Circular and sustainable solutions

The building industry is responsible for major societal impact, with 40% of total energy use and 30% of the global amount of waste.

The concrete business has a particularly great responsibility as we account for a large proportion of this. That is why we have chosen to focus on the environment by converting our products and company strategy to the circular economy. We want the building industry to be part of the solution, not the problem.

Chasing the circularity of construction products and buildings is Peikko’s passion and ambition. Smart product development holds the key to erase waste and create a more circular economy. Our goal is to reduce the environmental impact of our products by increasing use of recycled materials and reusability of components.

DELTABEAM^® Green – Lightening the Environmental Footprint

In order to lighten the environmental footprint, Peikko has increased the use of recycled steel when manufacturing DELTABEAM^® slim floor structures. DELTABEAM^® Green is produced with 90% of recycled steel using renewable energy. It offers the same benefits as the standard DELTABEAM^®, but the environmental impact has been reduced significantly compared to traditional steel structures. DELTABEAM^® Green cuts CO₂ emissions by 50%. Logistics are also arranged in an environmentally friendly way.

The environmental impacts are confirmed by the 3rd party verified Environmental Product Declaration, EPD, and project‑specific Life Cycle Assessment calculations of CO₂ emission can be made based on this certificate. When the aim is to reach high on BREEAM or LEED standards, DELTABEAM^® Green is an easy and efficient solution.

By choosing products that utilize recycled raw materials with lower CO₂ emission in process, even challenging environmental targets can be reached sooner than later.

Green white paper

Green video

Bolted Connections for Precast Structures Enable Circularity without Compromising Performance

There are many types of concrete buildings that could already benefit from demountable connections, which would make it possible to dismantle and to reuse the structures. Secondary class buildings, like industry frames, warehouses, car parks, etc., might only be needed temporarily at certain locations. After the required service life, such buildings could be relocated to serve again wherever needed.

In addition to relocation, removable structures could be also replaced if they are damaged or deteriorated. Bolted connections have great potential to increase the reusability of precast concrete structures. In principle, untightening of a bolted connection should be as easy as tightening it.

Many Peikko solutions are already compatible with circular economy principles. To assess the performance of a bolted connection between precast concrete structures as both demountable and load transferring, Peikko performed a series of tests: dismount ability and load‑bearing.

Identical precast columns and connection details were used in both test series. Foundation structures were equipped with two different types of Peikko’s anchor bolts: either HPM^® Anchor bolts or COPRA^® Anchoring couplers with threaded bars.

Disassembling and reassembling the connections showed, in practice, that bolted connections can provide not only easy and fast assembly, but also effortless disassembly of precast concrete structures. COPRA^® Anchoring couplers especially showed an outstanding potential for reusing both the column and the foundation.

Load‑bearing tests took place at the test laboratory of Eurofins. Performance of the column connections was evaluated by measuring the displacement of column end under increasing shear load. Both connections showed ductile and robust behavior, reaching high ultimate load related with large deformation.

These tests have been one of Peikko’s first but firm steps towards its future with circular and sustainable solutions. These test results proved that bolted connections between precast concrete structures can be considered as demountable without compromising load‑bearing capacity.

 

Further Information

Peikko's Demountable Solutions

In Search of a Bright, Circular Future!

Bolted connections for precast structures – enabling circularity without compromising performance

DELTABEAM^® Slim Floor Structures to lighten a building's environmntal footprint

Dismount and Reuse of Precast Concrete Structures

Connections circular video