A new report from the
The report demonstrates through historical data, evidence from external sources, and comparisons of building materials that resilient design and construction built with concrete leads to longer lasting buildings due to concrete’s ability to stand up to normal wear and tear and resistance to extreme weather events.
“US taxpayers cannot afford to continue building and rebuilding the way we did in the past,” said Michael Ireland, president and CEO of the PCA, which represents US cement manufacturers. “Strong, robust structures ensure community continuity and provide long lasting value for scarce taxpayer dollars.”
Between 1996 and 2014 damages in the US due to hazards (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, etc.) totalled over US$377bn, according to the National Weather Service.
The PCA report states that reinforced concrete structures reduce recovery costs after disasters hit and the upfront costs of incorporating resilient concrete features may not be significant, and are likely to save money in the long run.
The report also looks at how concrete buildings are the new 'green' buildings. Structures that last longer reduce environmental footprint because their emissions, attributed to heating, cooling and operation, can be spread over many decades. Incorporating concrete can also contribute toward achieving points in the United States Green Building Council LEED programme, which is the leading programme for green building and communities worldwide.
The report and its executive summary are available at:
