8th February 2012
Concrete and heavyweight construction can help to future proof our built-environment against the key threats of excessive summer temperatures and winter flooding caused by future climate change.
Hotter summers and increased risk of flooding are two of the main challenges highlighted by the government’s new Climate Change Risk Assessment that will be faced by the UK due to predicted climate change. The Assessment provides compelling evidence of the need to improve the UK’s resilience and has been launched in conjunction with the National Adaptation Programme that aims to prepare for the effects of climate change.
The Assessment highlights the significant health risks of hotter summers with up to 6,000 additional premature deaths per year by 2050. The number of days in an average year when temperatures are above 26 degrees C is predicted to rise from 18 days to up to 121 days in London by the 2080s. This could result in a far greater energy demand due to increased use of air conditioning. Meanwhile, the risk of flooding is expected to increase significantly across the UK. If nothing is done to adapt and improve flood resilience, then, by the 2080s, flood damage could cost an annual £12 billion.
“Heavyweight concrete construction can do much to mitigate the impacts of climate change as it can help future proof buildings”, said Tom de Saulles, building physicist at MPA The Concrete Centre. “Hotter summers could mean uncomfortable living conditions in many lightweight homes, such as timber or steel structures, whilst increased flooding could lead to repeated damage for those living and working in buildings that do not benefit from the flood resilience of masonry and concrete construction.”
Compared with the innate thermal mass of heavyweight construction, buildings using lightweight construction are more likely to overheat and feel the full effects of summer heat. The combination of good ventilation and the inherent thermal mass of heavyweight construction absorbs heat gains and helps to stabilise internal temperature.
“The increased energy consumption from installing air conditioning would significantly increase the CO2 emissions of lightweight buildings and, therefore, their environmental impact”, explained de Saulles. “Thermal mass helps to future proof buildings against a warming climate and can save energy by minimising or even negating the need for air conditioning during the summer and, in well insulated buildings, by reducing heating requirements during the winter.”
In addition, the robustness and inherent flood resilience of heavyweight construction means that it is better able to cope with storms and flooding.
“In flood risk areas the choice of construction materials should ensure maximum flood resilience to minimise damage and the time taken to refurbish”, said de Saulles. “Heavyweight construction is flood resilient and remains dimensionally stable as it does not warp when wet.”
Extreme weather events such as flooding, storms and heat waves resulting from climate change pose significant threats to buildings and their occupants. The majority of today’s buildings have been designed and constructed for the prevailing climate in which they were built and so may be unable to cope with future climate change.
“The design and construction of buildings must be done with full consideration of the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, many existing buildings many need some adaptation to cope in the future, for example those in flood risk areas would benefit from the provision of concrete ground floors”, said de Saulles. “The Government’s Adaptation Programme should take full notice of how the inherent thermal mass and flood resilience benefits of heavyweight construction minimise the impacts of climate change upon our built environment.”
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MPA The Concrete Centre, part of the Mineral Products Association, is the central development organisation specific for the UK cement and concrete industry. Its objective is to assist all those involved in design and construction to realise the full potential of concrete as an adaptable and sustainable construction material. For more information visit: www.concretecentre.com
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, lime, mortar and silica sand industries. With the recent addition of The British Precast Concrete Federation (BPCF), it has a growing membership of 429 companies and is the sectoral voice for mineral products. MPA membership is made up of the vast majority of independent SME companies throughout the UK, as well as the 9 major international and global companies. It covers 100% of GB cement production, 90% of aggregates production and 95% of asphalt and ready-mixed concrete production and 70% of precast concrete production. Each year the industry supplies in excess of £5 billion of materials to the £110 billion construction and other sectors. Industry production represents the largest materials flow in the UK economy and is also one of the largest manufacturing sectors. For more information visit: www.mineralproducts.org
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