036 innovative construction materials

INNOVATIVE INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONMATERIALSMATERIALS

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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONSUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION


The Government set out the UK’s The Government set out the UK’s sustainable construction strategy in a sustainable construction strategy in a document entitled ‘Building a better document entitled ‘Building a better quality of life’. quality of life’.


Sustainability is not just about Sustainability is not just about environmental issues but also environmental issues but also encompasses what has become known encompasses what has become known as the triple bottom line-sustainability as the triple bottom line-sustainability includes issues such as:includes issues such as:

SocialSocialEconomicEconomicEnvironmental Environmental

Innovation in Planning, Design and CostsInnovation in Planning, Design and Costs

Carbon ‘footprint’ of Carbon ‘footprint’ of construction materialsconstruction materials

1 tonne of: produces Cement 0.8 tonnes CO2

Fired clay brick 0.2 tonnes CO2

Steel 2.8 (0.45) tonnes CO2

Aluminium 8.5 (1.7) tonnes CO2

Glass 0.77 tonnes CO2

Timber 0.5 tonnes CO2

Environmental Impact of MaterialsEnvironmental Impact of Materials

Environmental Impact of Environmental Impact of MaterialsMaterials

Low carbon alternative materialsLow carbon alternative materials

Rammed earth and chalk

Low carbon alternative materialsLow carbon alternative materials

Modern Methods of Construction(MMC)Modern Methods of Construction(MMC)

Environmental Impact of MaterialsEnvironmental Impact of Materials

InnovationInnovation

Innovative Construction Products and TechniquesInnovative Construction Products and Techniques(ICPT)(ICPT)


Traditionally constructed schemes utilising Traditionally constructed schemes utilising manufactured units such as:manufactured units such as:

WindowsWindowsdoor setsdoor sets roof trusses etc. which might otherwise be roof trusses etc. which might otherwise be

part of the fabrication process in the other part of the fabrication process in the other off-site manufacture (off-site manufacture (OSM) categories OSM) categories should not be included as sub-assemblies should not be included as sub-assemblies or components in this category.or components in this category.


Solid timber joists are increasingly being Solid timber joists are increasingly being replaced by engineered products such as replaced by engineered products such as timber “I” beams and lattice joists which timber “I” beams and lattice joists which are lighter and stiffer than solid timber.are lighter and stiffer than solid timber.

Deep joists (up to ~ 0.5 m) up to 12 m long Deep joists (up to ~ 0.5 m) up to 12 m long can be produced allowing much larger can be produced allowing much larger distances to be spanned without the need distances to be spanned without the need for intermediate structural support.for intermediate structural support.

Engineered floor joistsEngineered floor joists

Floor cassette as part of steel-Floor cassette as part of steel-framed systemframed system

Innovative Construction Products and TechniquesInnovative Construction Products and Techniques(ICPT)(ICPT)


Insulating formwork Insulating formwork It derives its name from the fact It derives its name from the fact

that an insulation material (often that an insulation material (often expanded polystyrene) is used expanded polystyrene) is used as permanent shuttering for a as permanent shuttering for a cast-in-situ concrete wall. cast-in-situ concrete wall.


A number of systems are A number of systems are available, some of which rely on available, some of which rely on two sheets of insulating material two sheets of insulating material tied together while others are in tied together while others are in the form of large building blocks. the form of large building blocks.


This type of construction has This type of construction has been popular in the self-build been popular in the self-build sector due to the ease with which sector due to the ease with which an energy efficient, airtight an energy efficient, airtight construction can be produced.construction can be produced.

INNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTIONINNOVATIVE CONSTRUCTIONMATERIALSMATERIALS

Off-site manufacture (OSM) – volumetricOff-site manufacture (OSM) – volumetricVolumetric construction (also known as Volumetric construction (also known as

modular construction) involves the modular construction) involves the production of three-dimensional units in production of three-dimensional units in controlled factory conditions prior to controlled factory conditions prior to transportation to site. transportation to site.


Modules may be brought to site in a Modules may be brought to site in a variety of different forms, ranging from a variety of different forms, ranging from a basic structural shell to one where all basic structural shell to one where all internal and external finishes and services internal and external finishes and services are already installed.are already installed.

A family-sized dwelling may typically be A family-sized dwelling may typically be manufactured as four modules plus an manufactured as four modules plus an additional roof module.additional roof module.


Volumetric construction can have many Volumetric construction can have many benefits over other forms of construction benefits over other forms of construction including:including:

improved qualityimproved quality reduced defects and snagging on sitereduced defects and snagging on site rapid assemblyrapid assembly less disruptionless disruptionbetter working conditionsbetter working conditions


increased predictability and controlincreased predictability and controland efficiency in the production process and efficiency in the production process

with the potential benefits of economies of with the potential benefits of economies of scale.scale.

This approach is particularly suited to This approach is particularly suited to areas where there are large amounts of areas where there are large amounts of services, such as kitchens and bathrooms.services, such as kitchens and bathrooms.


Off-site manufacture – panellisedOff-site manufacture – panellisedOff-site manufacture – hybridOff-site manufacture – hybrid


A hybrid method, also referred to as semi-A hybrid method, also referred to as semi-volumetricvolumetric

It combines both panellised and volumetric It combines both panellised and volumetric approaches.approaches.

Typically, volumetric units (often referred Typically, volumetric units (often referred to as “pods”)to as “pods”)

are used for the service-intensive and are used for the service-intensive and standardised areas such as kitchens and standardised areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. bathrooms.


with the remainder of the dwelling or with the remainder of the dwelling or building constructed using panels.building constructed using panels.

The hybrid approach is sometimes used to The hybrid approach is sometimes used to provide added flexibility on complex sites provide added flexibility on complex sites and those requiring additional communal and those requiring additional communal areas (such as student accommodation). areas (such as student accommodation). As with both volumetric and panellised As with both volumetric and panellised approaches, the degree of prefabrication is approaches, the degree of prefabrication is variable.variable.


Transport is reduced compared to Transport is reduced compared to volumetric construction but the quality of volumetric construction but the quality of off-site manufacture is maintained for off-site manufacture is maintained for areas where specific performance areas where specific performance requirements must be met. requirements must be met.


Such an approach combines the benefits Such an approach combines the benefits of mass production, factory production and of mass production, factory production and standardisation with flexibility of options.standardisation with flexibility of options.

Semi-volumetric/hybrid is focused on Semi-volumetric/hybrid is focused on providing the benefits of volumetric providing the benefits of volumetric construction for heavily serviced areas.construction for heavily serviced areas.

036 innovative construction materials

Engineering