Safe, high-tech and sustainable concrete construction Available to Purchase

Concrete has the status of a prime construction material in many parts of the world, owing to the number of benefits it can provide, such as economy of construction, ability to take any shape and form, inherent fire resistance, low energy demand in its production, saving of energy during the service life of the building afforded by insulation properties of concrete and so on. It may seem, however, that the making of concrete is a low-tech process and that any rapid depletion of the sources of natural constituents of concrete would jeopardise principles of continuing sustainability. Such issues are addressed through research and development in high-tech precast concrete construction and modern mix design, including alternative sources for the constituents. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that progress in these fields will not jeopardise the safety and durability of structures. This paper draws attention to some important issues associated with making concrete construction safe, high-tech and sustainable.