Sources: International Organization for Standardization, Geneva; CP staff
A group whose 9000 and 14000 series standards are recognized in quality assurance and environmental management systems worldwide has added to its library a concrete-specific document suited to the sustainability era.
ISO 13315-1:2012, “Environmental management for concrete and concrete structures – Part 1: General Principles,” spells out basic rules on environmental management for concrete and concrete structures. It will help owners, designers, manufacturers, constructors, users, certification bodies, and environmental standard developers.
Intended to contribute to continual improvement of the environmental impacts resulting from concrete-related activities, ISO 13315-1:2012 ensures consistency with the ISO 14000 series on environmental management. It covers the secondary effects of concrete production and construction that consume large amounts of resources—water, energy, cement and steel—and emit sizable volumes of carbon dioxide in their processing.
The standard provides a framework and basic rules on environmental management related to concrete and concrete structures, from assessment of impacts to methods of implementing environmental improvement. It addresses the entire life cycle of concrete structures, including: a) design, production, recycling and disposal of concrete, and b) building, use and demolition.
Available through the ISO store 13315‑1:2012 was developed by technical committee ISO/TC 71, Concrete, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete, subcommittee SC 8, Environmental management for concrete and concrete structures. “Today, the concept of sustainability is required in every aspect of social, economic, and cultural activities. ISO 13315-1 will help the construction industry answer the need of sustainability and provide a strong support at all phases of the life cycle of concrete structures,” notes Committee Chairman Professor Koji Sakai.