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Concrete is
one of the oldest and most widely used construction materials and
possesses many unique qualities that benefit the owner, developer and
designer.
For the Owner, concrete
offers both aesthetic appeal and cost effectiveness. Its strength and
natural thermal mass result in building that has low maintenance and
high operating energy efficiency.
| For the Developer,
concrete offers a competitive building solution based on first cost,
long term economic benefits, energy efficiency, lower maintenance, and
overall operating costs, as well as opportunities for future reuse
should the occupancy of the building change. |

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For the Designer, concrete
offers a dramatic range of colours, finishes and unlimited design
possibilities, difficult to match with other materials. At the same
time a structure is created that provides superior environmental and
energy performance. Designs that take advantage of the thermal mass and
structural integrity of concrete have resulted in many award-winning
projects throughout the world. |
Specifics:
Design Flexibility -
concrete can be moulded into any shape by using appropriate formwork.
This capabiity can be used to provide tailor-made design solutions to
specific problems and also aesthetically pleasing finishes which often
eliminate the need for further fixings, e.g. false ceilings.
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| Specification Variety -
concrete can be manufactured to an enormous range of
specifications to suit a wide variety of applications. This can be
achieved by using different mix designs or by the addition of different
materials. |

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Durability
- concrete is one of the most durable materials on earth. Well
designed, well placed concrete offers exceptional durability and long
life in any structure. Concrete structures built over 100 years ago
(even some as long as the Roman times) are still in active service
today.
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Surface Finish - the
aesthetic potential of concrete can be
exploited through a variety of finishes. Exposed aggregate, and
off-shutter, are two broad categories of decorative surface finishes.
These methods, combined with coloured aggregates, imagination and
various other techniques, form the basis of aesthetic expression in
concrete structures.
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Sound Insulation -
concrete offers protection against noise in
densely populated urban situations. Concrete walls and floors are
particularly suited to reducing airborne sounds like traffic noise,
reducing vibration from plant and equipment, as well as providing
insulation against music and conversation.
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Thermal
Insulation - concrete provides a sustainable, environmentally
friendly solution to the growing need to control internal building
temperatures. The thermal mass of concrete enables it to absorb, store
and later radiate heat created by people, equipment, computers,
lighting, appliances and solar gain, resulting in savings in air
conditioning.
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Fire Resistance -
concrete is almost unique in being an
inexpensive, readily available building material which is intrinsically
fire resistant, needing no additional application of fire protection,
and at the same time have structural and aesthetic qualities.
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