Concrete Perspectives April 2018
Construction Sector
- Public consultations
BIBM submitted answer to the evaluation and possible revision of the Outdoor Directive, the SME definition and the public consultation on the scope of EU Timber Regulation.
- At the beginning of April 2018, the European Commission published a study called “Survey on users’ need for information on construction products”. The costs and burdens related to the CE marking have indeed been identified as the main impact of the CPR incurred by economic operators in the supporting study for the fitness check on the construction sector. This report describes the outcomes of the “Survey on users’ need for information on construction products” implemented by Ecorys for the European Commission.
- CEN TC 350 plenary meeting
Construction Products Europe reported that “The main topic discussed during the meeting was the discussion of the tasks to be developed by the Committee according to their 4th contract with the EC. The list includes the development of the harmonised test methods for the assessment of release of dangerous substances but also other developments. The additional tasks are in general the development of Technical Report on different issues. The majority of them will require further discussion by the relevant working groups.”
For further information please follow this link.
- On 26 April, the European Construction Sector Observatory has updated country fact sheets (CFS) for each country. Each CFS provides an analysis of key figures, macro-economic indicators, economic drivers, issues and barriers, innovation, the national/regional policy and regulatory framework, and the current status and national strategy to meet Construction 2020 objectives.
- The World of Concrete Europe edition took place between 23-25 April in Paris where the Concrete Initiative held a session on “Concrete and the Challenge of Low-Carbon Construction”. Amongst other, Alessio Rimoldi Secretary General of BIBM held an interesting presentation on Energy storage in buildings as part of the equation.
Live from the European Union
Implementation of Eco-design Directive
The European Parliament prepared an own-initiative report on the Implementation of Eco-design Directive. The responsible Committee adopted its review of the Eco-design Directive on 25 April, which includes a call for the European Commission to put forward a proposal on extending the eco-design principle to cover non-energy related products and include recyclability and waste management.
The plenary vote will take place between 28-31 May 2018. For information, the own-initiative report is not a legally binding document therefore the Commission has no obligation to follow the recommendation of the Parliament.
Circular economy legislation adopted by European Parliament
On 18 April the European Parliament adopted the draft text of the circular economy legislation. The adopted text is available here.
The text now goes back to Council for formal approval before publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
BIBM closely follow the legislative process and actively advocated for a proper definition of backfilling.
EU Environment Foot-printing (PEF) Final conference
PEF final conference took place between 23-26 April. The conference marked the opening of the transitional phase of pilot projects.
Key topics discussed related to existing achievements and challenges of the pilot project. In addition, a major focus was on experiences with communicating environmental information and the role of PEF within that context.
Some contributions were critical of the PEF itself, highlighting that issues such as biodiversity, marine litter or health are not being addressed properly, or that PEF and LCA approaches should not be the only approaches to inform sustainability decisions.
A live online poll concluded at the workshop of 26 April that most participants believe that EPD like declaration is the most effective way to use environmental footprints B2B (business to business).
For more info please click here.
EU Environment Foot-printing Conference
National Award Winner Project
Outstanding Precast Winner in innovation: Skywalk and Antwerp ZOO Reception Building (Belgium, Antwerp)
The 2020 global plan for the Antwerp ZOO foresees the construction of a modern reception building. On the roof of this new construction there is a 225 m long promenade, the suitably named Skywalk.
Pictures: © FEBE
The new construction blends in with the materials already present in the ZOO. The large format slabs blend seamlessly with the park’s historic trails. Thanks to the well-chosen choice of materials and the slope of about 4%, the path remains practicable and does not become slippery in wet weather conditions.
By choosing architectural concrete, the ZOO opted for a durable material that is easy to clean without special techniques or products and which, moreover, does not undergo physical transformations.
Prefabrication of complex organic forms in a specialized industrial environment has reduced the margin of error to an absolute minimum and the whole project has been realised with success.
The opinion of the jury:
The jury sees this structure as an exemplary project that builds what precast concrete can achieve.
On the one hand, there is the innovative approach of a classic problem: the connection between two buildings. By using an unconventional space and without restricting the functional aspects, namely the structure of the roof, the visitor perceives an image totally different from the immediate environment, including the central station.
On the other hand, there is the complex structure in which almost no prefabricated elements are identical. Using innovative techniques and execution methods, a high-quality result is created in a very short time. This achievement demonstrates, according to the jury, that each construction can be prefabricated.
Provocative design, good preparation and excellent collaboration between the designer, the manufacturer and the contractor have led to an ‘Outstanding’ final result, in which technical perfection and complex structure blend perfectly. The ‘life experience’ aspect is central and allows visitors to better enjoy the zoo.
Architect: 8 Office Architects – Fondu Landscape Architects
Prefabricator: Decomo nv
Contractor: Democo nv
Engineering office: Arcade Groep
Client: Koninklijke Maatschappij voor Dierkunde van Antwerpen vzw
Other partners: Kuijpers Uitvoering & Advies BVn
News in brief
Agenda
MAY
2 May 2018
BIBM Technical Commission
Brussels, Belgium
3 May 2018
CPR review – Technical Platform
Brussels, Belgium
15 May 2018
BIBM Board meeting
Amersfoort, Netherlands
18 May 2018
Concrete Initative
Brussels, Belgium
23 May 2018
Workshop on decarbonisation of the cement sector
Brussels, Belgium
24 May 2018
Research projects – Green Week Workshop ConWEEB
Brussels, Belgium
24-25 May 2018
CEN/TC 229
Stockholm, Sweden
28 May
BIBM Environment Commission
Confcall (tbc)
JUNE
5 June 2018
Fire Safe Europe meeting
Brussels, Belgium
6-8 June 2018
VEEP mid-term review
Schlierbach, France
6 June 2018
Marketers Conference – Concrete Initiative
Oslo, Norway
7 June 2018
CPE General Assembly
Brussels, Belgium
11-12 June 2018
BIBM General Assembly
Vienna, Austria
18 June 2018
NEPSI Council
Brussels, Belgium
19 June 2018
CPE – CPR implementation
Brussels, Belgium
28 June 2018
ECP – Board and GA
Brussels, Belgium
To the Newsletter of Construction Products Europe please follow this link.
FIEC’s January Newsletter is available at 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
CSC – Concrete Sustainability Council
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