Innovative technologies for buildings - EU-funded research to transform the construction sector
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Innovative
technologies
for buildings
EU-funded research
to transform
the construction sector
success stories
Interested in European research? Research*eu is our monthly magazine keeping you in touch with main developments (results, programmes, events, etc.). It is available in English, French, German and Spanish. A free sample copy or free subscription can be obtained from: European Commission Directorate-General for Research Communication Unit B-1049 Brussels Fax (32-2) 29-58220 E-mail: research-eu@ec.europa.eu Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/research-eu EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Research Directorate G – Industrial technologies Unit G2 ‘New generation of products’ E-mail: jose-lorenzo.valles@ec.europa.eu; christophe.lesniak@ec.europa.eu Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/research/industrial_technologies/
How to obtain EU publications
Our priced publications are available from EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu),
where you can place an order with the sales agent of your choice.
The Publications Office has a worldwide network of sales agents.
You can obtain their contact details by sending a fax to (352) 29 29-42758.
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Innovative
technologies
for buildings
EU-funded research
to transform
the construction sector
Directorate - General for Research, Industrial technologies
2009 Unit G2 ‘New generation of products’ EUR 24023 EN
EUROPE DIRECT is a service to help you find answers
to your questions about the European Union
Freephone number (*):
00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
(*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers
or these calls may be billed
LEGAL NOTICE
Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission
is responsible for the use which might be made of the following information.
The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.
A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.
It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu).
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2009
ISBN 978-92-79-12609-3
DOI 10.2777/33303
© European Communities, 2009
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Table of contents
4 A strong foundation for construction in Europe
6 ‘Intelligent houses’ meet safety and life-style aspirations
8 Tunnelling made safer, faster, more economical
10 Industrialised concepts promise huge savings
12 ‘Open Building’ strides beyond prefabrication
14 Strategy for stone strengthens EU position
17 Textiles tailored for innovative buildings
20 Outlook
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
3
continuing to improve the sustainability and cost-
A strong foundation for effectiveness of processes and materials.
construction in Europe At present, buildings account for 40% of the total
energy use in Europe – giving rise to around one third
The construction sector is Europe’s largest of the region’s CO2 emissions. The industry also con-
industrial employer, a major source of revenue sumes billions of tons of natural resources, and
from exports and an evident contributor to the produces 22% of total waste. Radical improvements
quality of life for all citizens. Continued research must urgently be sought in all of these areas.
and development is vital to provide a sound
basis for recovery from the effects of economic A study commissioned by the Commission’s Enterprise
downturn and to address the global problems and Industry DG confirmed that industrialised meth-
of climate change and population growth. ods consume significantly less labour and materials
than the traditional craft structures and processes. The
research also showed that those countries which en-
The construction industry is central to the overall courage closer collaboration between the design and
economy of the EU, as an employer, the provider of construction activities are the ones that tend to make
accommodation and infrastructure, and a prominent greater use of off-site pre-fabrication, and have
player in the global marketplace. It underpins the func- a work force which is well-equipped and trained to
tioning of virtually all other sectors, including the supply take full advantage of it.
of food, water and energy; the delivery of public serv-
ices; and the production and distribution of manufactured Keeping ahead of international competition, particu-
goods. It also has a key role to play in maintaining the larly in relation to the US, China and India, calls for
cultural heritage of the Member States. speedy integration of the most recent advances. Con-
stant adaptation to changing needs and new
According to the European Construction Industry Fed- opportunities is vital. Future prospects will depend
eration, output in 2007 amounted to €1 304 billion, more and more on the capacity to innovate: at the
representing 10.7% of GDP for the EU27 countries, process level, in product development, in the organi-
and 51.5% of their investment in fixed assets. The sec- sation of the workforce and in the rapid deployment
tor comprised 2.9 million enterprises, of which 95% of new technologies. New approaches to the overall
were SMEs with fewer than 20 employees. A work- construction process, from initial concepts to execu-
force of 16.4 million equated to 30.4% of industrial tion and full life-cycle management, will enhance the
employment, and 7.2% of the European total. Further- competitiveness of individual enterprises and the
more, EU companies won more than 50% of major sector as a whole. A particular priority will be to ac-
international contracts, outstripping Japanese and celerate the penetration of the latest technologies into
American rivals, respectively by 10% and 30%. the SMEs that make up the bulk of the industry.
Health and safety, and the establishment and deploy-
Challenges and opportunities ment of international standards are other key areas to
be addressed.
While the global recession emerging in 2008/9 will
clearly have negative effects on the above figures,
it is essential to consider construction as part of the Continuing EU support
eventual solution to the economic woes. However,
a sustained effort will be needed to maintain and For more than 20 years, the construction industry has
extend the technological leadership of the EU, while benefited from substantial participation in various
4
EU-supported research programmes. Within the Fifth This is well in line with the “Energy-efficient Buildings”
Framework Programme (FP5 – 1998-2002), the Com- (EeB) Public-Private Partnership Initiative, for a total
petitive and Sustainable Growth (GROWTH) programme of €1 billion in the period 2010-2013, which was in-
alone funded 93 construction-related research projects, cluded by the European Commission in the “European
contributing around 7% of its total budget for the pe- Economic Recovery Plan” of November 2008.
riod. Similarly, under FP6 and the first call of FP7, around
6% of the total EC contribution to the NMP Theme has
been allocated to construction-related projects. Complementary mechanisms
The ERABUILD network, an ERA-NET financed under A European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP)
FP6, linked national and regional bodies responsible was launched early in 2005, with the aim of mobilis-
for managing research programmes. Based on a con- ing all stakeholders around the stated objectives of
sortium of 18 partners from 8 countries, with EU ‘meeting clients’ and users’ requirements, becoming
funding of €2.5 million, the network developed sustainable and transforming the construction
durable cooperation and coordination between sector’. This now boasts over 1 000 members, and is
national research programmes on the sustainable mirrored by national platforms in most EU countries.
construction and operation of buildings. It also maintains close links with other construction-
related technology platforms.
Within the NMP Theme of FP7, research projects for
the construction sector are already in progress on two Alongside the Framework Programmes themselves,
topics identified as priorities in consultation with the complementary mechanisms such as COST (European
Member States and the European Construction co-ordination in science and technology) and EUREKA
Technology Platform: provide additional funding for joint European research
• “Resource-efficient and clean buildings”, to reduce in this field. Both are intergovernmental programmes
significantly the consumption of materials and en- allowing the coordination of nationally-funded research
courage the wider use of renewable resources. on a European level. COST makes it possible for various
• “Innovative value-added construction product- national facilities, institutes, universities and private
services”, for retro-fitting and maintenance of industry to work jointly on a wide range of research
buildings, which was identified as a key activity activities, while EUREKA focuses on market-oriented
for the 2.5 million SMEs in the construction sector. industrial R&D. Under the latter scheme, the umbrella
The proposals selected in late 2008 under the topic project EurekaBuild was initiated in 2006 to develop
“Industrialisation through new integrated construc- technologies for sustainable and competitive con-
tion processes” are now also giving birth to new struction, in line with the Strategic Research Agenda
projects. of the ECTP.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
Coordination of Member States research in the con-
struction sector will continue to receive support under Success Stories
FP7 through a second ERA-NET, ERACOBUILD, which
was established in November 2008. With 34 partners The following pages outline notable examples of cur-
from 21 Member States, and a total EC contribution rent and recently completed projects in which
of €2.3 million, it will focus on the sustainable reno- transnational cooperation is helping to achieve the
vation of buildings and on value-driven construction transformation of construction into the competitive,
processes. knowledge-intensive and sustainable activity envis-
aged in the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.
5
Mechanical strength, thermal insulation, fire-resistance,
ease of application and dynamic response to external
perturbations make dry-walled, steel-framed construc-
tion an attractive option for house building, especially
in areas at risk from events such as earthquake or fire.
Such structures are also easy to erect and very flexible
in configuration.
In the industry-led I-SSB project, 22 partners from
11 countries are collaborating to review the whole pro-
‘Intelligent houses’ duction process, in order to introduce a new modular
meet safety and life-style concept for durable multi-storey residential houses
aspirations based on multi-functional load-bearing dry walls cou-
pled with a smart steel-stud framework. The aim is to
incorporate sensors and actuators controlling dynamic
Climatic change, growing safety
consciousness and increasing quality-of-life oscillations within the buildings, together with an em-
expectations impose growing demands bedded wireless network to monitor and regulate
on the designers and builders of dwellings. components having self-healing and auto-correcting
To meet these requirements, the Integrated characteristics.
Project I-SSB is developing an ‘intelligent
house’ concept that will combine comfort
with hazard resistance by integrating the Multi-faceted research
structure with novel components and
monitoring systems.
Sonic attenuation, vibration absorption, fire-prevention
techniques, nano- and advanced composite building
materials, indoor parameter monitoring systems and
new construction methods are all being investigated.
In addition, 3D virtual design procedures are under de-
velopment to enhance structural stability and fire
safety, while new software tools for the prediction of
fire spread are planned.
As well as providing added safety, improving comfort
and reducing environmental impact, it is estimated that
this could be achieved at half the typical €2 000/m2
cost of a family house calculated in 2007. And, by shift-
ing work from building site to factory, it will contribute
to the desired progression towards a more knowledge-
intensive construction sector.
I-SSB concept: new solution to
housing, particularly in high-risk areas.
6
The I-SSB demo house.
This demonstration building was designed as a typical Erection of steel frame completed in March 2009.
two-storey Greek family home.
Full-scale demo house Valuable progress has also been made in the produc-
tion and wireless networking of sensors/actuators to
The eventual results will be demonstrated in a full-scale reduce man-induced vibrations and control noise,
family house designed to sustain extreme loads of wind, as well as an innovative 3DPZT (lead zirconate titan-
vibrations and earthquake. The prototype of this was ate) piezoelectric ceramic-fibre earthquake sensor.
completed during the first two years of the project. New
types of plasterboard with improved ability to withstand A longer-term intention is to provide the house with en-
the extreme conditions occurring during earthquake or ergy storage elements based on phase-change materials,
fire – notably by the incorporation of polypropylene and to combine these with energy-efficient systems that
fibre and expanded perlite (amorphous volcanic glass) will dramatically reduce consumption. The target is to
fillers – have been developed and successfully tested show that lightweight steel-frame buildings with gypsum
as additives for improved fire resistance. These are cur- board systems can also become ‘zero-energy houses’
rently undergoing further evaluation and refinement. when suitably equipped. This is already beginning to be
explored in a follow-up FP7 project: MESSIB.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
I-SSB • The integrated safe and smart built project.
Total cost | €9 853 200
EC contribution | €6 000 000
Project duration | January 2007-December 2010 (48 months)
Coordinator | Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Hummel, Knauf Gips, Germany
More information | http://www.issb-project.com/
7Road traffic, particularly freight, is a major cause of pol-
lution and inconvenience for citizens, and a significant
contributor to greenhouse gas emissions across Europe
as a whole. Moving it below ground can alleviate local
problems, while also freeing surface space for other
uses such as recreation. But the costs and risks involved
in constructing underground infrastructure are consider-
ably higher than those of conventional road-building.
With presently available techniques, there remains
Tunnelling made safer, a degree of uncertainty in predicting how the ground
faster, more economical will react to excavation activities, and in optimising
equipment performance under changing geological
Routing traffic below ground offers conditions. This makes budgeting difficult, and in worst-
a means to reduce urban congestion, case scenarios can lead to catastrophic incidents. In the
noise and pollution; while in mountainous TUNCONSTRUCT Integrated Project, 41 participants
areas it cuts journey times and fuel from 11 Member States are addressing these issues
consumption. But tunnelling is itself with an approach that encompasses every aspect of the
a costly, time consuming and sometimes
underground construction life-cycle – from design to
risky operation. The TUNCONSTRUCT
technologies and processes to maintenance and repair
project is bringing together activity-wide
innovations in an all-embracing Under- of tunnels in service.
ground Construction Integrated Platform.
Information systems rationalised
To provide a better basis for decision-making, the part-
ners are drawing together a range of formerly disparate
ICT tools, including techniques not previously applied
to tunnelling, into two complementary information sys-
tems. For the design phase, an Integrated Optimisation
Platform (IOPT) combines computer simulation, expert
knowledge and artificial intelligence to provide the best
design of the construction sequence and method. Sim-
ilarly, improved and instant access to monitoring and
simulation data during construction is being realised in
an Underground Construction Information System (UCIS),
assisting the tunnel engineer in decision making and
allowing the storage of information valuable to future
projects.
Tunnel boring machine with monitored cutters
and screen display in the operator’s cabin.
8measurement devices installed in bore holes by a con-
tinuous fibre-optic cable installed above the tunnel
liner to give more reliable early warning of excessive
settlement.
Numerous developments in excavation hardware will
also have significant impacts on cost and time. One par-
ticular objective of the industry is to increase tunnel
diameters beyond the present maximum of around
15 m, in order to accommodate more lanes of traffic.
Responding to this demand, project partner Her-
renknecht has designed the world’s first 18 m tunnel
boring machine (TBM). Further TBM enhancements
include advances in cutting tool materials and design,
as well as a monitoring system to safeguard against
damage and thus minimise downtime.
New automated roadheaders with precise profile
control, and integrated data processing systems will
further reduce costs and risks, as will novel robotic
A helmet with built-in data display gives a tunnel
inspection and repair devices.
engineer up-to-date information on geology and
displacements in his location.
Commercial potential
Cost and risk limitation
Even before the conclusion of TUNCONSTRUCT, the
The integrated process development examines such fac- work has given rise to 8 patents, several prototypes
tors as influences of the soil, materials used for the with promise for early commercialisation, plus advanced
tunnel lining and overall quality control. Among many training and demonstration aids to facilitate dissemi-
notable breakthroughs is the replacement of discrete nation of the new technologies.
TUNCONSTRUCT • Technology innovation in underground
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
construction.
Total cost | €25 711 580
EC contribution | €14 000 000
Project duration | September 2005-November 2009 (51 months)
Coordinator | Prof. Gernot Beer, Graz University of Technology, Austria
More information | http://www.tunconstruct.org/
9Radical innovation in all phases of the creation and use
of buildings is required to meet future challenges of
sustainability, energy conservation and industrial com-
petitiveness in Europe. I3CON is therefore researching
industrialised construction concepts that will permit
efficient and economical operation over the whole
building life cycle.
In this four-year initiative, 26 partners from 14 coun-
tries are implementing a model-based design approach
Industrialised concepts to meet the information requirements of the built envi-
promise huge savings ronment when the focus is in the building lifecycle and
not just in the construction phase. A business model
Industrialised production of building selection tool, finalised in the second year, and on-going
components with integrated services and work on value-based reference metrics enables con-
intelligence could replace current working structors to make an early choice of the most appropriate
practices of custom design and craft-made business model, which can lead to more resource-
delivery by a more rational and cost-cutting efficient and performance-based projects.
approach. The I3CON Integrated Project is
developing business models, industrialised
A common architecture for building systems is also
components and processes whereby
specialised SMEs working in streamlined being defined, together with intelligent catalogues of
supply chains can profit from this approach. standard components and sensors that are intero-
perable via a shared wireless network. With all sensors
being accessible to monitor functional status, an
enhanced ability to carry out remote preventive main-
tenance will be an important cost-saving factor.
I3CON Lifecycle Services
I3CON envisions advanced lifecycle services for the
building stakeholders by sharing the wealth of informa-
tion from the building in an open way by means of its
open building systems architecture. By re-using the same
model of information from the building, I3CON is devel-
oping an intelligent component catalogue and a service
configuration tool, as well as a thermal simulation of
the built environment. Furthermore, the same model
is enhanced to be used by building management systems
(BMS) and the mobile productivity tools under develop-
ment. All these can be used to provide advanced
Overview of the I3CON concept. services such as remote maintenance and energy mana-
gement. These services can be provided in an open
market by independent contractors.
10New components and tools For example, a prototype configurator tool enables
service provision to be optimised and allows far more
Production technologies for smart components and sys- accurate long-term forecasting of maintenance costs
tems have been evaluated, as has the manufacture of than has hitherto been possible.
integrated systems in a factory environment. Among
specific elements under development are different types
of facade panels, the thermoshield concept to provide Novel demonstrator
thermal comfort along the building envelope, control-
lable electro-chromic windows and a novel multi-services As well as producing a virtual demonstrator and a pre-
trunking system that could provide a cost-effective fabricated module incorporating the developed
answer to the vertical and horizontal distribution of components, the partners plan a novel side-by-side
essential services throughout multi-storey buildings. comparison of actual inhabited dwelling houses with
and without the new facilities.
In addition, work on a modular service engineering
model and its supporting toolbox is well advanced. Although some aspects of the I3CON vision will face
regulatory hurdles, it could ultimately deliver safer, more
comfortable and affordable buildings 50% faster and
25% more cheaply, with greatly reduced maintenance
and life-cycle cost savings of more than 40%.
The I3CON prefabricated
demonstration module.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
I3CON • Industrialised, integrated, intelligent construction.
Total cost | €17 356 561
EC contribution | €9 496 975
Project duration | October 2006-September 2010 (48 months)
Coordinator | Dr. Eng. Miguel José Segarra Martínez, Dragados, Spain
More information | http://www.i3con.org/
11The MANUBUILD concept of ‘open building manufac-
turing’ answers the need for fundamental change in
the construction sector: from craft-based practices to
efficient yet flexible knowledge-based industrial manu-
facture. As well as allowing significant reductions in
construction and maintenance costs, it will lead to
fewer errors and less re-work, reduce the risk of on-site
accidents and provide customers with more choices and
greater value.
‘Open Building’ strides In this four-year initiative, 22 participants from eight EU
beyond prefabrication countries collaborated in a programme that lays the
foundation for a total revision of the construction sup-
The MANUBUILD project has devised an ply chain. Its holistic approach embraced building
approach that marries creative architectu- concepts, business processes, production technologies
ral design to the industrialised production and ICT support, while also addressing the training and
and delivery of customisable components. education necessary to prepare designers and builders
Its Open Building Manufacturing System for the new realities.
represents a new paradigm for construc-
tion, applying the efficiencies of sectors
such as the automotive and aerospace
industries, while still offering the end-user Principles defined
diversity of choice.
Rather than seeking to create specific products, MAN-
UBUILD has defined a set of underlying principles and
rules for an open building manufacturing world going
far beyond present-day prefabrication techniques that
simply ‘bring construction indoors’. For the first time, it
envisages buildings designed specifically for manufac-
ture and customisation, using agile production of
pre-manufactured products and components (e.g. wall
panels with pre-installed services) that are easy to
assemble and readily adaptable to customers’ wishes.
While many parts would be made off-site and trans-
ported to a building’s location, one interesting idea that
emerged is the use of on-site ‘mobile factories’ – espe-
cially for the production of costly or fragile elements
that could be prone to damage in transit.
The emphasis throughout is on increasing value for all
stakeholders, and on reaching real customer orientation
MANUBUILD on show at the FutureBuild
by involving the end-user intimately in the process. Given
exhibition, London. that a building is a complex product, with a far greater
12latitude in the choice of features and materials than, say, concepts and learning have been demonstrated in
a car, this demands much more interactive decision- Sweden and are also currently under construction
making. A key aspect of the project was therefore to in Spain. These will also be showcased in another
establish an integrated ICT framework for progressive construction project in the UK in 2010. In order to
replacement of the fragmented collection of tools that encourage industry take-up, the partners have also pub-
has grown up with the traditional industry. lished widely and participated in a number of showcase
events, including the FutureBuild exhibition in London
on two successive years.
Reaching out to industry
A variety of training aids has been produced, and the
While the Open Building Manufacturing System is appli- educational effort has begun with the launch of an MSc
cable to virtually any kind of construction, the project programme in Construction Manufacturing. Linked to
itself chose to focus its demonstration activities on this, coordinator Corus has developed the framework
residential accommodation in four- to seven-story for a ‘teaching factory’ where course content and dura-
buildings. Apart from lab-scale prototypes and virtual tion can be targeted precisely according to the target
presentations, multi-story dwellings using MANUBUILD audience.
Software simulation
of a pre-engineered factory unit.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
MANUBUILD • Open building manufacturing.
Total cost | €19 569 025
EC contribution | €10 000 000
Project duration | April 2005-March 2009 (48 months)
Coordinator | Dr. Samir Boudjabeur, Corus, United Kingdom
More information | http://www.manubuild.org/
13The superior technical and aesthetic properties of nat-
ural stone lead to its widespread use in both structural
and decorative aspects of construction. World consump-
tion has increased by more than 200% over the past
two decades, and continues to rise. Around 35% of
the total demand is met by EU countries – notably Italy,
Greece, Spain and Portugal – giving employment to
over 500,000 people in some 50,000 companies,
mainly SMEs.
Strategy for stone In recent years, however, Europe has been losing mar-
strengthens EU position ket share to Far Eastern and South American rivals. To
face this problem, the I-STONE project sought to
In order to face growing competition from improve the efficiency of the overall production chain,
Far Eastern and South American suppliers, enabling it to market products of lower cost, higher
the European stone sector needs to deliver quality and greater added value.
lower cost products of improved quality
and higher added value. The I-STONE
project sought to re-engineer the whole Innovating the process chain
production chain, to improve efficiency,
reduce waste and develop a new genera- A consortium comprising 42 partners from Europe,
tion of multifunctional by-products. Ukraine and Argentina has realised innovations cover-
ing all stages of stone extraction and conversion. These
include:
• a high-speed hammerless drilling system that
improves productivity, accuracy and cleanliness at
the quarry face;
• non-destructive testing methodology based on
sonic and ultrasonic waves, to classify blocks await-
ing sawing as acceptable or potentially flawed by
fractures;
• a consolidation system employing water-soluble
organic agents applied under vacuum to repair
defective blocks before further processing, thus
reducing reject rates that can otherwise reach up
to 35%;
• ultra-thin ( 3 mm) slab/strip-cutting discs, based on
nano-diamonds bonded without the use of heavy
metals – which operate at higher speeds than con-
ventional discs, extend lifetimes and generate less
Holes are accurately drilled with a new
waste;
hammerless system that minimises waste.
14Prototype system for an automated scanning
high-resolution method (ASHRM) to locate the Environmental strategy
orientation and position of weak planes and
damages in stone blocks.
As well as minimising wastes from extraction and
processing, I-STONE’s strategy to promote sustainable
and ecological management of resources embraced a
• inorganic consolidation of slabs, strips and tiles search for new waste-based products, applications in
with materials that are chemically similar to the other industrial sectors, and methods for controlled dis-
semi-finished products themselves, thus restoring posal.
full marketable quality.
One interesting avenue pursued in the Netherlands is the
Negotiations for the commercial exploitation of a incorporation of marble and granite powders into func-
number of these developments are now underway. tionalised concrete road paving able to absorb pollutants
from vehicle exhausts by photocatalytic oxidisation, with
self-cleaning by the action of rainfall.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
15Overall view of the slab/tile consolidation
Modernising moves system prototype.
Another aspect of the project was to provide stone
users with a web-based information system for the
selection of available products, aided by realistic visual
images. This could stimulate on-line dialogue between
producers and potential customers, making a signifi-
cant step towards e-commerce in what has so far been
a very traditional activity.
In order to disseminate information about the outcomes
of I-STONE, particularly to the sector’s many SME busi-
nesses, a series of training course modules is now
downloadable from the project website.
I-STONE • Re-engineering of natural stone production chain
through knowledge based processes, eco-innovation and new
organisational paradigms.
Total cost | €11 229 622
EC contribution | €6 759 934
Project duration | March 2005-November 2008 (45 months)
Coordinator | Ing. Giuseppe Gandolfi, Pedrini, Italy
More information | http://www.istone.ntua.gr/
16Today, textiles are perceived by the construction indus-
try mainly as being appropriate for temporary structures.
However, with emerging materials and modern meth-
ods, they become equally applicable to more permanent
buildings. They not only offer architects the possibility
to create unusual and beautiful structures, but also
score highly in terms of minimal consumption of
resources and rapid, low-cost erection.
The CONTEXT-T project, a consortium of 30 partners
Textiles tailored from 10 countries, led by the Belgian research institute
for innovative buildings Centexbel, is exploring new multi-functional materials
and their intelligent use in lightweight, secure, eco-
New textile materials and innovative friendly and economic buildings whose structures
techniques for their deployment offer huge should last for up to 60 years.
potential in the construction of eco-friendly
buildings that combine great design
freedom with lightness and economy. Three elements
CONTEX-T, an Integrated Project for SMEs,
is researching the underlying technologies. Textile-based buildings essentially comprise three ele-
ments: membranes, supporting structures and tensioning
devices. Currently, typical membranes are simple coated
polyester or glass fibre fabrics. These provide only a pas-
sive shell, with limited barrier properties and durability.
The supporting structure is usually steel, aluminium or
wood, tensioned by means of steel cables.
The new research involves the development of mem-
branes with additional functionalities, as well as
supporting structures made from composites including
textile reinforcement, offering added value in both tech-
nical and aesthetic terms.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
Floating covered swimming pool
on the river Spree in Berlin.
17New coatings and fillers, some derived from nanotech- solvents and dangerous waste. A combination of pul-
nology, are being tested to produce membranes trusion and braiding produces plate composites that can
combining improved acoustic and thermal insulation, be bent and tensioned to form a variety of shapes.
efficient energy management and controlled light trans-
mission combined with easy cleaning and deconta-
mination qualities. A further aim is to allow energy Smart design
harvesting by photovoltaic approaches.
The integration of all these elements will create pleas-
Replacing steel cables with textile belts and ropes for ing, safe and comfortable environments for living and
tensioning and load transfer will eliminate corrosion working, even under extreme weather conditions. Smart
problems and facilitate installation. New textile rein- design and architecture, taking full advantage of the
forced composites and other hybrid structures will also new membranes and supporting structures will be
form essential elements of the supporting structures. reflected in a series of demonstrators at the end of the
funded period. This will include new concepts for
New glass-fibre-reinforced cement compositions are retractable roofs and kinetic structures conferring out-
showing great promise for incombustible and lightweight standing flexibility in use.
beams and arches, which are also more environmentally-
friendly than traditional resin-based materials involving At the mid-point of CONTEX-T, five patent applications
had already been filed covering various aspects of the
technology. Spin-off applications in areas such as pro-
A pvc-coated polyester bandstand canopy erected
in 2006 is a landmark feature of Norway’s annual tective clothing, furnishing, vehicle covers, inflatable
Kongsberg Jazz Festival. boats and emergency slides are also foreseen.
18Floating covered swimming pool and sauna on the river Spree in Berlin.
CONTEX-T • Textile architecture – textile structures and the
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
buildings of the future.
Total cost | €10 498 007
EC contribution | €6 188 920
Project duration | September 2006-August 2010 (48 months)
Coordinator | Jan Laperre, Centexbel, Belgium
More information | www.contex-t.eu
19Outlook
Synergy is strength
National agendas drive the erection of most buildings,
while their design is inevitably shaped by national
cultures and local conditions. But, with a pressing need
to transform the construction industry in line with
the Lisbon strategy, research by individual countries
alone is not enough.
There are many imperatives for radical reform of the
construction industry. Traditional practices and the
inertia of regulation have so far tended to inhibit the
introduction of more efficient methods. A recent
study carried out in Sweden showed that, over the
period 1993-2003, productivity grew at only 1/10 the
rate of that in the wider manufacturing sector.
Wasteful use of natural materials remains a serious
problem. And a dramatic reduction in energy consump-
tion is essential to achieve the objectives established
at European level in the Energy and Climate Change
Policy.
Today, a separation of the design and construction
disciplines, plus the lack of an overall systems ap-
proach, means that the majority of new efficient
buildings are effectively prototype projects. This situ-
ation can only be remedied by addressing the overall
process.
Given the level of research investment required to
achieve rapid progress, every effort must be made
to optimise the use of finance, equipment, know-how
and human talent. As the EU-funded projects described
in this brochure show, transnational cooperation is a
logical way ahead. Member States should also ensure
that their national recovery plans are coordinated
with each other, and with the European Economic
Recovery Plan.
20Public-private partnership
for Energy-efficient Buildings
The European Economic Recovery Plan endorsed by
the European Council in December 2008 includes
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to support research
into sustainable technologies for the EU construction
sector as well as for the manufacturing and automo-
tive industries. The ‘Energy-efficient Buildings’ (EeB)
PPP will devote €1 billion of public-private funding
to the development of energy-efficient systems and
materials in new and renovated buildings with a view
to reducing radically their energy consumption and
CO2 emissions.
In order to achieve the necessary fast start-up, the
EeB PPP will initially make use of existing FP7 instru-
ments. The cross-thematic Coordinated Call launched
in July 2009 under the Work Programme 2010 will
allow the first research projects to begin in the spring
of 2010. In parallel, a dialogue is going on between
the Commission services and the Ad-hoc Industrial
Advisory Group for the construction sector to develop
a multi-annual roadmap of research priorities for the
period up to the end of FP7 in 2013.
I NN OVAT IVE TE CH NO LO G IE S FO R BU ILDI NGS
21Acknowledgements Special thanks are expressed to the coordinators and the programme officers of the projects for their contribution, and in particular to Christophe Lesniak for the coordination work. Furthermore, the collaboration of Mike Parry, Margarita Rodríguez Prada, Pascale Dupont and Bingen Urquijo Garay is acknowledged. J.L. Vallés, Head of Unit RTD-G2 ‘New generation of products’
European Commission
EUR 24023 EN – Innovative technologies for buildings – EU-funded research
to transform the construction sector
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
2009 — 24 pp. — 17 x 24 cm
ISBN 978-92-79-12609-3
DOI 10.2777/33303
23KI-NA-24023-EN-C The construction sector is central to the overall economy of the EU, accounting for more than 10 % of GDP, employing more than 16 million people in large, medium and small enterprises, providing accom- modation and infrastructure, and playing a prominent role in the global marketplace. Continued research and development is vital to provide a sound basis for recovery from the effects of economic downturn and to address the global problems of climate change and population growth. The European Construc- tion Technology Platform developed a Strategic Research Agenda which identified three main goals: meeting clients’ and users’ requirements, dramatically improving sustainability and energy efficiency, and achieving a transformation from traditional craft practices to modern and efficient knowledge-based methods employing intelligent new materials and environmentally-friendly processes. This publication briefly presents six examples of outstanding transnational collaborative projects for the construction sector supported by the EU under its RTD Framework Programmes. By taking innovative approaches to the development and application of building and infrastructural technologies, all are helping to ensure a viable future for the construction industry and contributing to the well-being of every citizen.
You can also read
