Continuing To Build A Sustainable FutureCONCRETE

Your Home

Your Shops

Your Entertainment

Your Health

Your Education

Your Infrastructure

Then... and now

NI REGION

WHERE CONCRETE IS USEDIN YOUR DAILY LIFE

BENEFITS OF THERMAL MASSThe utilisation of concrete’s thermal mass means energy consumption can be reduced, by diminishing the need for heating andcooling in a building. As a heavy weight material, concrete stores heat from sources such as solar radiation, people, lighting andany other activities within the structure. This energy is then slowly released back into the building later in the day. Concrete’sthermal stability helps provide energy efficient, fire-proof buildings.

For further information, visit: www.concretecentre.com or www.irishconcrete.ie

Concrete products are essential to our standard of living and quality of life in Northern Ireland. Their use underpins theconstruction industry which employs 80,000 people and is worth some £3.1 billion for the local economy.

The concrete products industry is totally committed to reducing its environmental footprint by investing significantly inenergy efficiency measures and new, innovative, sustainable products. Advances in concrete technology will help design andbuild your sustainable, energy efficient home, office, school, etc. The energy and carbon efficiency of your building couldaffect the heating costs, insurance and re-sale value of your property.

Industry Education

Homes

Churches

Roads &Bridges

Offices

Health

CivicBuildings

Shops

Entertainment

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY:THE FACTS & FIGURES

• Under the UK Climate Change Programme, the UK plans to deliver the Kyoto Protocol targets of reducing greenhouse

gas emissions by 12.5% below all 1990 levels.

• The long term goal is to reduce CO2 emissions by some 60% of their 1990 levels by 2050 with real progress by 2020.

• The concrete industry has reduced its overall environmental impact by 17% between 1994 and 2001.

• Through its thermal mass, concrete construction can significantly reduce the ongoing operational CO2 emissions of

buildings which equates to some 50% of the UK total CO2 emissions.

• Concrete can play a vital role in reducing the operational CO2 emissions of buildings. This is especially important as the

operational environmental impact of buildings is far greater than their embodied impact.

1 BRE Environmental Profiles database, Building Research

Establishment (BRE), 2006;

2 Taken from: the Environment Division, BREEAM Centre,

Building Research Establishment (BRE), 2005;

3 Draft-in-proof, The Concrete Centre study, Embodied CO2

of various concrete mixes, The Concrete Centre, 2006;

4 Amato A and Eaton K J A, A comparative

environmental life cycle assessment of modern office

buildings, Steel Construction Institute, 1998;

5 Rosso S, Environmental life cycle of kitchen

refurbishment, Thesis in School of Environment

(Interim) University of Brighton, 2006.

Source: 'Sustainable Concrete: The Environmental,

Social and Economic Sustainability Credentials of

Concrete' 666.97.

Also see “Thermal Mass for Housing (Ref TCC/04/05)

by the concrete centre.

www.concretecentre.com

Component / Material ECO2KGH/T

Embodied CO2 Rating

per KG per Tonne

ECO2KG/M2

Embodied CO2 Rating

per KG per Meter

Dense concrete aggregate block1 75 147

Aerated concrete block1 240 121

Generic lightweight aggregate block2 120 168

GEN 1: concrete foundations3 75 173

RC40: structural concrete3 153 372

RC50: structural concrete3 176 436

Structural steel4 1,932 15,315

Timber, UK forest softwood5 336 141

Timber, UK forest hardwood5 449 353

Sustainable Benefits of Concrete

Reduced Maintenance

WHY CONCRETE IS BESTLocal Products:Quality concrete products are available from local manufacturers. The energyused in transporting materials to site is therefore very low, helping both theenvironment and the local economy.

Low Maintenance:The exceptional durability of concrete ensures it is a very low maintenancematerial. Most concrete building components are virtually maintenance freeas they are difficult to damage and require very little regular maintenanceto remain in pristine condition.

Security:High strength and impact resistance allow concrete products to provideexceptional levels of safety and security. It is very difficult to penetrate aconcrete product either accidentally or deliberately.

Fire Protection:Concrete is not capable of igniting, burning or spreading fire and so is ideal foruse in locations where fire protection is required. Concrete requires noadditional fire protective coverings, chemical preservatives or paint systemsthat may release volatile organic compounds effecting internal air quality andwhich can require ongoing maintenance.

Product Life Cycle:Concrete structures have a very long life span. Concrete structures offer long-term construction solutions that do not need additional coverings or coatingsfor resistance, durability or sound insulation thereby reducing the embodiedenvironmental impact of a building still further.

Thermal Mass:The unrivalled high thermal mass of concrete can be used as an integral part ofpassive sustainable design solutions which reduce the need for air-conditioningin the summer and the levels of heating required in the winter.

LOCALDEVELOPMENTS

www.concrete.org.uk

www.concretecentre.com

www.irishconcrete.ie

www.qpani.org

Quarry Products AssociationUnit 10 Nutts Corner Business ParkDundrod RoadCrumlinCo. AntrimBT29 4SR

T: 028 9082 4078

WESTLINK

TITANIC QUARTER