Articles tagged with "building-materials"
Used concrete can last up to 100 years in new construction: Study
A new study by researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Tampere University reveals that used concrete from dismantled buildings can be safely reused in new construction for up to 50 to 100 years. Traditionally, concrete slabs are crushed and repurposed as road rubble, but this research demonstrates that with proper assessment and treatment, structural concrete elements retain their strength and durability. The team developed a performance-based framework using extensive data and computer simulations to predict the lifespan of “middle-aged” concrete, accounting for factors like carbonation and corrosion—two main threats that degrade concrete over time, especially when exposure conditions change. The study highlights carbonation as a critical risk, particularly when concrete moves from dry indoor environments to wetter outdoor settings, which accelerates corrosion of steel reinforcement. However, the researchers found that applying silicone-based or water-repellent coatings can reduce corrosion rates by up to 70%, significantly extending the lifespan of reused concrete components. This approach not only enhances structural safety but also supports environmental sustainability by reducing
materialsconcrete-recyclingsustainable-constructioncircular-economycorrosion-protectionbuilding-materialsstructural-engineeringHow faulty fire barriers helped flames race up the Hong Kong tower
The deadly fire that swept through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po on November 27, 2025, was exacerbated by faulty fire barriers and highly flammable materials used during ongoing renovations. The blaze, which began around 2:51 pm and rapidly spread across multiple 31-storey towers covered in bamboo scaffolding, green construction netting, and plastic sheets, resulted in at least 55 deaths, marking Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in over six decades. The bamboo scaffolding, combined with non-fireproof nets and Styrofoam-sealed windows, created a "chimney effect" that accelerated the fire’s upward and outward spread, allowing flames to leap between buildings in a rare and devastating manner. Investigations revealed that the renovation company responsible for the site used foam materials and tarpaulins that did not meet fire safety standards, with Styrofoam boards fixed to windows identified as particularly flammable. Police arrested three men, including two company directors and an
materialsfire-safetybuilding-materialsconstruction-materialsfire-barriersrenovation-materialsfire-investigationTemple of Venus survived almost 2,000 years in volcanic landscape, here’s how
The Temple of Venus, located in the volcanic Phlegraean Fields near Naples, Italy, has remarkably withstood nearly 2,000 years of volcanic activity, a durability attributed to the advanced construction techniques of ancient Roman builders. A recent study published in Geoheritage analyzed nine samples from the temple, including mortars, bricks, volcanic scoria, and lava, revealing that the Romans ingeniously used local volcanic materials to enhance structural strength. The mortars were lime-based but reacted with volcanic fragments when exposed to water, creating a hydraulic mortar that strengthened over time. Additionally, the bricks incorporated minerals like quartz and hematite, requiring moderate firing temperatures, while lightweight volcanic scoria sourced from Mount Vesuvius was used in the upper sections to reduce stress on the structure. This combination of materials and techniques demonstrates the Romans’ deep understanding of how to leverage the volcanic environment to their advantage, ensuring the temple’s resilience against natural threats. Unlike modern constructions often built with limited longevity in mind, the Romans
materialsvolcanic-materialsRoman-architecturebuilding-materialsancient-constructionhydraulic-mortarstructural-durabilitySpain's volcanic landscape-inspired church named building of the year
The Holy Redeemer Church and Community Center of Las Chumberas in La Laguna, Spain, was named the World Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival 2025 held in Miami. The award highlights the building’s role as a new landmark and catalyst for renewal in a previously fragmented and overlooked area of La Laguna. Constructed in stages over sixteen years as public donations allowed, the project comprises four volumes, with the first two forming a community center used immediately and the remaining parts completed later, resulting in a unique layout shaped by its phased development. The church’s design draws inspiration from Tenerife’s volcanic landscape, featuring large, rough concrete forms that contrast with the surroundings. Daylight is a defining architectural element, entering through narrow gaps, an unglazed cross, and overhead openings rather than traditional windows, creating a calm interior conducive to spiritual reflection. Concrete was chosen for its strength, texture, acoustic properties, and local affordability, with a special mix incorporating volcanic stones to enhance sound absorption, giving
materialsconcretearchitectureacoustic-designvolcanic-stonesbuilding-materialssustainable-constructionWooden walls can withstand 100 kilonewtons of pressure, research finds
Swiss researchers at Empa, led by PhD student Nadja Manser, have demonstrated through large-scale experiments that timber frame walls containing window openings can withstand horizontal loads exceeding 100 kilonewtons. This finding challenges the longstanding engineering assumption that windowed timber walls provide little to no structural support and are treated as voids in design models. The research, conducted in collaboration with ETH Zurich and Bern University of Applied Sciences, involved testing full-scale two-story timber walls under controlled lateral pressure until failure, revealing that such walls contribute significant bracing capacity. This breakthrough addresses a critical gap in timber engineering regulations, which currently lack guidelines for horizontal load-bearing in walls with window openings. Manser is now developing a computational model to accurately capture the horizontal stiffness of these walls, enabling engineers to predict wall behavior under lateral loads without relying on overly conservative assumptions. The research suggests that in some buildings, the need for concrete cores to achieve stiffness might be reduced or eliminated, potentially leading to more efficient and sustainable timber construction
materialstimber-constructionstructural-engineeringload-bearing-wallsbuilding-materialstimber-frameconstruction-researchMass Timber Nations: Case Studies & Canada’s Export Opportunities - CleanTechnica
The article "Mass Timber Nations: Case Studies & Canada’s Export Opportunities" from CleanTechnica highlights the growing global significance of mass timber as a sustainable construction material that locks carbon into buildings while reducing reliance on high-emission materials like concrete and steel. It emphasizes Canada’s potential to become a leader in this sector by learning from international examples and strategically positioning itself in increasingly competitive export markets. The article outlines how cross laminated timber (CLT), developed in the 1990s in Austria and Germany, revolutionized mass timber production through vertical integration with sawmills and a global export focus, setting quality and certification standards that established durable competitive advantages. The article also examines Finland and Sweden’s coordinated strategies, where government policies, corporate investments, and education dramatically increased wood use in mid-rise construction, supported by major forestry companies treating mass timber as a core business. Japan’s approach combines cultural wood-building traditions with modern adaptations, including government mandates for wood in public buildings and seismic engineering tailored to local species, illustrating how
materialsmass-timbercross-laminated-timbersustainable-constructioncarbon-reductionbuilding-materialsexport-opportunitiesOld Ideas Lead To New Thinking About Comfort In Homes & Buildings - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica highlights how traditional, passive cooling techniques are being rediscovered and adapted to improve comfort in homes and buildings amid rising summer temperatures. It draws on historical practices, such as those used in Spain and Persia, where thick stone walls, awnings, and qanat systems—ancient underground water channels that cool air flowing through buildings—help maintain indoor comfort without relying on modern air conditioning. For example, in Seville, these methods keep indoor temperatures significantly lower than the outdoor heat, and similar principles are applied in hospitals using updated cooling technologies. Additionally, the article notes cultural adaptations like the revival of the siesta in Spain and government regulations mandating heat-related work breaks, emphasizing the need for humans to adapt to climate change rather than expecting the environment to adjust. It also references expert Lloyd Alter’s discussion on the importance of mean radiative temperature—the average temperature of surrounding surfaces radiating heat—as a critical factor in thermal comfort. Alter advocates for revisiting ancestral methods that effectively manage
energypassive-solar-designsustainable-coolingbuilding-materialsthermal-managementenergy-efficiencytraditional-architectureElectrification Over Insulation: Why "Fabric First" Isn't Climate First - CleanTechnica
The article presents a conversation between Nigel Banks, Technical Director at Octopus Energy, and climate futurist Michael Barnard, focusing on the debate between "fabric first" building insulation strategies versus electrification for climate impact. Barnard, known for analyzing major climate change challenges across sectors like aviation, shipping, and construction materials, emphasizes evaluating solutions based on technical effectiveness, viability, cost, and social acceptance. His work includes decarbonizing building stocks through alternatives to traditional materials and low-carbon heating and cooling methods. During the discussion, Barnard critiques the "fabric first" approach, which prioritizes insulation and building envelope improvements before electrification, arguing that it may not be the most climate-effective strategy. Instead, he suggests that electrification, particularly using renewable energy sources, can offer a more impactful and scalable path to decarbonization. The conversation also touches on the importance of integrating economics, physics, and human behavior in climate solutions, highlighting that some transitions are nonlinear and unpredictable. Barnard’s
energysustainable-energydecarbonizationclimate-changebuilding-materialscross-laminated-timberhydrogen10% recycled glass mix boosts earth block strength by 90%: Study
Researchers at the University of Portsmouth have found that incorporating 10% recycled glass powder along with 10% lime into compressed earth blocks significantly enhances their strength, achieving a 90% increase in compressive strength compared to unstabilized blocks. These "green" blocks reached a compressive strength of 5.77 MPa and a 30% improvement in tensile strength, demonstrating superior structural integrity without cracking under intense pressure. The study involved rigorous testing of various mixes and microscopic analysis over 28 days, confirming the durability and robustness of the optimal composition. This innovation offers a sustainable alternative to traditional cement, which has a high carbon footprint, by using recycled glass as a stabilizing agent in earth blocks. The findings support the potential for large reductions in cement use and contribute to circular economy goals by repurposing industrial waste in construction. This approach could lead to greener buildings, reduced landfill waste, and a more sustainable construction industry. The article also briefly mentions related research from Japan on geopolymer-based
materialsrecycled-glasscompressed-earth-blockssustainable-constructioncement-alternativebuilding-materialsmaterial-strengthElephant ear-inspired cement could make buildings cooler, save energy
Researchers at Drexel University have developed an innovative cement-based building material inspired by the heat-regulating ears of jackrabbits and elephants. This material incorporates a network of tiny, paraffin-filled channels—referred to as vasculature—that passively absorb and release heat to help regulate surface temperatures of walls, floors, and ceilings. The paraffin acts as a phase-change material (PCM), absorbing heat when melting and releasing heat when solidifying, thus reducing the need for active heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and addressing the significant energy consumption of buildings, nearly 40% of total energy use globally. The team combined a specially printed polymer matrix with concrete to create the internal vascular system, selecting paraffin with a melting temperature around 18°C to optimize performance in colder climates, with potential for adaptation to warmer regions. Testing various channel patterns and thicknesses revealed that a diamond-shaped grid of channels provided the best balance between mechanical strength and thermal regulation. This bio-inspired approach
energymaterialsphase-change-materialsbuilding-materialsthermal-regulationenergy-efficiencycement-innovationAll3 launches AI and robotics to tackle housing construction - The Robot Report
All3, a London-based company, has emerged from stealth mode to introduce an AI- and robotics-driven building system aimed at addressing the growing housing shortage in Europe and North America amid a severe skilled labor deficit. The company’s vertically integrated approach combines AI-powered custom building design, automated manufacturing, and robotic assembly, primarily using structural timber composites. This system streamlines construction processes from initial design to final build, enabling faster development, significant cost reductions, and improved sustainability and affordability. All3’s technology is particularly suited for complex urban brownfield sites, where irregular shapes and limited access pose challenges to traditional construction methods. The construction industry has historically underinvested in innovation, spending less than 1% of revenues on R&D compared to 4.5% in sectors like automotive, resulting in reliance on outdated, labor-intensive processes. Europe alone faces a shortage of 4.2 million construction workers, a gap expected to widen as many skilled workers retire. All3’s CEO, Rodion Shish
roboticsartificial-intelligenceconstruction-technologyautomationbuilding-materialssustainable-housingAI-in-construction