October 2009

Ecocem Ireland Ltd

1862: Hydraulic potential of GGBS discovered in Germany

Early 1900s - Portland Blast Furnace Cements had an established
place in the concrete market

2004: More than 5,000,000 tonnes of GGBS produced in Germany

2006: Approximately 2,000,000 tonnes of GGBS produced in UK

2008: Over 400,000 tonnes available in Ireland

Long term agreement

with partner
companies for
supplying high
quality GBS
Can supply the Irish
market with over
350,000 tonnes from
Dublin
Provide technical
back up to specifiers
and concrete
manufactures

Steel Manufacture

Water to make GBS

Grind to make GGBS

GBS

Store GGBS for

distribution

GGBS cement, and OPC

NRA,, OPW,
O
, Bord
o d Gis,
G s, ESB,
S , Coillte,
Co te, RPA,, Bord
o d Na
a Mona,
o a, Local
oca Authorities
ut o t es

Engineers, Architects, Developers, Precast, House builders, Farmers

Environmental
Advantages of using GGBS

A rise of 1 metre in
ocean levels will
displace 35 Million
people
l in
i
Bangladesh.

Conflict in Darfur is
directly linked to
Climate Change

Cement manufacture:
Second largest source of
industrial CO2
Releases harmful pollutants
Significant energy user
D l t natural
Depletes
t l resources

CO2 emissions for Ecocem GGBS and cement production

Typical CO2 Emissions for Portland Cement and Ecocem GGBS Production

kg per T
Tonne of Output

(Figures in kg per tonne of output)

900

Generation of Electricity Used

800

Fossil Fuel Use

700
Process Emissions

600
500
400
300
200
100
0

Portland Cement

Ecocem GGBS

p
Depletion
of natural
resources

For every tonne of Portland

cementt produced,
d d 11.6
6 ttonnes off
limestone/shale are removed
from the landscape

GGBS production involves no

quarrying of limestone or clay

Environmental savings
example
What is the impact of replacing 50%
of cement with GGBS in an
average size shopping centre
centre,
using 5,000m3 of concrete?
See calculator on:

www.lowcarbonconcrete.ie

Longer service life from GGBS concrete

Time to replacement extended

Specified
p
by
y NRA on road bridges
g and structural concrete
Reduced demand on natural resources for new concrete
Exposure to chloride attack:

Albedo Effect measure of solar reflectivity

For everyy 15-25m2 of Ecocem concrete surface the

increased solar reflectivity will save 1 tonne of CO2 every
year
A 100-150m
100 150 2 driveway
d i
t a house
to
h
can save the
th same CO2
as will be produced by 2 cars
Drive carbon free for life

EU procurement Rules Directive 2004/18/EC

Recital 5 states that "contracting authorities may contribute to the protection of the
environment and the promotion of sustainable development"

Recital 6 states Nothing in this Directive should prevent the imposition or

enforcement of measures necessary to protect public policy, public morality, public
security health,
security,
health human and animal life or the preservation of plant life
life, in particular
with a view to sustainable development

Article 26 states .. The conditions governing the performance of a contract may, in

particular, concern social and environmental considerations
considerations

Article 53 allows the Contracting Authority to weight the various awarding criteria of
which environmental characteristics may be one

Annex VI 1(a) states that technical

technical specification [as per article 23].....shall
23] shall include
levels of environmental performance....

OPW requirement for environmental cement

Section 2.4 Sustainability of tender documentation
The OPW require the specification and use of more
environmentally friendly cements in publicly funded construction
projects,
p
j
, in compliance
p
with EU p
procurement and environmental
policies.
This will involve the partial replacement of Portland Cement by
existing waste products to yield significant improvement in the
environmental performance of concrete*.
*Directive
Directive 2004/18/EC: Procedures for Award of Public Contracts

Sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs

Recycled by
by-product
product No new raw materials used

Durability Longer life span

Significantly Lowered CO2 Emissions

The most sustainable building material in the world

Embodied CO2
and the Built
Environment
Embodied CO2
accounts for
f 19%
of overall CO2
emission in the
UK*

GGBS is the BAT

for reducing
embodied CO2.
*Potential for Reducing the
Environmental Impact of
Construction Materials
commissioned by the BioRegional
Development Group in association
with Stockholm Environmental
Institute and the WWF (UK study)

GGBS: The Best Technology for a

Substantial Reduction of Embodied CO2.
GGBS can replace 55% of ordinary cement.
GGBS will reduce the embodied
carbon footprint of concrete by 50%.
50%
GGBS will reduce the embodied
carbon footprint of a typical building by
25%.

GGBS is the Best Available

A ailable Technolog
Technology
(BAT) to reduce the embodied carbon
footprint of the built environment.

Properties &
Advantages of using GGBS

Same constituents as OPC

Different proportions
Less CaO
More Si0
i 2
More Al2O3

GGBS cement replaces ordinary Portland cement on a onefor-one basis

No change in any other element of the mix design:
sand
aggregates
w/c
/ ratio
i (can
(
be
b reduced)
d d)
Admixtures

C
Concrete
t manufacture
f t
Batch duration is the same
Allowable time to transport is extended this

increases with increasing percentage of GGBS

Engineering benefits start at 30%

Usage
varies
30 up to
U
i from
f
t 85%
Most often specified at 50%

Treated same as Portland cement concrete

No adjustment striking times
As always curing to comply with BS 8110 (as with all concrete
proper curing ensures best practice concrete is achieved)
Placing, compacting and powerfloating
Concrete admixtures compatible.

Temperature
p
control

Issue reduces with increasing percentage of GGBS

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 Reduced Permeability/Porosity

Placing, compacting and pumping easier:

lower relative density
smaller particle sizes
Powerfloating as normal
Setting times longer by 1 2 hrs
Sl
Slower
rate
t off bl
bleeding
di
Water demand 3% to 5% lower
Compatible with admixtures

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 Reduced Permeability/Porosity

Vertical formwork
Minimum 2 N/mm2
required to prevent
mechanical damage
Horizontal formwork
Minimum 10 N/mm2 or
twice the stress to which
the slab is subjected

- At least 10 N/mm2 achieved after 3 days

- Use Temperature Matched Curing to confirm

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 Reduced Permeability/Porosity

80.0
70.0
60.0

40.0

N/mm2

50.0

30.0
20.0
10.0

Days
0.0
7

28
100/0 Sept

50/50 Sept

90
30/70 Sept

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 Reduced Permeability/Porosity

Chloride Penetration

Lower chloride ion diffusivity

Lower porosity/permeability
p
yp
y
Applications: roads and bridges, car parks, sea defences,
marine structures.

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 Reduced Permeability/Porosity

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 No C3A Reduced Permeability/Porosity

Sulphate Resistance

Sulphates react with C3A and Ca(OH)2 to form

ettringite
Sulphate Resisting cement (SRPC) has reduced
C3A,, but noo reduced
educed Ca(OH)
Ca(O )2, aand
d no
o reduced
educed
porosity
SRPC cannot be used in marine environments
GGBS much lower price than SRPC

Note: In BS8500 the only

option recommended as
suitable for the most severe
sulphate exposure (Class DCDC
4m) is concrete containing at
least 66% GGBS
Use of Sulphate resistant
cement is not permitted

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 No C3A Reduced Permeability/Porosity

Advantages in wastewater
treatment works

http://www.ecocem.ie/index.php?p
=technical&q=wastewater

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 No C3A Reduced Permeability/Porosity

GGBS lowers peak and overall heat

Reduces thermal stressing
Reduces micro-cracking (particularly useful in
water retaining structures, basements, podium slab,
bridges, stadiums, secant pile walls etc.)
Optimum substitution level 60 85%

60

50

40

30

Highest
Lowest
Difference

20

10

More CSH gel Less CA(OH)2 No C3A Reduced Permeability/Porosity

GGBS cement, and OPC

GGBS is an off-white powder

Lighter,
Li ht more even-coloured
l
d concrete
t
Smoother, more defect-free surface
Suppresses/Eliminates efflorescence
Lower pigment requirements 20% saving
GGBS can be used as partial replacement for
white cement, up to 70%

Bridge pier and bridge deck, Enfield bypass

Bridge deck 100% OPC
Bridge pier 50% GGBS

C k Ci
Cork
Civic
i Offices
Offi

Cathleen Falls Bridge

2006 ICS
ICS, Design and
Construction Awards

Sleeping Giant
2007 ICS
ICS,
Design and
Construction
Award

Sean
S
OCasey
OC
Building
B ildi Dublin
D bli
2008 ICS,
Design and
Construction
Award

QE II bridge, Dartford M25

50-70% GGBS for chloride
50resistance, reduced heat of
hydration and appearance

Second Severn Crossing

Aviva
A i Stadium,
St di
Dublin
D bli

Father Collins Park,

Park Dublin

Standard concrete specification

p
containing
g GGBS

The worlds first Carbon Neutral Building Material

launched in 2007 in partnership with the biggest
names in the Irish Construction Industry:

Treasury Holdings
T
H ldi
Pierse
Durkan Group
McNamara
JJ Rhatigan

Details on all prestigious projects can be found on

www.carbonneutralconcrete.ie

What is in it for you!

Best durability (longer life)

Reduce
Reduce lifetime maintenance cost
Best sustainable material
Demonstrates y
your commitment to
a sustainable agenda
Create a lot of positive PR
Best Architectural
Reduce cost to achieve desired
finish
Best value for money

yq
Should y
you have any
questions in the future:
David OFlynn, 087 965 4891
doflynn@ecocem.ie