Structured beams reduce concrete carbon emissions

A study published in ScienceDirect shows how structured beams in reinforced concrete reduce carbon emissions. It provides insights into designing sustainable and cost-efficient reinforced concrete structures.

Reinforced concrete flooring is strong and efficient, but it is carbon intensive. A research team from Switzerland and Brazil tested seven types of reinforced concrete flooring systems constructed for a hypothetical four-storey property in Brazil. The primary difference between each structure type was the number of beams. The researchers found that using more beams in low-span structures results in less embodied carbon intensity.

Traditional concrete flooring is unlikely to be replaced soon by alternative technology that reduces a building’s carbon footprint. The study shows that cost-efficient concrete flooring that also decreases a building’s environmental impact can be achieved using currently available technology. By changing the span between columns and increasing the number of beams in a concrete flooring system, the embodied carbon of reinforced flooring can be reduced by a factor of between 3 and 4.

Many floors are built using flat slabs, which are quick to construct. The study authors claim that slabs have a higher environmental impact than the structured beam flooring method.

Optimising concrete structures by using more beams is in alignment with the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s “Getting to Net Zero” strategy, which recognises the need for efficiency in construction design.

Floor systems represent about 60% of the total volume of concrete in a commercial building, so any improvement to reduce the environmental impact of concrete flooring is significant.