Heidelberg Materials' "Low Carbon Masonry Construction" Webinar Recapv

Words: Justin Stengel

Heidelberg Materials is a prominent player in the building materials industry. Specializing in heavy building materials, they have a global footprint with a significant presence in North America. Their products include cement, slag, fly ash, and aggregates, each playing a crucial role in masonry construction.

Key Materials

  • Cement: Traditional and low carbon variants are available.
  • Supplementary Cementitious Materials: These include ground granulated blast furnace slag and fly ash.
  • Aggregates: Essential for producing durable masonry units.

The Constituents of Sustainable Products

What makes a masonry product sustainable? It relies heavily on its composition, durability, service life, recyclability, and energy efficiency during manufacture. Let's break these elements down further.

Abundant and Low-Impact Materials

Masonry products, such as bricks and concrete masonry units (CMUs), are made from abundant resources like clay, sand, gravel, and cement. Among these, cement is the most impactful environmentally, often accounting for the largest share of carbon emissions in masonry products.

Comparison of Material Impacts

Masonry products are low in energy and carbon intensity compared to other materials such as metals and synthetic polymers. Processing requirements for these materials are minimal, as they are used in much the same form as they're mined.

Resilience of Masonry Construction

Masonry products are renowned for their resilience. They provide life safety in natural disasters, such as hurricanes and fires, and are immune to pests. These properties make them vital for safe building practices, especially in areas prone to natural calamities.

Case in Point: Cape Coral, Florida

Larry shared his personal experience, living in a region where building codes mandate the use of concrete masonry to withstand hurricanes.

The Circular Economy: Recyclability is Key

Masonry construction aligns with the principles of the circular economy. Its components can be reused, conserving raw materials and requiring less energy for processing recycled products.

Life Cycle Assessment

The lifecycle of masonry materials incorporates:

  1. Production Phase: Raw material extraction, initial processing.
  2. Construction Phase: Material assembly into structures.
  3. Use Phase: Includes the energy used by buildings.
  4. End of Life: Re-use and recycling processes.

Low Carbon Innovations

Heidelberg Materials is pioneering in creating eco-friendly cement options. Their efforts include:

  • Lower Clinker Factor: Reducing clinker content reduces carbon emissions.
  • Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): Capturing emissions during the production process to offset carbon output.

ECOM and ECOM Plus Cements

These are innovative low-carbon options with significant reductions in global warming potential (GWP).

  • Standard Portland Cement: GWP of 919 kg CO2/ton.
  • Ecom Plus Cement: GWP considerably reduced to 531 kg CO2/ton.

Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs)

SCMs like slag and fly ash are critical to reducing the carbon footprint of masonry products.

Fly Ash and Slag Usage

Fly ash, a coal combustion by-product, and slag, a by-product of iron production, are extensively used. These materials are not only environmentally friendly but also enhance the strength and durability of masonry products.

STAR Technology in Fly Ash Utilization

This innovative process reclaims non-cementitious fly ash from landfills, enhancing the sustainability of concrete systems.

Masonry's Natural Carbon Sequestration

Concrete masonry units naturally absorb CO2 post-production, significantly lowering their carbon footprint. Through natural carbonation, up to 49% of calcination emissions are sequestered within two years.
  • Carbonation Process: Converts CO2 into new limestone, effectively reversing calcination emissions.

Brick: A Resilient and Aesthetically Pleasing Choice

Brick, made primarily from clay or shale, is another sustainable choice for builders, requiring less energy post-firing. Its thermal mass contributes to energy efficiency in structures.

  • Benefits: Resilient, non-toxic, and aesthetically versatile.


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