Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 18 minutes
ago
SINGAPORE : A local cement supplier is offering a new type of
concrete for use in car parks.
The material works like a sieve, allowing rain water to drain
away. This is now possible with a new local invention called
Permecrete.
If all goes well, it could be used at car parks at the new
Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. Its creator, Holcim, hopes to
cement the deal within three months.
When used in a car park, Permecrete will help to keep the area
dry and clean, with no puddles on the ground on a rainy day.
Holcim has submitted its proposal to Marina Bay Sands for
consideration. It also plans to sell the idea to the Housing and
Development Board (HDB) and property developers.
Holcim said the concept of Permecrete is a sustainable way of
development, especially when sand is in short supply.
Dr Sujit Ghosh, Vice President, Operations, Holcim, said: "It’s
the first time in Singapore that this kind of Permecrete or
sand—less concrete is being developed and being considered for car
parks. The cost is controlled significantly by materials, so one of
the material components which is sand, is out, so it’s not going to
cost more than normal concrete definitely."
No definite details can be released now because the deal has not
been finalised. There will be more research done to improve the
product, including the greater use of recycled materials.
One source of recycled materials is the National Stadium that
will make way for the new Singapore Sports Hub. The complex will be
built by a consortium, led by construction firm Dragages
Singapore.
Dr Ghosh said: "We’ve initiated discussion with them, to see how
we not only act as a concrete supplier, but also help in using back
as much of the recycled materials which will be available from the
demolition. So they have shown initial interest in this."
The Singapore Sports Council said plans to recycle the
demolition waste have not been confirmed. The National Stadium will
not be torn down until after the World Cup qualifiers in June.
Industry players said some amount of "legislation and
incentivisation" will be necessary to encourage greater recycling
of construction waste.
Such efforts are particularly active in Europe. For instance, in
some land scarce Scandinavian countries, contractors will have to
pay a dumping fee when they discard waste materials.
Currently, the amount of recycled demolition debris in the
market totals over a million tons. Holcim said they could be used
for non—structural applications and reduce the amount of raw
materials to be imported.
Responding to Channel NewsAsia, the HDB said contractors for its
various upgrading projects sell construction waste materials to
recycling companies. — CNA/ch
* off topic abit but still its about carparks