Green concrete is mandatory starting from Wednesday

Dubai Municipality decided to obligate contracting companies and consulting offices to implement the use of environmentally friendly concrete (green concrete) in the construction of buildings, as of next Wednesday, as part of an initiative that contributes to converting the emirate’s buildings into green -friendly green in the future, and the conditions of sustainability are met by 100 %.

According to the municipality, the concrete used will be audited before starting the construction, as it will be a condition for granting the building permit to contracting companies and consulting offices, and if it is discovered that they are not used, a fine will be signed on the violator.

In detail, the Director General of Dubai Municipality, Eng. Hussein Nasser Lootah, said during a press conference held yesterday, that “concrete is the most important element that enters into construction, and its components include cement material, which results from the manufacture of carbon dioxide and other toxic materials that harm the environment, public health and safety, Based on the construction and construction policy, the building administration conducted a study to clarify these damages and treat them using an environmentally friendly cement in the sustainable concrete industry.

He added that «the study revealed that the production of a ton of Portland cement is accompanied by the emission of (approximately 1.1 tons) of carbon dioxide, gases and other harmful fumes. Moreover, the production of a ton of cement leads to the emission of 164 kilograms of dust, resulting in an increase in the phenomenon of retention Thermal, in addition to environmental and health damage, increased respiratory diseases, such as asthma, pulmonary ossification, lung cancer, kidney failure, and other dangerous diseases.

According to a global environmental study, cement factories are the second causes of death of lung cancer after smoking, and based on research and studies from the American NManhattan TribuneA Association and Canadian ECO-SMART, the cement factories alone produce 50% of the emission of carbon dioxide for all factories. For his part, the Assistant Director General of the Engineering and Planning Sector, Abdullah Rafie, stressed that “the municipality was keen to see international practices in using alternatives to Portland cement, and it was found that advanced countries have begun to use years ago, because of their great importance in preserving the environment, and limit From the emission of carbon dioxide harmful to public health, safety and the environment. He added that «a number of scientific and research bodies and centers recommended the use of environmentally friendly concrete materials, as green concrete materials can be used in all construction elements, plaster, bricks, interlock, roads, and drainage pipelines.

And Rafi added that «the study proved that green cement materials have properties that distinguish them from Portland cement, the most important of which is that it increases the life of concrete by at least 20 years, and reduces the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by 80%, and consequently the use of green concrete is environmentally friendly, as It reduces the ratio of concrete during the hydrogenous process (in the early hours of casting), and reduces the penetration of moisture and water in the concrete, and then reduces the possibility of rust of the reinforcing steel, and improves the degree of thermal insulation and the degree of concrete resistance to the fire, and maintains the strength of concrete tolerance to pressure the effectiveness of cement Portland. ”

In addition, the director of the municipality’s studies department, Ahmed Saeed Al -Badawi, told «Emirates Today» that “the concrete used will be audited before starting the construction, as it will be a condition for granting the building permit to contracting companies and consulting offices, and in the event of discovery of not using it, it will be done Signature of a fine on the violator ». The director of the municipality’s buildings, Khaled Mohamed Saleh, pointed out that “the municipality by applying the green concrete will contribute to preserving the environment, safety and public health,” noting that “the municipality has put a schedule explaining the percentage of these materials based on international codes, and according to the required concrete specifications, In line with the Dubai environment and climate, this project will contribute to supporting the process of sustainable and green construction.