Saturday, May 24, 2008
Article 5 - Sustainable Specification For Building
Environ Magazine - Sustainability - Design - Products
Winter 2008, Pg 10.
Envirospec have developed an equitable product specification which defines a practical system of comparison between competing building products, enabling the consumer to easily identify the products contribution to sustainability. This inclusive life-cycle analysis is slightly contentious however, as many assumptions are made in reference to the manufacture, transport, construction, demolition, and even the products in-service performance. ‘In-service performance’ for example, is the specification of levels of insulation to achieve desired energy minimisation.
The second part of the protocol provides for collection of data for subsequent use in life-cycle analysis. Once all the information is gathered it will, then become part of this new specification and environmental declaration.
The CodeMark Scheme enables Architects, Builders, Engineers to choose building products, that they can be sure meet the expectations of the Building Code of Australia.
The second part of the protocol provides for collection of data for subsequent use in life-cycle analysis. Once all the information is gathered it will, then become part of this new specification and environmental declaration.
The CodeMark Scheme enables Architects, Builders, Engineers to choose building products, that they can be sure meet the expectations of the Building Code of Australia.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Site Visit 6
New Shopping Centre on the corner of Koornang Road and Dandenong Road, Murrumbeena, Melbourne.
Here you can see steel reinforcement being craned onto the 3rd story in preparation for a concrete pour.
You can see a pipe line here. This pipe line goes for miles and is pumping concrete from the basement all the way up onto the 3rd level where the workers have been laying reinforcement.
These columns are close to full strength, almost ready for the next stage of construction. You can see the starter bars above the ligatures and internal column reinforcement, they have been left exposed in readiness for the 3rd level concrete floor slab.
This scissor lift (and the fact that this site is a Union site) is the reason I cannot go up and watch the concrete pour. All workers have to be raised up to the next level by this lift. The site is bustling, and i was very lucky to be allowed on site. 
This, I have been told by one of the consruction workers on site, is a post-tension cable. I thought it an interesting photo for inclusion on my blog.
Here you can see steel reinforcement being craned onto the 3rd story in preparation for a concrete pour.
You can see a pipe line here. This pipe line goes for miles and is pumping concrete from the basement all the way up onto the 3rd level where the workers have been laying reinforcement.
These columns are close to full strength, almost ready for the next stage of construction. You can see the starter bars above the ligatures and internal column reinforcement, they have been left exposed in readiness for the 3rd level concrete floor slab.
Dead loads can be seen here. Steel formwork, having been dismantled from lower levels and now waiting to be re-used as this shopping centre quickly gains height and breadth.
This scissor lift (and the fact that this site is a Union site) is the reason I cannot go up and watch the concrete pour. All workers have to be raised up to the next level by this lift. The site is bustling, and i was very lucky to be allowed on site.
This, I have been told by one of the consruction workers on site, is a post-tension cable. I thought it an interesting photo for inclusion on my blog.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Major Project Research Site Visit
Major Project - Site Visit to Innovation Building - Ashton, Raggat, McDougall
Article 4 - Hopes Build for Eco-concrete
Hopes Build for Eco-concrete
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20
At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400ยบ and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.
Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.
Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.
Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.
BPN Building Products News
May 2008, Volume 44. Number 4. News Pg 20
At time when climate change and global warming issues are at the fore and attitudes toward the environment are shifting, demand on the construction industry for green building materials is high.
In a bid to reduce carbon emissions, Zeobond, has been transforming waste from power stations and blast furnaces into this revolutionary new material called geopolymer concrete or E-Crete. Regular concrete requires very high temperatures in kilns, generally up to 1400ยบ and gives off carbon dioxide, while chemical reactions that form this polymer-based alternative releases just 10-20% of the CO2 emissions produced by normal concrete. Research suggests that between 5-8% of global CO2 emissions are caused by cement production.
Durability, due to the porosity of the material and rapid setting, are the most concerning issues for the regular use of this material, but extensive and rigorous testing has occurred both in Australia and overseas and it is widely believed that it will eventually be utilised for high-rise buildings and bridge applications.
Over the years geopolymers have been utilised in specialist applications such as catalytic converters, fire resistant elements in F1 racing cars and in fire-rated insulation for passenger ships. Interestingly, geopolymer bonds directly to internal steel reinforcements, which impart a supplementary protective barrier to those elements.
Even though there are still some problems which need to be ironed out, geopolymer concretes have several encouraging advantages which need to be considered further; it is made from waste materials, potentially cheaper than other cements which are currently on the market, it has a rapid drying process, therefore buildings could be completed at a faster rat, and, it is more resistant to acid, fire and microbial attack. It is encouraging to know that local councils are playing a key role in the push for greener materials in the construction industry.
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