As the construction industry makes headway towards a decarbonised future, lowering Scope 3 emissions requires effectively managing the embodied carbon in modern construction materials.
With engineers facing increasing pressure to incorporate sustainable practices into design concepts – the challenge of specifying materials that not only meet sustainability objectives, but also simplify the regulatory process is complex.
Steel, as a core material in modern constructions, is now providing significant advancements in this space through the introduction of SENSE Solutions® by InfraBuild. In its ambition to support decarbonising the construction industry, SENSE Solutions® has married sustainable product design with steel innovation to help reduce the carbon emission of new constructions.
This is demonstrated in its flagship product – SENSE 600® – which delivers up to a 39 per cent reduction in embodied carbon compared to their standard 500N reinforcing bars, via a higher strength and innovative bar design, that complies with Australian Standards and is additionally supported through CodeMark Certificates of Conformity.
Time saving advantages
The National Construction Code (NCC) sets out the minimum standards for safety, health and sustainability in buildings across the country, ensuring every material and method used in all designs is compliant. All buildings must meet the performance requirements set out in the NCC, which is typically achieved by designing to an Australian Standard. However, not all design aspects of an innovative product are covered in the scope of an Australian Standard. This can be due to several reasons, one of which is the lengthy process required to produce and publish an Australian Standard.
CodeMark certificates are available to fill the gaps in the Australian Standards relating to the design of the SENSE 600® range of products. InfraBuild have undertaken the time consuming and labour-intensive process of producing performance solutions for the CodeMark Certificates of Conformity to be awarded to the SENSE 600® products. The CodeMark certificate on a product provides a simple Deemed-To-Satisfy Solution for the construction industry to follow that ensures the product complies with the NCC.
This means each SENSE Solutions® product in the range with CodeMark certification is just as easy to design as the standard 500 MPa grade of steel. InfraBuild Engineering Solutions Manager, Anthony Ng, said, “CodeMark certificates allow engineers tasked with implementing sustainable practices across all aspects of design, to use products such as SENSE 600® knowing InfraBuild have already done the heavy lifting for engineers on the compliance front. The CodeMark certificates makes navigating the regulatory process simple.”
Practical applications for engineers
The CodeMark certification – administered by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) – provides independent verification that a product meets the NCC’s standards, including those outlined in the BCA (Volumes 1 and 2).
For engineers, SENSE 600®’s compliance with Australian Building Standards and its CodeMark certification provides clear guidelines on how the product can be used in structural design with two certificates of note:
Certificate No. 301354 for Longitudinal Column Reinforcement
This certificate covers SENSE 600®’s use as longitudinal bars in reinforced concrete columns, ensuring it has the same load capacity as traditional 500 MPa bars but with a lower environmental impact.
Certificate No. 30136 for Column Fitments
This certificate allows SENSE 600® when used as fitments in reinforced concrete columns, to be directly substituted for its equivalent load capacity 500 MPa bar. The certification simplifies the design process by eliminating the need for additional calculations, ensuring compliance with the NCC.
“Design using a CodeMark certificate is no different to design using an Australian Standard, it is no more difficult and it is recognised by the Australian Building Codes Board as equivalent and therefore compliant with the NCC,” Mr Ng said.
Making the switch to CodeMark sustainable steel
As our industry continues to evolve, the ability to deliver sustainable, compliant and cost-effective projects will be critical to success. For engineers committed to sustainability, efficiency and excellence, SENSE 600® presents a promising opportunity.
By integrating SENSE 600® into their designs, engineers can efficiently achieve significant reductions in embodied carbon, streamline compliance processes, all while delivering high-quality, sustainable projects. This is a promising step forward for an industry where precision and compliance are critical, making SENSE 600® an essential asset for any future-focused engineer.
For more information, vist https://www.infrabuild.com/
