The Building Materials We Use – Safe? Reliable? Long-Lived?
Schools, hospitals, libraries, council offices and the like – public buildings – will all see heavy traffic during their lifetimes. Same with commercial premises.
Truthfully, no one thinks of ‘buildings’ as having a shelf life. (Except maybe pre-fabs, which were definitely supposed to be temporary accommodation, but ended up housing people comfortably for many years past their intended time.) Thinking about it, how long do we expect a building will usefully stand?
The Houses of Parliament are currently in need of renovation, and they have stood since 1870, over 150 years. The building is crumbling at the edges a bit, but it’s not about to collapse! And there are plenty of church buildings across the UK that have stood for 1300 years or more and are still in use. We suspect some work has taken place over the years, but they are still solid buildings.
Worldwide, the Pantheon in Rome is listed as the oldest building still in use. It was built around 125AD. Nearly 2000 years old, and still going strong.
Keeping Structures Solid
Without doubt, the materials used in construction play a vital role in determining the longevity, safety, and sustainability of the structures we live, work, and play in. Some have proven resilient and reliable over time, others have given rise to significant safety concerns.
Of course, there are increased environmental issues structures have to deal with in these later decades. Pollution, traffic vibration, increased footfall all have a deleterious effect on buildings old and new.
But are the materials we use inherently safe, and how will they perform over time?
The Good: Resilient and Reliable
What building materials can we safely say been proven to provide long-term reliability?
Concrete
Used globally, concrete is prized for its strength, durability, and resistance to weather and fire. For large structures like bridges, high-rise buildings, and parking garages reinforced concrete, including steel rebar, works effectively.
When maintained properly, concrete can last centuries. It’s not always regarded as attractive however, and some concrete structures have been demolished in the face of public opinion.
Work to improve the appearance and usability of concrete, in order to make it acceptable to more people, continues.
Steel
Steel is widely used for structural frameworks due to its strength and flexibility, especially in high-rise buildings that need to withstand wind and seismic activity. Modern steel alloys are treated for corrosion resistance, giving them extended lifespans and structural reliability.
Glass
Tempered and laminated glass has become a staple in commercial buildings. It looks great and is safe in case of breakage. There is much research into high-performance ‘smart’ glass, which can self-tint in sunny conditions. It offers thermal insulation, which can reduce energy costs and help with sustainability.
Breeze or Thermal Blocks
Breeze blocks, or thermal blocks, are a popular choice in all construction. They are made from concrete and other materials, and offer a range of benefits, including excellent insulation properties. The void in the middle of each block creates the same thermal insulation as a double skin of bricks. This helps reduce heating and cooling costs, especially in residential buildings.
They are durable and strong, structurally reliable, and offer good resistance to fire, moisture and pests.
Plus most are made from recycled materials, so they are a more sustainable option, and can be recycled into hardcore and new bricks if salvaged after demolition.
The blocks come in various sizes and shapes, allowing architects to use them creatively in both load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls.
If there’s anything against them, they are heavy, which makes handling challenge, they don’t have great sound insulation properties, and their rough appearance can mean they need plaster or cladding to make them look better. We’d vote that the advantages win though.
Brick and Stone
Then of course, there’s the always reliable brick and stone, our most long-standing materials, after wooden and earth structures. Historical buildings through to modern houses, the use of brick especially is still hugely common. These days, stone is expensive and challenging to work with. The skilled masons needed to manipulate are thin on the ground now.
Brick and stone can last for centuries, lending itself to iconic public structures. Plus they are ideal for durability and fire resistance.
The Bad: Less Reliable or Dangerous Materials
Building materials that are potentially unreliable or actually dangerous are a modern phenomenon, in that they originate with the industrial revolution.
Asbestos
When asbestos was first developed, in the late 1800s, it was lauded for its insulation and fire-resistant properties. It must have seemed like a fabulous material at that time.
However, it took decades to realise its fibres cause respiratory diseases, including cancer. Widespread bans followed, and the removal and remediation of asbestos has proven massively costly.
Lead-Based Paint
Lead gave paint durability and rich pigments, but it poses significant health risks, especially to children. Exposure can cause developmental delays and neurological damage, which is why it’s use has been restricted in most countries. Toys decorated with lead-based paint have been outlawed, and it’s no longer used in construction, painting and decorating. It is still present in older buildings, so schools, public housing, and offices often need extensive lead-paint removal, especially in areas accessible to children.
Combustible Cladding (e.g., ACM)
Aluminum composite material (ACM) cladding has led to numerous fire safety concerns, with the Grenfell Tower fire in the UK as one of the most tragic examples. The flammability of certain types of cladding can lead to rapid fire spread, especially in high-rise buildings. This has led to massive inspection and replacement programs globally.
Remediation programmes
There are programmes ongoing designed to deal with these issues. However, the full scope of necessary remediation will likely take years to complete. The challenge lies not only in the financial burden but also in managing the logistical demands of large-scale removals and replacements.
What About RAAC? Is That the Ugly?
Over the past few years, the construction industry has wrestled with the much discussed issue of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete, or RAAC. Many hospitals and schools have been found to have unsafe roofs or ceilings. Some homes have been affected too, and fixing the problems has run to millions of pounds.
The reports of the issue in the media have often focused on the 30-year life of RAAC. We stated above that people don’t generally think of buildings as being short-term structures, and up against a millennia or two, 30 years seems to be a ridiculously tiny lifetime for a material used in construction.
Clearly, RAAC has left issues and expense in it’s wake. Interestingly though, we attended a webinar that included a discussion about RAAC and how it all went wrong. Experts from Loughborough University have studied the subject and stated that although longevity was an acknowledged problem, the RAAC could and should have had a longer life. Two major problems had come to light in their investigations.
Installation of many RAAC modules had been poorly implemented, in that their placement across supporting walls and joists fell short of the overlap required. The reinforced areas at the ends of each section were incorrectly positioned in many buildings, leaving them critically weakened.
Many panels were seriously compromised by alterations, installations or adjustments that meant cutting into or damaging the RAAC. This lead to weaknesses and sometimes water ingress, which corroded the supporting rebar.
Clearly the importance of correct installation, and the need to leave the panels undamaged was simply not recognised until now.
The message was that used properly, and undamaged, RAAC could have had a much longer useful and safe life. A fascinating point that made us think about how important it is to understand and implement the materials we use in our own projects correctly and carefully.
Dealing With Unsafe or Poor-Quality Materials
How can we ensure that harmful and unsafe materials are kept out of construction? The regulation and oversight needed lies in the hands of the authorities for the most part. For the industry, we need to be responsible for the proper and correct use of the substances we use.
Matters for consideration might include the following.
Stricter building regulations: Governments and building regulatory bodies can tightening codes to prevent the use of unsafe materials.
Material Testing and Certification: New standards for testing and certifying building materials are being introduced. New materials are being subjected to third-party certifications, safety testing, and longevity assessments. These aim to ensure they meet rigorous safety criteria before market release.
Professional Training and Accountability: It’s a good idea to increase training for architects, engineers, and contractors around materials science and building codes. This can help ensure informed decisions are made in materials selection.
Greater Awareness, Forethought, and Intelligence
Looking back through the ages, it’s clear the thought of any danger arising from new materials was simply not considered. Asbestos and lead in paint would have seemed revolutionary and highly beneficial. Their deadly nature went unrecognised for decades.
As we progress through the 21st century, we have greater awareness of the potential for chemical hazards, fire risks and structural issues. And we have the tools and knowledge to be able to anticipate and avoid them.
Recent investigations and inquiries appear to have identified a willingness to swap intelligence about materials for profit – a situation stricter regulations could deal with. Of course the fear in the industry is that stricter rules will lead to higher costs. But what is the alternative? Lives at risk? Reputations in the toilet?
Surely we can be better with the tools at our disposal these days?
Doing Better All the Time
We enjoy building with resilient, safe, and sustainable materials. Science provides us with better solutions, and a blend of experience and regulatory oversight ensures a better construction environment.
As our industry learns from past mistakes, it’s crucial to balance innovation and safety. More rigorous material testing, and better regulatory frameworks can help ensure that future public and commercial buildings stand the test of time—safely and sustainably.
That’s a picture that we can subscribe to at BHR Commercial Construction Ltd. To construct a building that might potentially harm the people who use it feels like the worst consequence of our work. And we’re going there!
If you would like to discuss a project you are planning please go to our Contact page and drop us a message, or call us.
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