“Reinforced concrete combines the structural qualities of steel and timber with the durability of good masonry. It is subject to no form of deterioration which cannot be avoided by reasonable precautions. It is free from many of the limitations surrounding the use of masonry in masses, because of the greater latitude it affords in the design and execution of structures. It often yields the best and most economical solution, and in some cases the only practical solution, of the most difficult problems. When properly designed and executed it is therefore among the most valuable, if not the most valuable material now available for use in connection with building and hydraulic works of all kinds.”
The reasons Reinforced Concrete was touted as the most valuable building material over one hundred years ago still applies today.
DURABLE
Durability is the #1 reason to choose reinforced concrete. RCC structures withstand highly exposed environments. Steel in concrete gives designers’ confidence that the structure will endure harsh weather conditions over the long term. Consider the Sydney Opera House built in 1959. The reinforced concrete building sits on the water’s edge and continues to serve its original design intent after 64 years. The properties of reinforced concrete contribute to it's resilience following natural disasters. Strength against cyclones and severe storms, impervious to water damage from floods, and resistance to hail, heatwaves, and fire (incombustible), makes reinforced concrete the safest method of construction.
VERSATILE
No other building material provides the design freedom like reinforced concrete.
Monolithic structures and innovative shapes can be achieved with reinforced concrete because it can be:
(1) moulded and formed in-situ
(2) designed with no transport limitations.
ECONOMICAL
No other building material can provide greater ‘lifetime’ value for money than reinforced concrete. Steel reinforcement and concrete are produced at scale in Australia and distributed by competitive supply chains with stringent quality standards. We have a highly skilled trade base for the design, production, transport, and construction of reinforced concrete structures. Hence, the speed of construction is unmatched by any other building material.
SUSTAINABLE
Steel is a 100% recyclable material, with no loss in material strength or quality. This steel is produced in an electric arc furnace using electricity to melt the scrap metal. As our power supply transitions from fossil fuels to renewable sources, such as wind, solar, and hydrogen, steel will become increasingly sustainable. Recycled scrap metal being collected by large magnets for production of new steel products. Concrete is also a recyclable product. It is made from cement, water, sand, gravel, and crushed stone. Manufacturers have dramatically reduced carbon emissions from cement production by using supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag, waste by-products from power stations and steel making, respectively.
Low carbon products developed by the concrete industry can achieve cement reductions up to 50%. When these innovative products are combined with recycled aggregates, the CO2 emissions are reduced by 50 to 60 percent, with no loss of performance.
Another eco-friendly characteristic of reinforced concrete is its capacity to be adapted and repurposed.
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