Introduction Life Cycle Principles - Concrete Block Association

In-Use performance:
• External and separating/party wall thermal insulation solutions are available that
contribute significantly to meeting Building Regulations thermal requirements and
the future development of zero carbon construction 4 .
• External cavity walls can be built with aggregate concrete blocks to U-values of 0.18
using conventional designs and cavities of between 100mm and 150mm.
• Thermal mass effects provide more efficient long term energy/carbon performance
than lighter weight construction 5 .
• Aggregate blocks are durable, fire resistant, not attacked by vermin or insects, do not
introduce harmful substances into the internal environment of buildings and require
minimal maintenance over the full life of the building. Block construction is resistant
to flooding, a potentially increasing risk in the UK due to climate change.
• The BRE Green Guide to Construction provides environmental performance ratings
for typical UK constructions on the basis of A+ to E ratings. Many aggregate block
constructions are at the higher performing A and A+ ratings 6 .
• The Code for Sustainable Homes7 and the BRE Environmental Assessment Method
(BREEAM) 8 are currently the most commonly used sustainability assessment methods
in the UK. Aggregate block construction attracts high levels of credits for:
– Thermal performance (within Energy and Carbon).
– Acoustic performance (within Health and Wellbeing).
– Environmental performance ( due to high Green Guide ratings).
– Responsible sourcing of materials (through ISO 14001 and BES 6001 certification).
End of Life:
• External cavity walls can be built with aggregate concrete blocks to U-values of 0.18
using conventional designs and cavities of between 100mm and 150mm.
• Buildings constructed with aggregate concrete blocks can be easily modified to
extend their life and to accommodate the developing needs of occupiers or for a
change of use.
• Blocks are fully recyclable e.g. as a source of aggregate for future construction.
References/Links
1. BS EN 15804:2012 “Sustainability of construction works. Environmental product
declarations. Core rules for the product category of construction products”
2. British Precast Sustainability Charter. Independently audited annual returns
representative of 60% plus of UK manufactures aggregate concrete blocks
http://www.britishprecast.org
3. BRE BES 6001 “Framework standard for the Responsible sourcing of construction
products”
http://www.greenbooklive.com/search/scheme.jsp?id=153
4. CBA data sheets ‘External insulation of solid walls’ and ‘External walls thermal
performance’.
www.cba-blocks.org.uk
5. “A whole life CO2 argument for concrete blocks” Tom de Saulles CBA Spring 2012
Newsletter
www.cba-blocks.org.uk
6. BRE Green Guide to Construction
http://www.bre.co.uk/greenguide/podpage.jsp?id=2126
7. Code for Sustainable Homes
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/greenerbuildings/
sustainablehomes/
8. BRE Environmental Assessment Method
http://www.breeam.org/