BRE IP9/07 PDF

Introduction

Construction projects are undertaken to fulfil various business or service objectives. Self-evidently, the success of an asset depends on how well it meets the needs of the owner and users. Most concrete structures provide satisfactory performance over an acceptably long service life. However, deterioration processes affect all structures and materials so through-life management is needed.

While economic and social development place increasing demands on Europe's infrastructure, resource limits and other factors constrain how much new construction can take place or is desirable. Remediation of existing buildings and structures is therefore critical for maintaining the operational infrastructure of society. Some 50% of Europe's annual construction budget is spent on refurbishment and remediation.

The large number of concrete structures built in the 1960s and 70s, which form a key part of Europe's infrastructure and also account for a large percentage of expenditure on protection and repair will start to require further protection, repair and refurbishment works.

However, there are problems in achieving the required performance from repairs to concrete structures, and resources need to be applied more efficiently. Accordingly owners of buildings and infrastructure require greater certainty in the performance of remediated structures in order to manage their assets effectively. This has generated a requirement for industry to deliver better, more durable repairs to concrete structures.

To address these issues, the CONREPNET thematic network on the performance-based remediation of reinforced concrete structures was established and launched in Madrid in February 2003. It aimed to improve the performance of remediated concrete structures by looking at past, present and future circumstances. The European Commission, under its Framework Programme 5, gave financial support for four years (2002–6).The network aimed to facilitate the transfer of information from research to practice, to promote a performance-based approach to the remediation of concrete structures and to establish future research and development needs.

Information about durability and remediation was collected from industry and researchers. Problems and barriers to achieving durable remediated structures were identified and current practices investigated. European research into protection and repair techniques, and the performance of remediated structures were reviewed.

Recent changes in owners' attitudes are reflected by their growing interest in through-life costs, that is, the capital and operational costs of delivering functional performance for a defined life. This is an important development in achieving a more balanced, holistic approach to extending the life of existing structures. It is also closely aligned to the increasing interest in sustainable construction, and in environmental and societal factors.

The need for a wider and more sustainable perspective during the creation of new structures and the management of existing structures is central to the philosophy and concepts outlined in the CONREPNET project report Achieving durable repaired concrete structures: adopting a performance-based intervention strategy, on which this Information Paper is based.