British Construction Industry Awards 2023

Environment & Sustainability Initiative of the Year

This award recognises teams that have introduced a specific project-based initiative to target a lower carbon solution, boosting the whole life sustainability of the project. Sponsored by Watson Fuels and World Kinect.

Winner

C-Probe Systems – Low Carbon Resilient Corrosion Management of Parking Decks

Highly Commended

Skanska Costain Strabag JV Railways – Electric piling rig

Judges’ comment “Combatting corrosion in a low impact, scientifically guided way” The owner of the Omni Centre in Edinburgh sought a low carbon, long-term repair solution for its four-level reinforced concrete multistorey car park after previous repairs had failed prematurely.

The aim was to use low carbon repair and protection materials where possible and to use techniques which would last for more than 50 years.

Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) was adopted as a protection method where existing high corrosion risk and chloride concentrations were most prevalent within the concrete cover.

Repairs were protected with galvanic corrosion protection (GCP) anodes with the remaining deck areas treated with a surface-applied corrosion inhibitor.

Decks and ramps were coated with a waterproofing membrane. Materials chosen for the ICCP and GCPs were manufactured as powder binders from repurposed industrial wastes with carbon emissions which were 90% less than Portland CEM1 and 50% to 67% less than other cement mixes.