ï¿½ï¿½Sostenibilitï¿½ in generaleficem.org/foros/insti10/FRANCESCO_CURCIO.pdf · Title:...

How the Italian Cement Industry

is approaching Sustainability

Forum of Institutes Ficem

Francesco Curcio

Sevilla, 12 October 2010

Ficem Forum of Institutes – Sevilla, 12 October 2010 2

Preamble

• Lot of work done in Cembureau since late ’90s

• Issue mainly developed by Northern European countries

and industries

• Delays and mistakes occurred in the Italian civil society,

which compromised the quick set-up of a positive common

feeling towards Sustainability

• Building sector in Italy remained to its historical maximum

for almost 10 years (until 2007)Our questions were:

Do we have to deal with Sustainability in concrete

for fashion or is it a need to preserve our

business for the future?

What is best for us: Leaders or Followers?


My personal search of consciousness …


Today we need 1,3 equivalent planets!

My personal search of consciousness …


Extract from the “Global Footprint Network Annual Report 2008”


In 1986 the Earth Overshoot Day was celebrated on December, 31

In 1995 the Earth Overshoot Day was celebrated on November, 21

“Celebration” of the Earth Overshoot Day

In 2009 the Earth Overshoot Day was celebrated on September, 25


formal definition

The Ecological Footprint concept

It is the measure of how much humanity requires from

biosphere, in terms of biologically-productive

land and water, to provide itself with resources

used and to absorb all waste generated,

according to present technologies and behaviors.

The Footprint is therefore an area, expressed in global

hectares (hectares with a conventionally balanced

biological productivity).


0

2

9

USA

Italy

WorldHaiti

Congo

Bangladesh

…….

Ecological footprint (global hectares per person)

Cina

India

Ecological footprint indicator (2005)

Mexico

Paraguay

Chile

Argentina

Brasil


… at the same time ……


Ecological footprint is a controversial indicator

Excessive simplification of reality: attention played mainly to:

Rural and pasture lands

forestry

fisheries

Conversion to urban land and infrastructure building

Antropic CO2 sequestration by natural means (trees and biomass)

One single figure to express the complexity of human impacts on natural systems (eg. the whole energetic issue is limited to the computation of land needed to absorb CO2 emitted by fossil fuels)

It is a stock measurement, static. No flow analysis, to assess resilience of ecosystems, which on the contrary have their intrinsic ability to absorb interferences and reset themselves.

May we use it as a reliable indicator of sustainability level to orientate political decisions? Or should we limit its use to educational dissemination scopes only?


The message is however clear

We are in default. Already. Everybody.

No doubt that none of us allows himself to manage his own life, his personal and familiar budget, his company or organization with a similar insane attitude

There is no need to join fashionable ideologies or languages, to undersand that the problem is real and needs to be addressed globally with no exeptions

To be optimist, we will soon get a worldwide Policy, which will highlight the overall vision of the problem and consequently assess the new “rules of the game”

In any case, behaviors, life styles and products shall change. Soon.


In our country, it is responsible for about:

half of water consumption

one third of landfilled waste

one fourth of raw materials used by the economic system

half of the accounted CO2 emissions

It remains essential for the economic growth and competitivenessdevelopment of the country.

Any product of building industry (infrastructures, residential housing,public buildings, power plants, industrial and commercial facilities, etc),indipendently from materials and technologies used, shall now bethought, designed, realised, used and evaluated having in mind itseffective capacity to contribute positively to social and economicdevelopment and drastically reduce its impact to biosphere.

Building industry is among the first sectors,

which should change


… concrete has lot to offer …..

The best choise for thermal comfort

Concrete as a air barrier for high indoor air quality

Concrete’s strenght and structural stability

Naturally providing protection and safety against fire

Resistance to external extreme events

Built-in sound insulation and protection against vibration

Limited costs to repair and maintain

www.europeanconcrete.eu


… and concrete industry in Italy can (should)

play its role

Like in many other Mediterranean countries, concrete is the most largely used building material

Energy Efficiency in Italy is the most powerful area of investment to reduce the impact of energy sources (from 3 to 5 times more effective than renewables)

Competition with other building materials is getting harder:bricks, timber and steel industries are modifying their approach to products and marketing, to better meet new needs of the consumers. Risk to loose market share!

Remaining still is a mistake not to make


WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO?

WHAT SHOULD WE CONCENTRATE ON?


The equation I = P x A x T

Published for the first time in 1971, in an article

by Ehrlich & Holdren in Science

I = Impact on environment of any human

group

“I” is the result of three factors:- P = number of people (population)

- A = avg. pro-capita consumption of resources

(turnout index)

- T = index of environmental harmfulness of the

technologies adopted to provide goods consumed

Exclusive

task of Policy

Primary task of the

Policy

(programming)

Primary task of the

production system


Technological characteristics

of a “sustainable” intervention in building design

SOCIAL

ECONOMICENVIRONMENTAL

SUSTAINABLE

FAIREVIDENT

ACHIEVABLE

Maintainability

Energy efficiency

Adaptability

RobustnessStructural integrity

Reliability


Not 3, but 3+1 Pillars!!

Bruntland report: three

pillars to describe the

approach to sustainability

Governance is needed to

assure the three pillars

with appropriate

equilibrium

OK, but:


Conceptual design = tool for Governance

fib bulletin N. 28 (2004)

“Environmental design”


Optimization process oriented to satisfy the sustainability of a construction according with the following fundamental criterions (S.F.D.R.):

SAFETY;

FUNCTIONALITY

DURABILITY

ROBUSTNESS

Examples of options taken into account: Static scheme satisfying the 4 SFDR criterions

Materials chosen according to local availability

Technologies adopted according to local workers’ skills

Structural elements designed to minimize resources needed to face direct,indirect and environmental actions

Minimal maintenance needs to keep 4 SFDR criterions during service life

Easy access to recovery after accidental events

………………………..

The result is the designer’s freedom to choose according to hisknowledge and personal experience, in the framework of amulti design solution.

What is the Conceptual Design?


Conceptual Design Approach (1/2)

Life cycle concept


Conceptual Design Approach (2/2)

Environmental

impact


A good example of correct CD application:Viadotto di Roccaprebalza A15 (Italy) by courtesy of Prof. G. Mancini

Three possible solutions:

Match cast system

and use of gantry

Cantilever construction with

match cast-in-situ segments

and mixed post-tensioning

(i/e)


composite structure and

mixed post-tensioning (i/e)

SP1a

SP1b

P1 P2

P3P3

P4

P5

SP2

SP

1

P

1

P

2P

3

P

4 P

5

SP

2

4 x 120 m

Counterweightl = 30 m

1 x 71,4 m

1 x 42,6 m

Rmin = 400 m

Hpiers = 13,2 ÷ 82,1 m

gantry cost too high

Construction time too long

Quick mounting with use of

crane served to cast piles



Adopted solution


composite structure and mixed

post-tensioning (internal/external)



Aspects related to sustainability

Durability No tensile strenghts in concrete

(frequent combination)

Economy Time reduction and no need of gantry

Environmental impact No areas dedicated to construction and

deposit of precast elements

Maintenance Easy inspection and control of external cables

Rehabilitation Substitution of external cables without limitation

to traffic


Another good example of correct CD application:

Foundations of Banca Intesa Skyskraper (Torino)

Positioned in the middle of the town

> 11,000 m3 concrete

Decision taken:

Non-stop moulding Results:

84 hours to finish (against 2 months with conventional techniques)

1000 t steel for joint bars saved (over 1,7 M€)

Temperature development as calculated


The role of certification

Increase the value of best

practices

Enhance consciousness in

the public

Different systems on the

market, nationally and

internationally

Similar, but minimal

standardization. Risk of

confusion

Be careful not to leave certifiers leading

the innovative process…..!


Conclusion and lessons learnt:

Concrete is a material under continuous innovation

Concrete should be seen as a taylor-made product

Concrete is an “intelligent” product, thanks to its intrinsic capacity to satisfy performance requirements through its mix design’s continuous improvement

Designers should be continuously informed about concrete’s developments, in order to fully exploit its performances in the seek for sustainability


THANK YOU

FOR YOUR ATTENTION !

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