Sustainable Construction System TecSlab from TECBUILD

A PLATFORM FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

CASE STUDY SHOWS TECBEAM CAN REDUCE EMBODIED ENERGY BY MORE THAN 75% WHEN COMPARED TO STEEL BEAMS OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

The redesign of a residential project in Melbourne 1 has created the opportunity to compare Tecbeam against other floor systems highlighting the savings in embodied energy and material costs.

Concrete Slab Replacement
When redesigning the first floor a Tecbeam beam and Hebel aerated concrete panel system was used to replace a suspended concrete slab. This resulted in a 78% reduction in embodied energy for the entire first floor system. Significantly there was also a 52% reduction in material costs.

Steel Beam Replacement
On the project's second floor, Tecbeam joists were used to replace the original steel beam design. In this case the Tecbeam joists contained less than 15% 2 of the embodied energy of the steel beams they replaced without reducing structural or other environmental performance. The Tecbeam system was 45% cheaper in material costs 3. The total weight of the Tecbeam's was 80% less than their steel alternatives leading to further expected reduction in costs due to ease of handling.

Further environmental benefits are expected to accrue due to the ease with which Tecbeams can be recycled at the end of the project's life. Up to 9 Green Star Credits are accessible utilising the properties of Tecbeam 4.

CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES
The residential and commercial building sector is entering a period of change as environmental and economic concerns including climate change, energy efficiency, resource depletion waste minimisation begin to enter the equation for new developments. These new imperatives are generally considered under the heading of 'sustainable building'.

Designs which achieve high environmental "star" ratings, "low emission" housing projects and other low impact developments are benefiting from the increasingly high priority placed on sustainability by consumers and government. Subsequently, designers and developers are becoming more critical of environmental performance of building materials and products.

A consequence of this is the recognition of timber for its ability to store carbon when used as a long term structural member, and also to avoid the CO2 emissions produced in the manufacture of other materials such as steel, concrete and aluminium.

Greater use of timber as a substitute for other materials is further assisted by the recent publication of the revised Multi Residential Timber Framing Code. Multi-dwelling construction is a market where timber frame is an attractive substitute for traditional concrete frame construction offering attractive cost and time savings to builders. It now has the potential for a further acceptance and adoption due to lower environmental impact.

The structural properties of Tecbeam offer builders a compelling alternative construction methodology in three to five storey infill development solutions. Tecbeam's key market has been in the replacement of steel beams with Tecbeam joists for multi storey and setback load-bearing applications. It's direct competitors cannot match its record of added value as a high structural capacity component within a timber frame design.

1 Case study at Bay St Parkdale carried out by Tecbeam. This study has been checked and verified by environmental consultants The Ark Climate Group (www.arkclimate.com).
2 85% reduction
3 Further reduction in labour costs likely due to ease of handling but not measured in this case.
4 Green Star Rating System for Buildings - Multi Unit Residential Calculator V1