
CPE CPR working group
Brussels, Belgium
29 May
ECP Board and GA
Brussels, Belgium
30 May
AhG Concrete Initiative
Nivelles, Belgium
JUNE 2017
7 June
CPE General Assembly
Brussels, Belgium
8 June
SMAART meeting
Brussels, Belgium
14-16 June
Brussels, Belgium
19 June
ECP TF Sustainable Concrete
Confcall
21-23 June
Delft, The Netherlands
21 June
CPE Sustainability WG
Brussels, Belgium
27 June
CPE CPR Implementation TG
Brussels, Belgium
The 6th edition of the IPHA Newsletter is available here.
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 Retrofitting o