2007 New Zealand Concrete Society Annual Conference

• The Role of Concrete in Sustainable Development

By Rob Gaimster & Chris Munn

There has been a recent shift in emphasis towards the principles of sustainable development in New Zealand’s built environment. Yet, there is a lack of credible information on the contribution that concrete products make to the sustainability of the built environment, particularly from a New Zealand perspective.

This paper serves to outline the current position with regard to concrete’s contribution to sustainable development in themes such as durability, fire performance, thermal mass, acoustic performance, recycling, storm-water management, roading, demolition and deconstruction et al.

By outlining concrete’s sustainability credentials, gaps in the collective knowledge will also be identified. One such knowledge gap surrounds the promising potential of recarbonation. CO₂ sequestration is an important and significant property, which needs urgent research. Furthermore, to support the principle of recarbonation it will be necessary for the current embryonic aggregate recycling industry in New Zealand to develop significantly.

In conclusion, this paper will seek to challenge the industry to overcome complacency and strive for excellence in the sustainability paradigm.

• The Cause for Cores or a Cause for Concern?

  By Rob Gaimster

  As construction techniques increase in sophistication, and the requirements of contract programmes become more demanding, potential nonconformities - elements and materials that do not conform to the specification - can be problematic. To minimise nonconformity, an investigative technique often employed is the testing of concrete cores for strength. But what strength? - measured compressive strength, estimated in-situ strength, actual strength, potential strength or characteristic in-situ strength? This paper serves to evaluate the current position regarding the interpretation of core results in an international context.

• Putting the Steel into Reinforced Concrete

  By John Beveridge

  This paper seeks to demonstrate the significance of the New Zealand steel reinforcing industry’s contribution to sustainable development by outlining the steel manufacturing process and the highlighting the range of production efficiencies and environmental initiatives undertaken by the Pacific Steel Group (PSG).

Specifying Concrete Ground Floors Seminar - August 2006

• Specifying Concrete Ground Floors - Final Guide Specification

Precast Concrete Design Seminar - May 2005
Listed below are the notes from the seminar. Please keep in mind, while these files are zipped, some of them are quite large in size:

• Precast Concrete Design Seminar - Presented by Keith Norgate
• Design of thin panel walls - Presented by Dene Cook
• Precast Concrete Design - Presented by Ashley Smith [12.9 Mb]
• Suspended Floors and Diaphragm Action - Presented by Des Bull [21.9 Mb]
• Economics of Precast Concrete - Presented by Cathy Giddens