Gulf Construction Online - Record rise for GRC in region

GRC

Emirates Palace ... GRC used in cladding and decorative features.

Record rise for GRC in region

The UK-based GRCA, which has some of the Gulf’s leading GRC manufacturers as its members, continues to drive the sector forward through information sharing and networking opportunities.

01 March 2009

DESPITE the global economic downturn, the use of GRC in the Gulf region continues at record levels thanks to the ability of the material to allow fast construction whilst offering attractive and intricate design possibilities, says the International Glassfibre Reinforced Concrete Association (GRCA).

A number of landmark projects in the region are currently using GRC in their construction, right from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Kaust) in western Saudi Arabia to The Pearl-Qatar Island in Qatar, while some of the most prominent buildings that feature GRC cladding are the Emirates Palace hotel and Atlantis The Palm.
The GRCA, which was established more than three decades ago, counts among its members some of the leading GRC producers in the Gulf. It plays a pivotal role in exchanging knowledge and experience concerning GRC, promoting GRC in all its valid applications and advancing the interests of its members; it participates in establishing codes of practice and national standards covering its manufacture and performance; and organises international conferences as forums for discussing and disseminating knowledge on GRC materials, products and uses.
Its latest biennial International Congress, GRC 2008, took place last April in Prague, Czech Republic, and delegates from the region were again prominent at the congress, where some of the Gulf's projects received the limelight.
“The three-day programme attracted more than 130 delegates from Europe, US, Middle East, Japan, China, South East Asia and South America who enjoyed both the technical sessions and the social programme,” says Ian Morrison, GRCA technical advisor and organiser of GRC 2008. “My overall impression from the congress was one of rising activity and confidence and of good prospects for GRC worldwide.”
“The wide range of interests and backgrounds of delegates ensured a broad exchange of experience, while informal discussions on the sidelines of conference sessions were also an important aspect. A significant number of delegates were new to our congresses, indicating growing interest in GRC, particularly from Eastern Europe and Asia. The congress provided an insight into the large volume of GRC work being in China,” he adds.
As part of the proceedings of GRC Congress, awards were presented for outstanding contribution to the GRC industry. Among the recipients was Sufyan S Saleh, managing partner at Fibrex Company of Abu Dhabi, who was honoured for the continued success of his company in applying GRC solutions to many major projects in the region. Joseph Boustani accepted the award on his behalf. “The application of cladding and decorative features to the Emirates Palace hotel was cited as a prime example of the use of GRC,” says Morrison.
Other award winners were Nanjing Beilida Company from China, in recognition of its extensive GRC work in mainland China and contribution to the Venetian Resort in Macau, and Betofiber of Istanbul for a cladding project. As always, the GRCA Congress offered an opportunity to obtain up-to-date information on all aspects of the science, production and application of GRC.
The technical presentations at the congress included demonstrations of the new interactive Fixing Guide for GRC and design software for 3D imaging of GRC designs. The GRC Fixing Guide, expected to be available next month (April), is the latest publication from GRCA and follows the comprehensive GRCA Practical Design Guide issued on CD in 2005. The new Fixing Guide DVD will be at the forefront of employing animation to explain principles and practice of fixing of GRC elements,” he says. “These items are produced for the benefit of members and are also available to non-members,” he adds.
The technical committee of the GRCA continues to offer several new items of technical support for users of GRC. Apart from the fixings guide, which will be the major new publication for this year, a new concept of Technotes was developed last year. This is a series of short technical documents, each on a highly relevant topic relating to GRC production or use and published in the Concrete Society magazine Concrete, while also being available on the GRCA website.
Technotes will continue to be published at regular intervals such that a compendium of technical knowledge can be assembled. As a further useful addition to the technical information available from GRCA, updated tests have been completed on the reaction of GRC to fire which confirms the excellent behaviour of the material. Copies of the relevant certificates are available on the website.
The GRCA, as part of the Concrete Society, continues to flourish. Following the successful tenure of the past chairman Professor Peter Bartos, who chaired the Prague GRC Congress in his native country, Matt Hanley of BSCP Consulting Engineers has taken over the chairmanship of the International GRCA. Hanley is closely involved in the GRC world including design work on projects in the Gulf area and will bring a practical and effective style to the role.
Based in the UK but with international membership, the association’s aims are to promote the use of GRC products and to encourage best practice within the industry. Full membership in the GRCA is available to companies manufacturing GRC products and associate membership to designers, consultants, academic institutions and individuals.