Retain or demolish concrete structures?

Because of increasingly stringent CO2 emission standards, it can be seen that many buildings no longer meet the requirements. After all, many apartment buildings and offices date back to the 60s, 70s and 80s. Are we going to demolish these buildings or can we (energetically) renovate, repurpose or upgrade them? There are many elements that come into play in making this choice, FEREB knows. "Many voices are raised in favor of preserving buildings. We take into account the technical, economic, social and, above all, ecological factors."

When looking at the technical possibilities, very often concrete damage is identified after thorough preliminary investigation. This damage, whether aesthetic or structural, can in most cases be permanently repaired. A specialized contractor is called in to do this, who will carry out the necessary repairs using the appropriate products. Besides repairing and insulating the outer shell of the building, the obsolete techniques are also taken care of.

Renovation is also often cheaper economically than demolition and new construction. After all, it is not always necessary to renovate the entire building. In many cases, large sections such as the structure, elevators, utilities, etc. can be retained. Often several residents have already renovated their apartments and demolition would be a great loss. Renovation can save on expensive building materials and high labor costs. Building "additions" can also provide a financial solution.

Another not unimportant aspect is the social aspect. When renovating, residents can in many cases stay in their own environment or only have to move elsewhere for a short time. Demolition and new construction, on the other hand, requires a lot more time. However, the most important argument for renovation is the ecological impact. Demolishing a building already involves considerable CO2 emissions. After all, demolition, and disposal of construction waste is damaging to our environment. In addition, a new structure must be built. This means use of new scarce raw materials, production and supply of building materials. Taking into account the "embodied carbon" in existing and new constructions, it can be said that preserving buildings is a lot more environmentally friendly than demolishing them.

During the Belgian Concrete Day on Nov. 9, FEREB held a panel discussion on the theme "Demolish or preserve concrete structures. Four experts by experience in the field of sustainable construction and renovation, Erik Wieërs (Vlaams Bouwmeester), Joost Declercq (Archipelago), Jo Huygh (DUSS) and Joris De Baes (Redevelop - for FEREB) gave their opinions on the subject based on economic, ecological, technical and social insights.