Concrete Impacts: Maintaining performance and reducing carbon with Portland-Limestone Cement

 
Sponsored by Holcim (US) Inc.
By Erika Fredrickson

Learning Objectives:

  1. Discuss the evolution of concrete and supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) as they relate to safely designed buildings
  2. List the environmental issues related to using concrete as a primary building material, particularly in terms of embodied carbon
  3. Describe how Portland-limestone cement (PLC) serves as an alternative blended cement with reduced embodied carbon that helps create more sustainable buildings
  4. Explain how specifying Type IL Portland-limestone cement for a project is consistent with approved standards for safety and performance

Credits:

AIA
1 AIA LU/Elective
GBCI
1 GBCI CE Hour
ICC
0.1 ICC CEU
IACET
0.1 IACET CEU*
AIBD
1 AIBD P-CE
PDH
1 PDH*
AAA
AAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
AANB
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
AAPEI
AAPEI 1 Structured Learning Hour
MAA
MAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
NLAA
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA.
NSAA
This course can be self-reported to the NSAA
NWTAA
NWTAA 1 Structured Learning Hour
OAA
OAA 1 Learning Hour
SAA
SAA 1 Hour of Core Learning
 
This course can be self-reported to the AIBC, as per their CE Guidelines.
As an IACET Accredited Provider, BNP Media offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard.
This course is approved as a Structured Course
This course can be self-reported to the AANB, as per their CE Guidelines
Approved for structured learning
Approved for Core Learning
This course can be self-reported to the NLAA
Course may qualify for Learning Hours with NWTAA
Course eligible for OAA Learning Hours
This course is approved as a core course
This course can be self-reported for Learning Units to the Architectural Institute of British Columbia
This test is no longer available for credit

Concrete has been used widely in buildings for centuries because it is a remarkable material that when newly mixed is plastic and malleable but strong and durable when cured and hardened. Its ubiquitous presence attests to its strength, versatility, durability, and utility as a primary construction material. However, the production and creation of concrete, primarily the cement used to make it, emits large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. This course looks at the use of Portland-limestone cement (PLC) as a proven alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in concrete. The addition of supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) such as fly ash, slag, and natural pozzolans are also addressed. These strategies have been recognized as a way to significantly reduce the amount of CO2 embodied in the concrete.

Concrete Impacts

Photo courtesy of Holcim

 

Holcim (US) Inc. Holcim (US) Inc., is one of the world’s leading suppliers of sustainably manufactured cementitious materials. The Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction promotes and supports the innovative solutions of architects for the future built environment with $2 million in prize money.

 

Originally published in May 2022

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