news from the BRE Group
published: 15/10/2003
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Best use of construction materials
BRE and the Co-Construct partnership have started a one year programme to promote the best use of construction materials in the housing sector.
In recent years construction materials research has produced huge amounts of information, which in many cases remains underused. With the support of DTI and industry partners, this programme aims to encourage the much fuller use of research findings to improve the competitiveness of materials suppliers and their clients, by developing carefully targeted outputs and promoting more efficient and effective materials solutions.
A housing sector strategy document will be developed, after wide consultation with all housing stakeholders, to identify the:
- key areas where existing research outputs can be better exploited,
- barriers to better use of existing material research, and
- knowledge gaps in current information on materials in construction.
Companies or individuals wanting to contribute to this discussion are invited to contact the BRE Construction Helpdesk: tel 01923 664200, E-mail construction@bre.co.uk
Programme Director Dr Peter Bonfield says, 'For the first time, this project brings together organisations from the various construction material sectors to address industry information needs in a truly collaborative fashion. By focusing on a specific sector (housing), BRE and Co-Construct have the opportunity to make real impacts over the next year.'
The aim is that these impacts will include:
- more efficient and reliable use of materials and products in construction
- improved interfacing and interactions between materials
- faster exploitation of new materials and techniques
- reduction in cases of inappropriate use of materials
- improved co-operation between different materials supply sectors
- greater take-up and appreciation of research by industry
- materials information that more closely addresses industry needs
The initial findings will be discussed at a workshop at BRE on 12 December 2003. Other project outputs will include guidance documents, case studies and an information website.
When this programme on the housing sector is complete, the programme partners plan to seek funding to extend this work to other construction sectors.
Note for editors
Co-Construct is a partnership made up of BSRIA, CIRIA, the Concrete Society, SCI and TRADA - see www.construction.co.uk
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