Properties of Concrete

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

• Strength and Durability

• Versatility
• Low maintenance
• Affordability
• Fire-resistance
• Thermal mass
• Locally produced and used
• Albedo effect
• Low life-cycle CO₂ emissions
  
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Characteristics of Concrete
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 LIKE US NOW   Acivcrete   - Share it with your friends.
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 CO2emissions	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 LIKE US NOW   Acivcrete   - Share it with your friends.