Properties of Concrete

Properties of Concrete

Concrete’s properties make it the building material of choice for most purposes. The most important features are:

1-   Strength and Durability

·     Used in the majority of buildings, bridges, tunnels and dams for its strength

·     Gains strength over time

·     Not weakened by moisture, mould or pests

·     Concrete structures can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes

·     Roman buildings over 1,500 years old such as the Coliseum are living examples of the strength and durability of concrete

2-   Versatility

·     Concrete is used in buildings, bridges, dams, tunnels, sewerage systems pavements, runways and even roads

3-   Low maintenance

·     Concrete, being inert, compact and non-porous, does not attract mould or lose its key properties over time

4-   Affordability  

·     Compared to other comparable building materials, concrete is less costly to produce and remains extremely affordable

5-   Fire-resistance

·     Being naturally fire-resistant concrete forms a highly effective barrier to fire spread

6-   Thermal mass

·     Concrete walls and floors slow the passage of heat moving through, reducing temperature swings

·     This reduces energy needs from heating or air-conditioning, offering year-round energy savings over the life-time of the building

7-   Locally produced and used

·     The weight of the material limits concrete sales to within 300km of a plant site

·     Very little cement and concrete is traded and transported internationally

·     This saves significantly on transport emissions of CO2 that would otherwise occur

8-   Albedo effect

·     The high "albedo" (reflective qualities) of concrete used in pavements and building walls means more light is reflected and less heat is absorbed, resulting in cooler temperatures

·     This reduces the "urban heat island" effect prevalent in cities today, and hence reduces energy use for e.g. air-conditioning

9-   Low life-cycle CO2 emissions

·     80% of a buildings CO2 emissions are generated not by the production of the materials used in its construction, but in the electric utilities of the building over its life-cycle (e.g. lighting, heating, air-conditioning