This content provides information on the many performance benefits of concrete; fire resistance, thermal mass, durability, acoustics, flood resilience, vibration control, whole-life costing, airtightness and re-use.
Thermal Mass
Recent revisions to Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) for Part L1 of the Building Regulations and the Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard (FEES) for new dwellings take more account of thermal mass in their calculations.
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Fire resistance
Because of concrete’s inherent material properties, it can be used to minimise fire risk for the lowest initial cost while requiring the least in terms of ongoing maintenance.
It is a non-combustible material (i.e. it does not burn), and has a slow rate of heat transfer.
Refurbishment, re-use and renewal
Increased environmental awareness means that, rather than throw away, we are increasingly being told to recycle and re-use. With projects like The Angel attracting media attention, the refurbishment and re-use of an existing building to give it a new purpose is becoming more and more popular.
Concrete's inherent robustness, flexibility and minimal need for additional finishes mean that concrete buildings are particularly well-suited to the ethos of recycling. They can easily be updated and future-proofed to meet the differing demands of occupiers and predicted impacts of climate change.
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Concrete and Fire Safety
How to achieve acoustic performance in masonry homes
Concrete and Flooding
How to achieve good levels of airtightness in masonry homes