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Life cycle assessment and sustainability assessment

Certification systems such as DGNB, LEED or BREEAM are increasingly being used to assess the sustainability of new buildings. The sustainability concept commonly employed is based on a three-pillar model, made up of economy, ecology and social aspects. Life cycle assessment of building materials provides important input data for such sustainability assessments. We develop life cycle assessments for cement and cement-bound building materials as a basis for environmental product declarations (EPD).

Main focus of our services

A life cycle assessment study provides quantification of the possible environmental impacts of a product. Our range of services specifically encompasses the development of life cycle assessments and environmental product declarations (EPD) for the areas of cement and concrete. In doing so, we apply the standards developed by CEN/TC 350 for the construction sector in particular. We develop product-specific life cycle assessments and environmental product declarations for cement manufacturers in Germany and other European countries. Our employees also act as "DGNB auditors". The certification system of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), which was developed in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Transport, Building and Urban Development (BmVBS), assesses structures from the point of view of environmental protection, cost-effectiveness and user-friendliness with regard to sustainability. We can supply the following comprehensive services in this context:

Accompaniment of the planning process for buildings with a view to the DGNB sustainability criteria
Supervision of the execution of work from the point of view of DGNB certification
Performance of the final project audit: Reviewing and checking of the completed documentation and verifications

Other services in which we operate

Material testing

We can offer all standard material tests for the assessment of fresh and hardened concrete properties as well as durability. Our high-performance laboratory is fitted with a wide range of technical equipment and is accredited in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025. As a result we are able to provide you with a broad spectrum of laboratory services.

Durability assessment

As reinforced concrete structures generally have a service life of at least 50 years, durability is one of the most important requirements for concrete construction work. The range of services we offer in the field of durability assessment ensures methodically based, reliable checking and optimisation of the resistance of concretes to a variety of environmental impacts.

Structure management

The durability of reinforced concrete structures can be impaired by environmental influences. We provide support for the diagnosis of existing structures, the assessment of inspection results and possible repair planning.

Approval inspections and accompaniment of approval procedures

Our approval inspections and accompaniment of approval procedures help you to verify the basis for CE marking (European Technical Assessment, ETA) and the suitability of construction products for specific areas of application (national approvals for concretes, concrete constituents and cements, for example). The range of services we offer encompasses all stages of the approval procedure, from preliminary trials right through to expert reports.

Customer-specific services

Our customer-specific services help to optimise your products and open up new areas of application. Our experienced specialists can offer their support if there is a need for your products to satisfy extended verification of suitability or meet special requirements. On the basis of the latest scientific and technical state of the art we will assist you with the planning of development steps and the optimisation of properties and verify the suitability of your construction products (e.g. cements or concretes) for specific areas of application. We will additionally support you throughout the course of the necessary approval procedures and issue product certificates.

Performance of cement

We can offer you various comprehensive services for the purpose of optimising the performance of cement. In doing so we provide you with full support throughout the entire process. Our interdisciplinary teams of experts have many years of experience gained from customer projects around the world and also further their knowledge by working on practical research projects.

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Laboratory services

Our interdisciplinary team can provide answers to virtually all questions relating to cementitious building materials in line with the latest state-of-the-art. At the same time we can offer our customers a range of services encompassing all important testing activities and consultation work, right through to complex expert reports. Up-to-the-minute research and a professional attitude towards service combine to produce synergies which are reflected by the high quality and practical relevance of our work.

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Person to contact

Do you have questions regarding this service?

Dr Jochen Reiners
Concrete technology

+49-211-45 78-382
bte@vdz-online.de

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