Lafarge Innovation Review

6challenges
SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION
Lafarges solutions
INNOVATION
REVIEW
ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES ENERGY COST ADAPTING TO SPECIFIC NEEDS COMFORT AND AESTHETICS
CONTENTS
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LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION

Stphane de Bourgies
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS COLLABORATION WITH ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERING OFFICES AND PROJECT OWNERS 6 DECISIVE CHALLENGES
BRUNO LAFONT Chairman and CEO of Lafarge
06 10 16 17 20
1. PRODUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

Innovative products promoting sustainable construction
2. IMPLEMENTATION
Faster, simpler, pollution-free solutions
3. SERVICES
A multilocal strategy for value-added services
4. ENERGY COST
Less energy-hungry buildings
5. ADAPTING TO SPECIFIC NEEDS

Different approaches for different countries to ensure optimal solutions
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6. COMFORT AND AESTHETICS

Beautiful constructions, more comfortable for longer
he worlds population is increasing every year and, according to UN forecasts, we will probably pass the nine billion mark a little before 2050. To welcome these new arrivals and respond to everyones needs for accommodation and infrastructure, we must build, but build differently. For the past few years, we have been incorporating the challenges of saving resources, limiting pollution and ease of application into our industrial procedures. Similarly, we devote more than half of our research and development investments to sustainable construction. We are working in several key areas: reducing the environmental footprint of our products and the structures built out of them; saving energy at every stage in the lifecycle in order to reduce costs. This is why our latest generation of products include a significant environmental dimension and there is still considerable progress ahead in improving their properties. We are also making progress in this direction
Heat resistance test at the Chilanga II cement plant, Zambia.
Innovation has always been central to Lafarge. As new challenges have emerged
The scale of resources deployed
in relation to global warming and dwindling fossil fuels, this policy of permanent
by the Group in this area reflects the urgency
Charlotte Cauwer
As a result of our investments in innovation, we can offer products and solutions which will help us to tackle the challenges of sustainable construction.
through the numerous partnerships we have forged in the fields of research and architecture. We also work with institutions to develop regulations and standards. Sustainable construction is an ambitious challenge to which we are fully committed and I am convinced that our environmental
innovation is now being used to tackle the challenges of sustainable construction.

of the situation.
CENTER PAGES LOW-ENERGY HOUSING

20 GOLDEN RULES for sustainable construction
approach and the quality of our products will enable us to tackle it successfully.
> The Pont du Diable footbridge, in the gorges

of the Hrault department in France built out of Ductal and designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti and civil engineer Romain Ricciotti.
BRUNO LAFONT
An innovation strategy to promote sustainable construction

Alain Tendero / Mdiathque Lafarge - Rudy Ricciotti (architecte) - Romain Ricciotti (ingnieur)
Innovation is a key part of Lafarges identity, as the Groups history demonstrates. Much water has flowed under the bridge since 1887, when its cement research laboratory opened in Teil, France. This desire to gain a better understanding of how materials behave, to analyze their physical and chemical properties and transform this knowledge into technical progress has remained one of the companys trademarks. This perpetual desire to innovate has continued up to the present day, as illustrated by the astonishing advances throughout the history of construction, from carving out the Suez Canal to erecting the Millau Viaduct. The beginning of the 1990s was a turning point in the Groups approach to R&D. By setting up the Lafarge Research Center (LCR) in LIsle-dAbeau, France, the first laboratory in the world to specialize in building materials it set itself a new objective: to become the world leader in its sector by offering customers the very best products and services available. The center contains equipment and resources dedicated to fundamental and applied research more than 200 researchers from various disciplines, physicists, chemists, mechanics, designers, etc. At the same time, Lafarges technical centers and laboratories all around the world are developing and producing value-added technical solutions for customers. In a Group like ours, innovation cannot only be driven by a few hundred researchers and technicians, says Denis Berthon, Marketing Director of the Cement Business.
Everybody needs to be involved. Experience has taught us that a lot of our progress comes from small innovations driven by a single employee or team, either in our plants or in collaboration with customers. Each of our 80,000 employees around the world is a potential inventor thats our strength. At a time when environmental issues are increasingly urgent, this ability to innovate has become intently focused on sustainable construction. Lafarge is now devoting more than 50% of its R&D resources to this field. Innovating means always being one step ahead, says Jean Desazars de Montgailhard, Lafarge Executive Vice President of Strategy, Development and Public Affairs. Ahead of our competitors, of market expectations and of our time To achieve this we must understand customer needs and even anticipate ones they havent yet fully identified or are unaware of. Whether these regard climate change, preserving resources, protecting biodiversity, safety, appearance, comfort, lifecycle or the versatility of buildings. We take into account all these aspects which contribute to the vast field which we now call sustainable construction and to provide solutions for them. What does constructing sustainably mean for Lafarge? It means reducing a buildings environmental impact as much as possible while preserving the comfort of inhabitants, explains Pascal Casanova, Group Director of R&D. So our approach is not restricted to the environmental footprint left by our products, although that is an important area of our research. It covers a buildings entire lifecycle, from extraction and production of the materials required to build it to its demolition and recycling and including, of course, how it will be used in the meantime. This very wide concept includes a range of criteria which go far beyond Lafarges primary business: use of low carbon or recyclable building materials, incorporation of renewable energy sources at the design stage, reduction of site noise and air pollution for workers and local residents, consideration of the appearance, resistance and durability of the building, improvements to insulation and use of thermal inertia, control of the structures weathering, recycling of materials after demolition By extension, building sustainably also includes aspects related to the companys social and environmental responsibility, such as health and safety, community relations where it conducts its business, consideration for the accommodation needs of the most disadvantaged sections of society and biodiversity preservation.
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Ignus Gerber / Mdiathque Lafarge
Scientific progress is built on sharing and communication, whatever the field.

This productive dialogue has already
For innovative and more sustainable products and construction methods to be adopted,
Three professions Lafarge has worked closely
Materials engineering is no exception. This is why Lafarge has increased its

led to remarkable progress in the field
they first need to be known about, recognized and accepted by the construction
with for a number of years.
partnerships and is working with the leading research centers around the world as
of sustainable construction.
industry. The leaders in this are architects, engineering offices and project owners.
well as the most prestigious international schools, institutions and universities.
WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN TOMORROWS CITIES
Collaborating with architects broadens mindsets and enlivens debate on the new objectives for town planning that will help shape our future environment and cities. Take, for example,
Marc Mimrams project for inhabited bridges, which seeks to restore meaning to urban infrastructures. Bridges play a corrective or complementary role in the crafting of a city, encouraging a meeting of river banks.
Once used simply as a means of crossing from one side of town to another, they are now inhabited, endowed with the ability to heal, to close the gaps dividing urban spaces.
A dynamic relationship with architects, engineering offices and project owners

Denis Berthon, Marketing Director of the Cement Business. And the perspectives opened up by the research we are conducting at the moment should enable us to stay one step ahead. The scope of these partnerships is extremely diverse. We are exploring very hi-tech new experimental methods with MIT to observe the behavior of materials at a nanometric scale, explains Pascal Casanova, Lafarge Director of R&D. We are working with our colleagues in Princeton on porous networks which can form in the center of our materials. We are attempting to understand and model the microstructure as part of Nanocem, which will allow us to make technical and technological breakthroughs, whether in relation to very low carbon cements or non-cracking concrete. This last example reveals the key role which Lafarge is playing in helping its industry to move forward. It was the Groups initiative to set up this European network of scientific excellence, involving around 20 industrial partners and numerous leading European universities. Its objective is, first, to develop knowledge relating to the microstructure of materials and, second, to improve the academic training of researchers who will one day work in the cement industry. Along similar lines, in 2006 Lafarge teamed up with the cole Polytechnique and the cole des Ponts et Chausses to create a Research Chair in the science of sustainable construction materials. This is a very specialized international Masters degree course, targeting students as well as engineers and researchers. It offers a teaching and research program unique in the world, with an interdisciplinary approach to the engineering of concrete-based materials. It is unusual in that it combines scientific research and industrial experience in the fields of physics, mechanics and chemistry. Lafarge takes the more pragmatic approach of a company with a wealth of experience accumulated in its various markets around the world. As part of the same collaborative philosophy, its researchers publish the results of their research, either alone or jointly, in scientific journals. Finally, the Group regularly takes part in international events, trade shows, conferences, seminars and exhibitions on sustainable construction materials (MIPIM in Cannes, Solid States conference in New York, Shanghai Architecture Symposium, Green Buildings Asia Lecture Series). Who challenges whom? This is not an easy question when you look at the relationship between Lafarge and architects. Architects have always pushed industrial companies to their limits by asking them to provide technical solutions to achieve their most daring projects. But at the same time, the innovations offered by the Group have stimulated their imagination and opened up previously inconceivable possibilities. For more than 15 years, the Group has been building no pun intended an extremely constructive dialogue with the architecture profession, confirms Lopold Lombard, Lafarge Director of Architect Relations. All of our new products and innovations would not have been possible without the creative requirements of architects, their support and capacity to implement them. This collaboration often arises out of actual projects undertaken with well-known architects. Recent constructions using Ductal the Footbridge of Peace in Seoul and the Villa Navarra, both designed by Rudy Ricciotti, the RATP bus depot in Thiais, produced by Marrec and Combarel, and the Mars Hill Bridge, built in Iowa (USA) in collaboration with the MIT and the FHWA required months of preparation and just as in-depth discussions throughout the construction phase. Lafarge supports research into avant-garde concepts which push back the boundaries of sustainable construction, such as the Hypergreen Tower by Jacques Ferrier or Marc Mimrams Living Bridges. These are interesting in that they encourage consideration of architectural or urban solutions with a lower environmental footprint. These partnerships come about at a very early stage and their objective is not to set the project in stone but to study in detail how our products and solutions can meet current and future challenges, continues Lopold Lombard. But these prestigious collaborations should not eclipse the in-depth work being achieved with the whole of the architecture profession, including architecture schools, to promote our solutions. And Lafarge is increasing the number of its partnerships with these schools, including Columbia University in New York and Tongji University in Shanghai, with the hope of developing new talents and training them in using its most innovative products. The Group is also one of the main partners of Nouveaux Albums de la Jeune Architecture (NAJA), organized by the French culture ministry
Receptive partnerships to promote materials engineering

Splendid isolation rarely benefits scientists. Lafarge quickly realized that its resources would not be enough on their own to explore the vast field of materials engineering. The Group therefore decided to share its knowledge and draw on all the expertise available in this field. In a few years it formed partnerships with research centers, top schools, academic institutes and other companies around the world. In France, it has a long history of working with the cole Polytechnique, the cole des Ponts et Chausses, the Paris VI University and several CNRS laboratories. In the United States, it works with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Georgia Tech and the Universities of Berkeley and Princeton. Elsewhere in the world, it has formed links with Imperial College, London (UK), the cole Polytechnique Fdrale in Lausanne (Switzerland), the Universities of Toronto, Sherbrooke and Laval (Canada), the Beijing Academy of Building Materials (China) and the Roorke Institute of Technology (India). Many of the Groups recent innovations whether high value-added concretes, low-carbon cements, solutions that help improve insulation such as thermal switches in Ductal or even Thermedia 0.6 owe a great deal to these collaborations, says
to uncover, monitor and support future architectural talents. The Group also supports and coordinates competitions for young architects. It is a partner in the competition reserved for students of European architecture schools initiated by the Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism in Bucharest. It also organizes competitions open to students from architecture schools in South Africa, Spain, India, China and Serbia. While architects are fantastic specifiers of its products, the Group also involves project owners and engineering offices in this approach, since they are equally key players in the construction industry. It regularly organizes meetings between architects, project owners and engineering offices on innovation, providing them with an opportunity to learn about the LIsle-dAbeau research center and familiarize themselves with new technologies, new building systems and new products. Lafarge therefore takes part in national and international events. At the last MIPIM, the major annual real-estate development fair held in Cannes, it presented projects by Jacques Ferrier and Marc Mimram. The most impressed were the project owners, especially local authority managers, says Lopold Lombard. The great thing about Hypergreen and the Living Bridges is that they combine several very futuristic innovations, which can be used separately in less ambitious projects. More recently the Group began developing new partnerships with architecture firms, engineering offices and construction companies focusing on concrete, a key material in sustainable construction. These are very specific projects which require our knowledge of materials and construction methods, continues Christophe Lvy, Lafarge Construction Innovation Director. Their purpose is to show that concrete allows you to construct buildings which are much more environmentally- and people-friendly, whatever the country, climate or type of construction. These partnerships also provide Lafarge with a better understanding of how an architect or a design engineer decides on a material and uses it, thereby opening up new areas for research. These partnerships, which are now in their early stages, will focus on discussion and experience sharing, training in Lafarge products and their innovation potential, descriptions of existing buildings with excellent energy efficiency, deciphering of unusual construction methods which are environmentally friendly and use concrete, etc. Lafarge research teams are involved in projects chosen with our partners generally exceptional but replicable from the design stage, so that they can suggest innovative construction methods which involve concrete, adds Christophe Lvy. Several of these partnerships have now been launched, for instance with Parisian architecture firms Arte Charpentier and A&S International Design, one of the leading architecture and engineering firms in China, as well as with the Bouygues group.
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Marc Mimram Architecte
Research into the infinitely small makes travel into the heart of matter possible and allows understanding of the complex alchemy that governs the relationship between the pores, filaments and grains of the grey matter known as concrete. Thanks to new technologies, the exploration of matter on a nanometric scale has brought to light the numerous mechanical properties of concrete, as well as the way these change over time.
Understanding concretes granular mass has led to reductions in its water content and therefore made it extremely resistant to external forces (climate, pollution, acid rain, etc.). The result is greater density and enhanced mechanical performance for an even more durable material.
Laurence Prat / Mdiathque Lafarge
PAUL ACKER Scientific Director of the Lafarge Research Center (LCR)
1.
Products environmental footprint

Producing more and better while using less.
For several years now, Lafarge has been working on numerous programs to reduce its activities environmental footprint. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
saving energy, careful use of raw materials, optimized management of water resources, etc The Group is exploring
every possible way of innovating and supplying materials to encourage more sustainable construction.
> Family home made from Agilia, Vancouver, Canada.
SOLUTION DUCTAL
DUCTAL, AN ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE FIBERREINFORCED CONCRETE, is part of the new generation of high value-added concretes from Lafarge and boasts exceptional performances. It has higher resistance than traditional concrete six to eight times more in terms of compression and ten times more in terms of bending and ductility, which gives it exceptional capacities for stretching, extending, bowing and twisting. These characteristics enable the same construction quality to be obtained using less raw materials. Ductal is also very fluid, making it very easy to pour. It is also very resistant to corrosion, abrasion and impacts, giving it a lifespan two to three times longer than traditional concrete. Finally, it offers great freedom to architects when designing their most ambitious projects. > Glenmore Legsby footbridge, built out of Ductal, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. transformation at high temperatures decarbonation of the limestone which produces nearly 60% of emissions during the production stage. The remaining 40% are a byproduct of the energy, mainly from fossil fuels, required to raise the cement plant kilns flame to the desired temperature, around 2000C, to heat the material to 1450C. Manufacturing cement generates CO2, but so do all building materials steel, aluminum, bricks and even wood and all manufactured products, says Franois Redron, Concrete Business Marketing Director. Did you realize, for instance, that producing a liter of orange juice gives off 1kg of CO2, compared with 100g-200g of emissions to produce 1kg of concrete? The volume of concrete and cement used in the world is due to double again by 2050. Can the planet support this? Not necessarily. Nearly 10 years ago, Lafarge committed to reducing its global CO2 emissions by 20% per ton of cement produced between 1990 and 2010. That is four times more than the target which industrial countries set themselves under the Kyoto Protocol (see inset page 9). To achieve this, it replaced some of the clinker used with industrial residues fly ash from thermal power stations or slag from blast furnaces and saved energy by optimizing its production process. We are working on other very promising possibilities with low-carbon cement, explains Paul Acker, Scientific Director of the Lafarge Research Center. First, by working on the clinker component itself and second, by using additives produced by industrial ecology. We are also exploring other possibilities, for instance reducing the quantity of clinker used to manufacture our products through a combination of different granular categories. Our researchers use extremely powerful mathematical models to experiment with the size of grains and the chemical interactions which occur when materials are mixed. To reduce the quantity of fossil fuels burned in its furnaces, the Group has launched a very ambitious program to replace them with alternative fuels, mainly
continued p.09
Innovative products promoting sustainable construction
t
Vic Tucker / Mdiathque Lafarge - Cohos-Evamy (architectes)- Ville de Calgary DR
he entire cement industry generates around 5% of the worlds CO2 emissions. There are two reasons for this relatively large proportion of greenhouse gases. The first, and by far the most significant, is that cement is a product which is very good value for money, has multiple uses, exceptional resistance and is, as a result, massively used. The world consumes two billion tons of cement a year, says Denis Berthon, Cement Business Marketing Director. Without it, it would be impossible to meet the planets enormous needs for homes and infrastructure, especially in developing countries. It is, to some extent, a victim of its own success. The second reason relates to the method used to produce the basic component of cement, clinker. This requires a physicochemical
Working on clinker itself and using additives produced by industrial ecology
SOLUTION LOW-CARBON CEMENT

LAFARGE HAS FOR YEARS worked to reduce its CO2 emissions by using three factors: improving the energy efficiency of its kilns, the use of biomass and waste as alternative fuels in cement plants, and the recovery of production residues from other industries as additions to cement or substitute raw materials. The reduction in the quantity of energy from fossil fuels required to produce clinker already contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. But replacement of increasingly large proportions of this clinker with naturally sourced or industrial cement additions has spawned a generation of low-carbon cements. These products are in line with sustainable construction principles and the Group constantly seeks to reduce its environmental footprint. > Left, low-carbon cement seen under the microscope.
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industrial, household or plant waste. At the end of 2008, the substitution rate was around 10.5%. The Group plans to increase it to nearly 30% by 2012, which will produce the equivalent savings of 3.5 million tons of oil per year and therefore contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Groups Industrial Ecology department has become a completely separate operational organization responsible for developing and ensuring procurement of alternative fuels for cement plant kilns. In the United Kingdom, it has acquired a company specializing in the collection of used tires. Its kilns in the Philippines operate on 30% rice husks. The same is true in Uganda with coffee husks. Due to a new generation of more powerful kilns, cement plants recently opened by the Group, in Germany for example, are designed to operate on 100% alternative fuels: wood, paper, plastics and other waste.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS ON TRACK
THE CEMENT INDUSTRY A RESPONSIBLE PLAYER:
700
715 675
In 2001, Lafarge committed to an ambitious emissions reduction program. To help achieve this, it signed a pioneering partnership with WWF (World Wide Fund) to reduce its absolute gross emissions* by 10% in industrialized countries and its net emissions* by 20% per ton of cement produced around the world. These commitments go far beyond the objectives set by the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for industrialized countries to reduce their emission levels by 5.2% compared with 1990 levels. One year away from the deadline, Lafarge is well on track to meeting its obligation. It has met its objective two years ahead of schedule for industrialized countries and had already reduced its global CO2 emissions by 18.4% per ton of cement between 1990 and the end of 2008. And it has not finished yet. The Group is now working with its WWF partners on new objectives beyond 2010.
* Gross/net emissions: net emissions are equivalent to gross emissions minus emissions from burning waste.
Average CO2 emissions per ton of cement of Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) members, who represent approx. 30% of global production.
800
752
750
650
Augusto Da Silva
600
Indonesia have already reached 100%, the United States will have by the end of the year, and Germany and Poland are close behind.
Synergy of expertise
ALAIN VASSAL, SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR, BOUYGUES CONSTRUCTION
Concrete a sustainable material

The Concrete Business is undoubtedly the one in which innovation has been the most spectacular. Many products launched by Lafarge in the last decade have been revolutionary: concretes which are self-leveling, self-placing, high performance, decorative, fast-setting, extensive, etc. Ninety per cent of concretes environmental footprint comes from its ingredients, emphasizes Franois Redron, Marketing Director of the Concrete Business. As a result of advances in our R&D, we are now capable of infinitely varying our products formulation by adjusting materials, admixtures and additives used in their composition, above all to reduce the carbon footprint, but also to precisely adapt its characteristics to the use for which it is intended. Research conducted by Lafarge in the field of granular piles is offering new and very promising possibilities for producing increasingly durable concretes. The principle is to replace some of the water used in the composition of the concrete with fine and ultrafine grains which will settle between the larger grains because water not consumed during setting is what creates porosity, resulting in cracks and lack of resistance in the material. The result is a more compact, more resistant and more durable concrete, which requires less water and, above all, less clinker. When Lafarge opens a cement plant in China, says Paul Acker, to replace Chinese cement plants built a long time ago but producing the same amount of concrete, CO2 emissions are halved, thanks to the cements regularity that allows less of it to be used in concrete, while ensuring the same level of structural soundness. Denis Berthon continues: If we want to move towards more sustainable construction methods, concrete is a must. The progress achieved over the last 10 years is demonstrated by analysis of the lifecycle of our materials, which have excellent results. We hope to continue this work with our partners to improve their intrinsic qualities durability, water resistance and thermal inertia for instance and, above all, promote them to our customers.
Mdiathque Lafarge
Better recycling through grading

Lafarge is the only building materials company in the world to carry out aggregates research. Its aim is to optimize available natural resources, a massive amount of which are consumed and which are becoming scarcer. To achieve this, R&D teams are exploring two avenues of research. The first looks to improve industrial procedures in order to avoid waste. For example, Lafarge is working on producing aggregates from concrete recycled from demolitions by crushing it, or from recovered cement not consumed in plants. The Group also plans to develop its value-added products such as DuraclimeTM, an asphalt poured at 7C less than traditional asphalt, which reduces energy needs and CO2 emissions. The second area of research is making use of almost all materials extracted from quarries without any waste, due to advances in grading. For example, we frequently come across sand polluted by organic matter and clay unsuitable for concrete production, explains Lilia Jolibois, the Groups Aggregates and Asphalt Marketing Director. We have recently identified and developed a molecule which will enable us to use this sand which was previously totally unusable.
The partnership between Bouygues Construction and Lafarge regarding concrete began with the development of Ductal ultra-high performance concrete. The major challenge of sustainable construction is the energy efficiency of buildings, which involves efficient insulation and, for us, the reduction of thermal bridges between slabs and external concrete faades. Bouygues Construction has drawn up specifications to address this, which Lafarge has responded to by developing the formulations and properties of the Ductal thermal bridge breaker system and Thermedia 0.6 insulating concrete for load-bearing faades, used on sites run by Bouygues Construction.
More recently, we have launched a new joint project to develop low-carbon concretes. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in construction involves reducing energy needs, both in terms of manufacturing products, including concrete, as well as the buildings comfort and functioning. The carbon tax also addresses this question. Bouygues Construction and Lafarge are taking innovative approaches to promoting sustainable construction. Customer-supplier partnerships give everyone a headstart a thorough knowledge of needs on the one hand and definite answers on the other and so allows us to stand out from the competition.
SOLUTION DURACLIMETM ASPHALT

DURACLIMETM IS AN ASPHALT created and developed by Lafarge in North America. The benefit
is that it can be produced and used at lower temperatures than traditional asphalt. The result is less energy consumed to heat the product during mixing and application stages and thus a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The procedure also avoids the emission of foul-smelling fumes, an advantage for workers and local residents. Finally, its viscosity allows a higher proportion of recycled aggregates to be added and makes the roads and sidewalks produced using it exceptionally hard-wearing.
Quarries are now synonymous with sustainable management and site rehabilitation. And the Group has again opted for an innovative approach in relation to extraction, in order to select, operate and rehabilitate its approximately 800 quarries around the world, while respecting sustainable development criteria. Since 2001, it has been working with WWF as part of a wider partnership in order to identify biodiversity risks, limit disturbance to local residents and, above all, to rehabilitate the majority of its quarries at the end of their lifecycle. Its objective is to provide 85% of them with a rehabilitation plan by the end of 2010 including quarries which, for various reasons, cannot be rehabilitated. As a demonstration of Lafarges strong commitment in this area, the level had already reached nearly 80% by the end of 2008.
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1990 2000 2005 2006
> Source : WBCSD CSI GNR report
Replacing some of the water used in the composition of concrete with ultrafine grains.
UNEARTHING THE SECRETS OF GYPSUM
Optimized formulation for concretes

NICOLAS ROUSSEL, RESEARCHER AT THE PONTS ET CHAUSSES CENTRAL LABORATORY
Gypsum requiring less water

Lafarge has dedicated significant resources in the Gypsum Business to reducing the quantity of raw materials used, reducing our energy consumption and above all optimizing use of a precious resource water. It is one of our major challenges in reducing our products environmental footprint, confirms Bernard Fauconnier, Director of R&D, Sales, Marketing & Innovation for the Gypsum Business. Our research aims to reduce the quantity of water we use and therefore reduce our energy consumption during the plasterboard drying stage. Lafarge is working on two key areas. The first is incremental and involves reducing the water required by using additives to increase the fluidity of the gypsum when the board is being designed. The second, incorporating a major technological breakthrough, aims to experiment with new procedures to totally avoid using water or having a drying stage. In terms of raw materials, our plasterboard is manufactured using recycled paper and, increasingly, recycled gypsum, a material which can be reused infinitely, as well as synthetic gypsum obtained by treating smoke from thermal power stations. We are already at more than 50% and the proportion is increasing rapidly. Korea, China and
SOLUTION
PLURA PLASTERBOARD
ALL FORMATS, a wide choice of thicknesses and applications, a varied range of properties Plasterboard now meets the most diverse technical and aesthetic requirements. Painted or tiled, interior or exterior the solutions characteristics mean they are totally in keeping with sustainable construction: excellent thermal and acoustic insulation, humidity regulation, high fire resistance, made from recycled materials, etc. Plura plasterboard, one of the latest products created by Lafarges gypsum technical development center in Avignon, demonstrates a higher-than-average solidity and mechanical resistance. These properties make it an ideal choice, for example, for installing kitchen cupboards, fitting out schools or building in seismic areas.
SOLUTION
PERVIOUS CONCRETE
THE WATER RESISTANT QUALITIES OF CONCRETE ARE OFTEN PRAISED. However, Lafarge has just developed as the exception which confirms the rule a new pervious concrete which retains the mechanical properties of traditional concrete. This innovation was made possible by advances in relation to granular piles and behavioral studies into materials on a nanometric scale. This new product is especially well suited to the construction of large surface areas in an urban environment (parking lots, storage areas, etc.). It enables rapid absorption of rainwater in the event of heavy rain, reducing the risk of flooding in the area and safely channeling the water into the groundwater table. > Above: pervious concrete (left) and standard concrete (right).
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It is now possible to imagine increasingly fluid concretes of the future, making it possible to reduce the energy costs and noise pollution while they are being laid. It is also possible to anticipate some changes in the materials used in the composition of these future concretes, such as an increase in crushed quarry sand or greater use of added ore. Based on existing data, it is possible to formulate materials with specific mechanical performance or durability. In order to recommend, assess and standardize these new concretes, Lafarge and the Ponts et Chausses central laboratory have pooled their skills and scientific equipment to advance their knowledge of complex phenomena governing the behavior of
materials in their raw state. The modeling of rheological behavior that we are developing together, based on the microscopic physical properties of these materials, obviously makes it possible to prevent any pouring accidents on site, but above all paves the way for the sustainable, optimized formulation of future concretes.
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Teams from the Gypsum Technical Center in Avignon closely investigated a phenomenon specific to this material coalescence. The core of plasterboard is obtained by hardening a liquid paste, mainly comprising gypsum, water, admixtures and foam. When this foam is mixed with gypsum paste, air bubbles may gather, creating a more uneven core and deterioration in its technical properties. This is called coalescence. By experimenting with sophisticated procedures to control the emulsion stage, Lafarges researchers have succeeded in controlling the size, spacing and evenness of the bubbles distribution. The result is plasterboard with improved properties which consumes less water, energy and raw materials.
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Implementation Priorities include speeding up processes, providing simpler solutions and reducing noise
Worksites are key locations for sustainable construction.
and air pollution for those who work on the site and live nearby. Lafarge is working constantly
to offer concrete solutions to these questions.
SOLUTION
AGILIA
special superplasticizers developed by Lafarge R&D teams. User-friendly Agilia simplifies implementation, makes it faster and massively reduces its inconvenience. Aesthetically, it produces well-finished work and reveals flawless surfaces when the framework is removed. It is robust and offers exceptional resistance thanks to its specific granular composition. > Brook Residence, built in Agilia, Northern Vancouver, Canada.
Mdiathque Lafarge - Ignus Gerber
LAUNCHED IN 2000, Agilia remains the clear leader in self-placing and self-leveling concrete. Extremely easy to use, it can flow into the smallest gaps in framework or a mold and be cast faultlessly into any shape desired. A real revolution on worksites, its fluid texture in particular removes the vibration phase characteristic of traditional concrete, a stage which is both physically demanding and very noisy. This technical performance is made possible by adding
SOLUTION
EXTENSIA
appear over time and need reinforcing. The specific formulation of Extensia makes the preparation, implementation and removal stages of worksites easier. The result is a considerable time saving of around 40% compared with a traditional slab and less inconvenience. Other sustainable construction advantages include its performance, which means thinner slabs can be used without the need for any metal reinforcing and less energy consumption while being laid. Finally, it presents excellent resistance to surface abrasion, which avoids both the need for a protective render and costly maintenance work. > Extensia site in the UK.
EXTENSIA CONCRETE IS DESIGNED FOR CONSTRUCTING SLABS AND INDUSTRIAL FLOORS SUBJECT TO HEAVY LOADS DUE TO TRAFFIC OR STORAGE. For surface areas up
Paul McMullin / Mdiathque Lafarge - ConstructionPhotography.com
Faster, simpler pollution-free solutions
to 400m , this avoids having to use joints, which are costly and unattractive, and reduces the risk of cracking. This is because joints are the weak points of concrete floors, where cracks
very day on a worksite brings additional costs (labor, equipment, energy, etc.) sometimes in the form of lateness penalties and continued pollution for local residents (noise, dust, various emissions, etc.). Lafarge has been taking these issues into account for many years, both in terms of R&D and commercial monitoring. Lowering construction costs is among the major subjects we are working on from a financial, environmental and social perspective, confirms Jean Desazars de Montgailhard, Lafarge Executive Vice President of Strategy, Development and Public Affairs. This obviously involves supplying materials which are
good value for money, especially in emerging countries. But our products pricing is far from the only solution we offer our customers. The speed and simplicity of their implementation are also just as decisive criteria. Within Lafarge, mention time and you immediately think of Chronolia, one of the new high value-added concretes launched by the Group in 2007. Framework can be removed after just four hours as a result of an extremely fast increase in resistance, making it possible to considerably reduce the duration of worksites or catch up on delays which would be impossible with traditional concrete. Products such as Agilia and Extensia also affect time taken, although that is not their main purpose. Agilia removes the vibration stage. It is very fluid, ensuring completely even filling of the framework, saving energy and considerably reducing noise pollution for local residents. Extensia, meanwhile,
makes it possible to pour very large slabs in a single session without the need for any joints. The result is simpler implementation, considerable time saved and a better carbon footprint.
continued p.15
A whole range of products to make worksites more convenient.
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LOW-ENERGY HOUSING
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From a sustainable construction perspective, there is no ideal building. The climate in which it is built, the position of its site, its size, function and spatial layout have a decisive influence on its design and the construction methods to
use to reduce its environmental footprint. However, depending on the context, it is possible to define a number of golden rules to follow. The 20 set out here apply to the construction of a small apartment block, located in a country with a temperate climate such as France, using traditional construction methods. They mostly relate to the buildings energy efficiency, which
can be significantly improved by adjusting parameters such as orientation, compactness, insulation, ventilation, the ratio of glazed surfaces to solid walls, use of renewable energy sources, etc. But the exercise also takes other just as essential factors into account, such as quality of life, thermal and acoustic comfort, the building aesthetics and its various spaces,
installation of equipment enabling sustainable water management, or even treatment, and recycling of waste at the construction stage. In many of these areas, Lafarge is able to offer innovative and effective solutions combining various products from its range cements, concretes, plasterboard, etc. in conjunction with other building materials. Some of these solutions are the result
of work carried out by the Group in collaboration with architects, engineering offices and major construction companies to advance knowledge in the field of sustainable construction and develop construction systems which are consistent with its goals. The low-energy housing presented in these pages demonstrates this.
1 PRGYMTAL CEILINGS Comprising a sheet of decorative Synia screwed onto a PrgymtalTM S47 ceiling rail, this ceiling presents a smooth surface without any visible joints suitable for application of any type of finish. 2 2
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PRGYMAX 29.5 With the lowest thermal conductivity in its category, this wall lining provides exceptional thermal and acoustic performances. It consumes very little energy to produce.
DUCTAL BASED THERMAL BREAKER Providing perfect insulation and a mechanical link between the concrete slab and the external wall, this breaker, developed using Ductal and insulation, reduces thermal bridges by up to 70%.
3
THERMEDIA 0.6 FACADE WITH PRGYMAX 29.5 INSULATION Thermedia O.6 is designed for use in outer shells and combines thermal and structural performances to limit thermal-bridge heat loss in the case of internal insulation.
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DUCTAL This is a completely new generation of high value-added fiber-reinforced concrete. Its performances are exceptional, including high resistance (to compression and bending) and ductility. It allows construction using less raw materials.
5 PLATEC These plasterboard-based 3D elements are made-to-measure and produce high quality interior decorative finishes. The entire result costs much less than it would to produce on a worksite.
WAB PARTITION PRGYWAB sheets are the only plasterboard which can be used to build partitions in very humid communal areas (classified EB+C and some areas classified EC). It is also suitable for the design of external sheltered ceilings. This is exclusive to Lafarge.
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6 3 5 7
PERVIOUS CONCRETE This new pervious concrete rapidly absorbs rainwater in the event of high levels of rain, reducing the risk of flooding.
UNIMAT ULTRA FLOOR Unimat Ultra Floor is a range of insulated floor products made from PSE. It is particularly well suited to insulating floors heated electrically or with water.
ARTEVIA Designed for internal and external use, these concretes produce material-effect surface finishes, such as imitation polished marble. They are also very resistant to wear and tear.
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7 SYNIA With its four tapered edges, this plasterboard is ideal for very high ceilings and partitions. It is easy to use, reducing fitting time.
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UNIMAT FLOOR INSULATION This rigid expanded polystyrene panel improves the homes thermal insulation. It is light and simple to use, cutting fitting time by half.
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Charlotte Cauwer (architect) | 13
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FLOOR A OR C CHAPE LIQUIDE Self-spreading and self-leveling, this mortar produces perfectly flat floors. Transport costs are avoided by using local sand. It requires very little energy to produce.
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LOW-CARBON CEMENT The clinker in these products is being replaced in increasingly high proportions by natural or industrially-derived cement additions.
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20 golden rules of sustainable construction

GIVE PRIORITY TO PASSIVE REDUCTION OF ENERGY NEEDS 1 BUILDINGS WITH OPTIMAL COMPACTNESS
TO REDUCE LOSS FROM THE ENVELOPE
PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT RESPONSE TO ENERGY NEEDS 7

EFFICIENT AND CONTROLLED VENTILATION TO RENEW INTERIOR AIR MORE INTELLIGENT VENTILATION TO REGULATE THERMAL COMFORT
INCORPORATE PASSIVE AND THEN ACTIVE RENEWABLE ENERGIES 10 11

POSITION THE BUILDING TO BEST CAPTURE THE SUN OPTIMIZATION OF GLAZED SURFACES TO BENEFIT FROM FREE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS TO RECOVER SOLAR ENERGY THROUGH THE NON-GLASS SURFACES EXPOSED CONCRETE SURFACES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY OR COOLNESS AT NIGHT
GO BEYOND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

REFLECTED LIGHT TO ENCOURAGE NATURAL LIGHTING WINDOWS HIGH UP TO MAXIMIZE NATURAL LIGHTING RENEWABLE ENERGIES INCORPORATED TO REPLACE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS
4 CUSTOMIZED SUN PROTECTION TO AVOID OVERHEATING 5 DIFFERENCE IN GLASS SURFACES DEPENDING
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EFFECTIVE ACOUSTIC INSULATION TO PROMOTE OCCUPANTS COMFORT WATER MANAGEMENT TO ECONOMIZE RESOURCES
2 EFFECTIVE THERMAL INSULATION

TO REDUCE HEATING AND COOLING NEEDS
ON ORIENTATION OF WALLS TO REDUCE LOSSES
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6 A LIGHT-COLORED ROOF TO AVOID OVERHEATING 3 IMPROVED AIRTIGHTNESS OF THE ENVELOPE

TO AVOID UNCONTROLLED ENERGY-WASTING DRAUGHTS
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A STRUCTURE WHICH IS DESIGNED AND USED TO FACILITATE HEATING AND COOLING AND IS ECONOMIC IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
19 MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES CHOSEN 16

TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT STARTING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE
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A GREEN-PLANTED ROOF TO IMPROVE INTEGRATION INTO THE SITE AND MANAGEMENT OF RAINWATER
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L A FA R G E
L A FA R G E
SOLUTION
CHAPE LIQUIDE
Keeping to schedule and reducing the quantity of cement

GEOFF WATSON, PROJECT MANAGER, STUART OLSON CONSTRUCTION
SELF-SPREADING AND SELF-LEVELING, this ready-mixed mortar produces
SOLUTION DUST-FREE RENDER

SANDING RENDER AND CLEANING THE RESULTING DUST ARE TWO PARTICULARLY LONG AND DIFFICULT STAGES. Aware of the
perfectly flat floors. There are many advantages to Chape Liquide: rapid pouring and hardening, acoustic and thermal insulation, lightweight screeds, no need for steel reinforcement Its other advantage is its low environmental footprint. The mortar is manufactured in concrete plants which have established policies to help preserve natural resources; it is made using local sand, avoiding transportation of materials over long distances; and its production process consumes very little energy. > Pouring anhydrite Chape liquide at the Avignon TGV railway station, France.
Christophe Grilh - Jean-Marie Duthilleul - tienne Tricaud - Marcel Bayard - Franois Bonnefille (architectes)
During the construction of DiscoveryGreen in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, our objective was to obtain Gold certification from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a standardization system for high environmental quality buildings, with a limited ecological impact). This was a real challenge! Lafarge suggested a whole series of ideas and alternatives to help us keep to the schedule and tackle the requirements to reduce the quantity of cement. Close collaboration developed between Lafarge and Stuart Olson Constructors Inc. For the preparation and testing of UltraGreen formulations, varying the ratios of MPa (a measurement of resistance) and cement.
In the Gypsum Business, Lafarge has concentrated on reducing the supplied and fitted cost. All plasterboards are equipped with increasingly powerful solutions to make fitting easier and faster. The prefabricated elements of the PLAtec range, as well as the wide choice they offer in terms of interior design, save time while guaranteeing impeccable finishes. The same is true for the PrgyDco range, pre-rendered plasters with decorative joints which have the same absorption coefficient and allow one of the painting stages to be carried out before delivery of the building. And Synia, whose four tapered edges avoid excess thickness of seams, has become one of fitters favorite products. A survey carried out in France in May 2009 showed that Synia plasterboard is highly acclaimed by its users, says Bernard Fauconnier, Director of R&D, Sales, Marketing & Innovation for the Gypsum Business. More than 95% of users recommend it to one of their colleagues. In terms of ease of use, the Group has designed a range of ready-mix renders for plasterboard systems which do not create any dust during sanding. This is an undeniable benefit in terms of health and workplace comfort for professionals.
Safety requirements
In some markets, this assistance policy can go as far as offering training to employees and customers. In South Korea, for example, enormous work has been accomplished by Lafarges teams to set them apart from their competitors regarding safety. The safety champions initiative designed for Lafarge employees was then extended to the companys customers, either through awareness-raising, training or site coordination. Performance, lowers costs, simplicity, comfort, safety are all criteria that Lafarge believes are an integral part of the very concept of sustainable construction and which it considers at a very early stage in the R&D process. Its customers satisfaction depends on it.
difficulties which many professionals face, Lafarge has developed a ready-mixed plasterboard jointing render which gives off very little sanding dust. As well as its benefits in terms of ease of use and productivity, its soft, creamy texture makes it especially simple to implement. Easier to spread and easier to sand, it dries very quickly and almost without shrinkage, producing a perfect, effortless quality of finish.
Assistance and networks of builders

Lafarge has also developed Sensium cements which allow concrete to be manufactured on-site. More malleable and supple for mortar, more fluid and easier to spread for concretes, they require less effort and so reduce worksite inconveniences. Finally, their fast hardening time produces significant productivity gains. Similarly to Extensia and Agilia, Chape Liquide, a self-spreading and self-leveling ready-mixed mortar, makes it simple to build low-temperature heated floors for the residential sector. Lafarge does more than just offer its customers more effective and simpler products to use. It also offers them usage advice and related services, making their lives a whole lot easier. In parallel to the assistance provided by its technical sales teams, it has created technical assistance call centers. For some of its high value-added products such as Agilia and Artevia, it may call on networks of builders trained in how to use its products. This initiative has been taken even further for very specific constructions, such as hospitals, schools, hotels, etc., by offering turnkey solutions including supply of products, construction systems and networks of approved builders. To do this, Lafarge studied their particular constraints in terms of aesthetics, hygiene and sound and heat insulation in depth, in order to come up with a product perfectly suited to their needs.
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SOLUTION
CHRONOLIA
A CONCRETE WHICH CAN BE TRANSPORTED OR HANDLED LIKE AN ORDINARY FLUID CONCRETE, WHILE VERY QUICKLY DEVELOPING HIGH MECHANICAL RESISTANCE ONCE IN PLACE... These are the astonishing
characteristics of Chronolia, a major technological breakthrough for the construction sector. This high value-added concrete is the result of the most cutting-edge Lafarge research in terms of hydration kinetics and the study of materials on a nanometric scale. The framework can be removed from Chronolia just four hours after pouring, compared with 12 to 20 hours for traditional concrete. With such a fast increase in resistance, it makes it possible to double the number of daily framework cycles and completely redesign a worksite in terms of deadlines, cycle times and use of equipment. The result is time and productivity savings, considerable reductions in costs as well as worksite noise and air pollution.
Cdric Arnold / Mdiathque Lafarge - Ra
Claude Cieutat / Mdiathque Lafarge
Simple and appropriate

GIACOMO PENNA, PLASTERBOARD FITTER
SOLUTION
SENSIUM
> Brighton College, UK: fitting of GTEC Aqua Board, impermeable plasterboard for humid interior or exterior rooms.
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Jim Johnson / Mdiathque Lafarge
I am used to working with Synia plasterboard. This type of board is excellent as it ensures complete evenness: once the joining and finishing are complete, the surface is perfectly flat. For installations in a humid environment, rather than a cavity-wall solution, I use the simple system involving a standard board and insulation panels over a metal structure. The thickness is easier to adjust according to available space. It is also a way of optimizing performance.
A REAL REVOLUTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION WORLD, Sensium technological
cements have brought the material into a new era. Developed by Lafarge following years of research, this new range combines three major innovations: dust-free technology, a new production process and exclusive technical properties. It is available as two separate products, Sensium for mortar and Sensium for concrete, which both offer unrivalled performances. 100% dust-free, they are very user-friendly and encourage a clean and careful finish. More malleable and supple for mortar, more fluid and easier to spread for concretes, they require less effort to implement and so reduce worksite inconveniences. Finally, as a result of its faster hardening time and increased resistance, work is more efficient and therefore more sustainable.
Mdiathque Lafarge - Flga S.A. - Santiago Calatrava (architecte)
> Oviedo Conference and Exhibition Center, Spain, an ultra-high performance concrete structure designed by Santiago Calatrava.
Pierre-Franois Grosjean / Mdiathque Lafarge
The Group has designed a range of ready-mix renders for plasterboard systems which do not create any dust during sanding.
3.
Services Lafarge has adopted a practical strategy, encouraging regional initiatives and duplicating
customs.
Needs vary in relation to services even more than they do for products, according to market structures and local
them in other countries where appropriate. The Group focuses on two priorities improving its customer relations
and optimizing the logistics chain.
4.
Paul McMullin / Mdiathque Lafarge - ConstructionPhotography.com
Energy cost Around 80% of this energy is consumed during their use, between the time they are delivered and their
Buildings now represent nearly 40% of global energy demand.
destruction. Solutions do exist however to massively reduce this rate or even design buildings which produce
as much energy as they consume. Lafarge is assisting the construction sector with this more sustainable approach.
> A remote system of measuring cement levels in storage silos automatically triggers deliveries.
A multilocal strategy for value-added services

Mdiathque Lafarge - Ignus Gerber
Franck Betermin / Mdiathque Lafarge - Abaca Press
no sense, although we do duplicate or adapt a good idea from one market to another. Because what may be innovative in one country may be outdated or unsuitable in another. The most important thing is to listen to our customers needs and respond to them. The services we offer them help to increase the quality of our overall service. he fundamental purpose of the services developed by Lafarge in addition to its product solutions is to respond to customers expectations. This is particularly true of the call centers set up by the Group in France and duplicated in other countries. These allow customers to find out information about Lafarges existing range, as well as new products and applications at any time, as well as receiving advice on the choice or use of a particular material or construction method. This concept has also been adapted to the Internet through a series of sustainable construction websites, each targeting various users (architects, engineering offices, tradesmen, individual clients, etc.). These call centers are very valuable solutions which have proved their worth, says Bernard Fauconnier, Director of R&D, Sales, Marketing & Innovation for the Gypsum Business. Although strictly speaking they are not new, they are constantly being enhanced and remain a very good vehicle for providing advice and assistance to customers, from prescribers to individual clients. France is not the only country in which the Group is developing its customer services thanks to new information and communication technologies. In Brazil, for instance, Lafarge has just launched a new website, the Customer Portal, to take orders 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The particularly carefully designed interface guides customers and helps them select the products they need and then place their order as effectively as if they were on the telephone to a call center agent. This question of services is at the heart of our multilocal strategy, emphasizes Jean Desazars de Montgailhard, Lafarge Executive Vice President of Strategy, Development and Public Affairs. Designing innovative services at a Group level makes
Optimization of the logistics chain

Innovation is also an important aspect of improving the logistics chain. In North America, for example, the Cement Business offers its customers an extremely sophisticated ordering and delivery service. This is based on a system which remotely measures cement levels in storage silos, automatically triggering deliveries. Results include: real added value for customers, who receive the cement they need just in time; optimization of vehicle journeys, and therefore fuel consumption and CO2 emissions; and finally greater safety, both in relation to silo overflows whose level has been incorrectly measured and risk of falling when visually inspecting levels. On a different note, in the United Kingdom, Lafarge uses real-time tracking software to monitor its trucks. This is a very effective way of improving its delivery system, better satisfying customers and optimizing journeys thereby helping to reduce consumption and emissions. Again in the UK, the Gypsum Business, which has just entirely redesigned its logistics chain to improve its cost effectiveness, has decided to try out a new type of truck. These are more aerodynamic, helping to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Having explored GPS geolocation, semi-automated communication via text was implemented. The same idea was used in Ecuador, where SMS is used to put drivers in touch with customers. Lafarge has even used this new method to pass on road safety messages to its drivers, salespeople and customers. Finally, in Jordan, Lafarge has equipped its call center with an automated customer call handling system (for orders, cancellations, delivery information requests, etc.) which sends out an SMS message once the request has been processed. In every case this communication method has proved effective and, above all, cheaper! It is not important what method is used, provided it improves customer satisfaction.
> Brook Residence in northern Vancouver, Canada, built using Agilia and awarded LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Less energy-hungry buildings

Jean-Baptiste Vetter
SOLUTION WASTE MANAGEMENT

MORE THAN 30 MILLION TONS of worksite waste is produced each
Special communication methods

These innovations, which use advanced technology, could not be duplicated in any country. The strength of Lafarge teams is being able to adapt to the context of different markets. The Groups customers in the Philippines, for instance, can place their orders via SMS from their cell phone. This method of communication is also used in Serbia, where Lafarge needed to stay in contact with its drivers to keep its customers informed of delivery times.
year in France by the construction sector. Aware of the importance of this waste production in terms of sustainable development and wanting to help its customers respond to new regulatory requirements, Lafarge provides inert worksite waste removal at around 50 of its sites. This local service offers added value and significant time savings for construction professionals (no handling, no dumpster to fill, etc.), while helping them move towards more sustainable construction.
QE, Habitat & Environnement, Minergie, LEED, BREEAM The number of sustainable construction certifications and labels has soared over recent years all around the world. Their fundamental purpose is to encourage the industry to design healthy and comfortable buildings whose impact on the environment, assessed on their entire lifecycle, is as limited as possible. To ensure that new products respond as well as possible to these environmental challenges and obtain labels, the
Group uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This involves quantifying an environmental impact according to several criteria (primary energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, water consumption, transport, waste production, etc.) and takes a materials complete lifecycle into account, from the extraction of raw materials to recycling Lafarges landfill disposal. LCA is now an integral part of Lafarge research methods. We have opted for LCA as it is the only method which provides a genuine scientific approach to the question, says Constant Van Aerschot, Lafarges Director of Sustainable Construction. It can be used to measure the environmental impact of any product, a bag of cement, a coffee machine or a car, as well as an entire building. It is by far the most objective, since it uses a
standardized methodology ISO 14040 and takes all significant environmental indicators into account. It is also especially suitable since it applies to the whole lifetime of the product or building being assessed.
continued p. 19
Analyzing the entire lifecycle of a material or a building.

I N N O V AT I O N R E V I E W | L A FA R G E | 17
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Beyond the project specifications

DAVID LORD, VICE PRESIDENT, SCOTT CONSTRUCTION GROUP
SOLUTION UNIMAT FLOOR INSULATION

UNIMAT FLOOR INSULATION IS A RIGID EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE PANEL with
LCA calls into question many concepts taken for granted in construction. For instance, the environmental footprint of hemp wool or duck feather insulation perceived to be environmentally-friendly turns out to be less so than glass wool. The same is true per square meter for a concrete block wall compared to one built from bricks, with the former having less environmental impact in relation to the majority of environmental indicators.
BUILDING SUSTAINABLY IS NOT SO EXPENSIVE!
As part of the EEB (Energy Efficiency of Buildings) project, the WBCSD conducted a survey of construction industry professionals perception of the additional costs of green buildings. This showed that they believe the additional cost to be 17% compared with a traditional building, or three times the actual extra cost of only around 5%, if an integrated design approach is adopted. The poll also demonstrated a deep lack of knowledge about buildings contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This represents 35% although according to the survey professionals think it is just 9%.
*World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Environmentally-friendly building systems

We have observed that our concretes, for example, achieve excellent environmental results using LCA, says Pascal Casanova, Lafarge Director of R&D. When talking about sustainable construction, considering each material in isolation is not very meaningful. The reasoning must take into account the very close links between them, the construction methods, the buildings architecture and also urban planning questions (density, organization of mobility, etc.). We have made enormous progress in this field, especially as a result of partnerships we have forged with architecture firms, engineering offices and construction companies. Among all the criteria contributing to sustainable construction, Lafarge has focused particularly on reducing energy consumed and the related issue of CO2 emissions. First, because it has been made a vital area by global warming and dwindling fossil fuels. Second, due to the proportion of energy consumed by buildings on a global scale, which represents nearly 40%! The expected strengthening of national thermal regulations also makes it a vital question for the industry. Lafarges teams have used LCA to carry out two very advanced studies into existing homes in France a detached house and a small apartment block in order to identify the most effective construction methods. Their conclusions provide practical information about concretes contribution to eco-design: thermal inertia, airtightness, building compactness, orientation and openings, choice of materials, quantity of materials, lifecycle and recycling. These two studies demonstrate that concrete-based construction systems make it possible to obtain a high level of comfort and increased energy efficiency for little cost, continues Constant Van Aerschot. Another of concretes advantages, its long lifespan, is a factor which improves the environmental footprint. These studies also demonstrate that, contrary to accepted ideas, constructing sustainably is advantageous in terms of overall cost. If you take insulation and airtightness, for example, energy savings during the usage phase take two years to compensate the small additional cost of above-average quality insulation and airtightness. When the buildings use is considered over 50 years, the benefits are undeniable.
SOLUTION DUCTAL-BASED THERMAL BREAKER

Redron, Marketing Director of the Concrete Business. The LCA study also demonstrated the benefits of Extensia from an environmental perspective. Because of its qualities, a thinner slab is required 17.5cm instead of 20cm for equal performance. According to a study conducted in Britain, by using less material and removing the need for joints, a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions is achieved compared with a conventional slab. PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FRANCE AT THE POLLUTEC FAIR, IN NOVEMBER 2007,
This system reduces thermal bridges by up to 70%, while retaining traditional construction methods. It is a decisive advantage, when you consider that thermal bridges alone represent 10-20% of a buildings energy loss, notes Denis Berthon, Marketing Director of the Cement Business. The Gypsum Business has also made progress on these thermal insulation issues, jointly with other Group activities, to provide solutions combining external and internal insulation. But in existing houses it is sometimes difficult even impossible to insulate a building from outside, says Bernard Fauconnier, Director of R&D, Sales, Marketing & Innovation for the Gypsum Business. We have therefore developed products making it easier to insulate from inside, without increasing the thickness of insulation. We have also just launched new plasterboard lined with polystyrene, Prgymax 29.5, which provides far higher thermal insulation for an equal thickness than materials such as glass wool. Some of our products and systems also remove thermal bridges. And we have other projects, such as plasterboard incorporating phase-change materials, which reduce the quantities of energy required to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Energy-producing buildings?
On a more futuristic note, the Group has launched a project in collaboration with United Technologies Corp. into the energy efficiency of buildings (EEB), launched in 2006 under the aegis of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). It promotes a world in which buildings produce as much energy as they consume. Many multinationals have signed up to this international project, covering Europe, the United States, Brazil, China, Japan and India. The latest study published in April shows how buildings energy consumption can be reduced by 60% by 2050. The WBCSD offers a road map which aims to transform the construction sector and calls for immediate action to push forward mentalities and practices.
this thermal bridge breaker is a major innovation in terms of sustainable construction. This is a breaker developed using Ductal and insulation. Providing perfect insulation and a mechanical link between the concrete slab and the external wall, the breaker reduces thermal bridges by up to 70%. Economical and sustainable, these solutions represent real progress in terms of energy and environmental performance for concrete constructions.
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Concrete: a good environmental footprint

LCA does not only apply to buildings. Lafarge has carried out a comparative study, for instance, on two differently designed bridges: a combined structure, comprising a steel framework with a bridge deck made from standard concrete and a bridge made from Ductal, ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete developed by Group researchers. Its conclusions are categorical. The second solution has a better environmental footprint than the first. Why is this? A significant reduction in the quantity of material used, made possible by the exceptional resistance of Ductal. The same observation for Extensia, the concrete designed for large slabs and industrial floors. Our sales points were originally limited to time saved and quality of finish, confides Franois
Better insulation
This work on construction methods brings with it several product innovations. In particular, Lafarge has just developed a new generation concrete, Thermedia 0.6, in collaboration with Bouygues. Its special composition extremely lightweight aggregates means that it reduces heat loss from buildings and reduces thermal bridges at intermediate floor level in the case of internal thermal insulation. This ready-mixed structural concrete is the only one currently capable of combining resistance and lightness, mechanical performance and thermal properties. Meanwhile, the Cement Business has just launched a thermal bridge breaker designed with Ductal, the ultrahigh performance fiber-reinforced concrete.
SOLUTION THERMEDIA 0.6

A NEW GENERATION CONCRETE PATENTED BY LAFARGE, Thermedia 0.6
Anticipating environmental impact
helps strengthen concretes position as a sustainable building material. Its formulation is completely new: it uses very lightweight aggregates with a density 40% less than traditional aggregates, cutting its thermal conductivity by two-thirds compared with standard concrete, while retaining identical structural properties to traditional concrete. Thermedia 0.6 reduces heat loss through the buildings envelope and so actively contributes to improving construction methods incorporating internal thermal insulation.
Since it was founded in 1969, Arte Charpentier Architects has always focused on innovation. Sustainable development is at the center of our projects at every level, whether cities, districts or interior redevelopment. This strong commitment particularly helped us to produce the Tour Elithis, the first positive-energy tertiary building in France. The research partnership initiated with Lafarge will allow us to go even further, by jointly developing construction systems which improve energy performance and reduce building costs, through a real construction project. This will also make it possible to experiment with new project management approaches and simulation tools.
SOLUTION
PRGYMAX 29.5
This low thermal conductivity, the lowest of all thermal-acoustic insulation available on the market, makes it a clear leader in its category. Light and flexible, Prgymax 29.5 liner complex does not warp and is very easy to fit. And the product is 100% recyclable and consumes very little energy to manufacture.
THIS NEW PRODUCT is made up of plasterboard and an elasticized PSE-Graphite panel, with exceptional thermal and acoustic performance. The successor to the highly popular Prgymax 32, Prgymax 29.5 liner complex does not cause any thermal bridge since it has no metal frame and, as its name indicates, boasts a lambda of 29.5.
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JEAN-DANIEL KUHN, ARTE CHARPENTIER ARCHITECTS
Arte Charpentier
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Lafarge has helped us in situations where we say How do we make this?. They have responded with mixed design solutions and at times a completely different approach to a concrete structure made possible by the advanced mix additives such as Agilia, Chronolia, and Extensia. We value Lafarges willingness to think beyond the project specifications and provide forward thinking solutions.
a rounded surface and arched back for greater mechanical resistance. Its properties make it a useful ally in improving a buildings thermal insulation. It is especially well suited to the light framework of girder floors of individual houses. But it can also be used in addition to insulation or to deal with the thermal bridge of an upper floor. Light to transport and handle, simple to use and easy to cut, it halves fitting time compared with concrete floor blocks.
SOLUTION
DURABAT
Customized solutions
CARMEN SANTANA SERRA, ARCHIKUBIK, ARCHITECT
BUILDING MATERIALS are sometimes used in particularly difficult
environments (aggressive, unstable or damp soils, drainage water, extreme climate conditions, etc.). With Durabat cement, Lafarge has taken all these constraints into account. Designed mainly for tradesmen and small companies, this product makes it possible to lay foundations in difficult ground in contact with dirty or corrosive water in aquacultural, oyster farming or wine growing environments or with liquid manures in an agricultural environment.
In Barcelona, we are building a school in the former gardens of a religious order. Our project needs to take into account the important topography of the site, the gardens environment of small buildings and the ancient trees. The whole building forms an L with an 80m-long facade. A series of high-spec vertical pillars provide a structure, act as ducts for pipes and add rhythm. Initially the pillars were due to be poured on site, but after a meeting with Lopold Lombard from Lafarge a year ago, we studied the possibility of using posts cast from Ductal in order to reduce the worksites impact and save construction time. This was completely innovative in Spain. Aware of the added value represented by this material both technological and aesthetic the project manager did not oppose the solution despite the additional cost. A team was formed and our joint work produced plans for posts, whose prototype cast was manufactured by Bonna Sabla, based near Montpellier (there are currently no Ductal prefabrication companies in Spain). A trip to Bonna Sabla was arranged to provide us with a better understanding of how casts are made, which is fundamental to making them simpler and more competitive
5.
Adapting to specific needs Geography, climate, type of construction and the level of the countrys development have
Building methods vary between Europe, Asia and Africa.
an impact on the behavior of buildings and the construction method used. As a result of its local approach
to international development, Lafarge responds to this wide range of needs.
Different approaches for different countries to ensure optimal solutions

DR DR
Cdric Prat / Mdiathque Lafarge - Ateliers Jean Nouvel (architecte)
SOLUTION
PLATEC
SOLUTION
WAB
Mattias Jesper / Mdiathque Lafarge - Richard Hawkes (architecte)
WITH PLATEC, building professionals can enjoy haute couture in interior design
at an off-the-peg price. These gypsum products exclusive to Lafarge, are prefabricated to order according to the customers specifications. They can be used to create decorative elements and design unusual interior spaces, pillars, structures, friezes for suspended ceilings, cornices for concealed lighting, etc. As well as this great versatility, Platec solutions offer many advantages: simplicity of installation, control over production times, quality of decoration and high standard of finish. And all for a much lower cost than producing equivalent elements directly on-site. The range also includes solutions with proven acoustic absorption properties. > Installation of auditorium wall lining in the Muse du Quai-Branly, Paris, France.
LAFARGE HAS INVENTED WAB THE FIRST PLASTERBOARD NOT AFRIAD OF WATER. The whole construction system of plasterboard, render, taping, joining,
screws, etc. offers very high resistance to water and humidity. Originally designed to build partitions in humid environments, it is also suitable for designing covered external ceilings. It works brilliantly in tropical or very humid climates. With a more waterproof surface, less absorption of water by the plaster and more stable mechanical strength after damping, WAB retains its level of performance and aesthetic qualities whatever the ambient humidity. Easy to install and compatible with other plasterboard systems, it can be stored in the open air for six months without damage: a great quality for worksites > Crossway eco-home in Staplehurst, Kent, United Kingdom, designed by architect Richard Hawkes, an EEB construction.
afarge is present in 79 countries, across five continents. As it has grown, it has had to adapt its strategy, its commercial approach and its product range to these diverse markets. It is obvious: needs in developed countries are not the same as in emerging countries. And construction methods vary depending on where you are in the world, due to the climate, cultural customs and resource availability. The way in which we design and implement our new solutions takes these factors into account, says Christophe Lvy, Lafarge Construction Innovation Director. Our approaches consider the genuine distinction between developed and emerging countries, and even between different emerging countries. With the possible exception of major world cities, interest in eco-design is not as advanced in India, China or Kenya, although it is growing everywhere in the world. We have two types of portfolio management for innovative projects, Bernard Fauconnier, Director of R&D, Sales, Marketing & Innovation for the Gypsum Business, points out. Management at an international level covering the whole of the Gypsum Business. The other at a national level, in order to adapt our products and systems to the requirements of local markets. In Mexico and South Africa, we are developing a special range of 6mm plasterboard for low cost construction needs. The same goes for render: markets are divided into powder countries France, Italy and Spain and countries with ready-mixed paste the United States, Australia and South Korea. The range of high value-added concretes developed
by the Group (Chronolia, Extensia, Agilia, Artvia, Ductal, etc.) also includes products adapted to every use. The infinite variety of formulations for this material makes it possible to adjust its composition according to local resources and needs. Even in emerging markets, where delivery of ready-mix concrete is an innovation in itself, Lafarge offers its customers added value. In countries such as India, Morocco, Vietnam or South Africa, the pace of private home building is relatively slow, explains Franois Redron, Marketing Director of the Concrete Business. Under these conditions, delivering a mixer truck of 6m3 to 8m3 is not always appropriate. We therefore consider solutions to ship smaller quantities and produce slow-hardening concretes which retain their workability for longer. This ability to adapt is also expressed in other ways. In the Cement Business, the Group has developed undeniable expertise in varying its products characteristics using additions to the cement. Whether to improve their impermeability, their resistance, their workability, their quality of finish, or, at the design stage, by adapting its production process to use only raw materials available locally, producing savings and lower emissions. The interconnection between our plants at a global level enables us to offer genuinely homegrown products, emphasizes Denis Berthon, Marketing Director of the Cement Business. We also adapt to climatic conditions, which is a very important factor for our products. The frostthaw cycle, for example, requires different compositions in Central Europe compared to tropical countries. In countries with high rainfall, the introduction of plastic packaging instead of traditional bags was a simple but valuable innovation. A similar but more technical example, the introduction of WAB plasterboard which is resistant to water and adverse weather, increased the use of plasterboard in humid environments. Another practical illustration of this priority are the projects developed by Lafarge in India and South Africa in the field of low-cost construction. This is a totally new approach to building low-cost housing, without sacrificing quality, for people with low incomes, says Franois Redron. Our ambition for the future is to be a real design agent, decorating houses, supplying all the elements required to build them and helping to implement them all as part of a truly sustainable construction
approach. In India, the Affordable Housing for Masses program makes it possible to construct low-cost homes using concrete while incorporating environmental concerns. The same principle applies to Eco-City, launched in partnership with WWF and local NGOs in Midrand, a deprived suburb of Johannesburg. The 300 tons of cement and 70m3 of concrete donated by Lafarge enabled around 30 low-cost homes to be built, with passive solar heating, rainwater recovery and use of recycled materials, especially polystyrene waste which, mixed in with the concrete, provided the materials for making thermal insulation blocks. This ability to respond to specific needs is just as valuable for taking into account exceptional natural conditions. In Chile, as part of the Ocho al Cubo project, eight of the Chiles top architects were invited to build the home of their dreams, in the idyllic setting of the Marbella beach resort. To ensure they would be around for a long time, they all chose Lafarges architectonic concrete, a leader in this region subject to significant seismic activity. The same is true of the construction of the Rion-Antirion bridge, connecting the Peloponnese to mainland Greece, which, at 2.8km long, is the longest suspended bridge ever built in the world. The 750,000 tons of highperformance aggregates supplied by the Group to construct the pillars allow it to withstand winds of up to 250 km/h, a 7.0 earthquake on the Richter scale or a collision with a 180,000 ton oil tanker! Did you mention sustainable?
The interconnection between our plants at a global level enables us to offer homegrown products.
20
L A FA R G E
L A FA R G E
21
6.
Comfort and aesthetics They promote the usage value of buildings and their
Concepts of aesthetics, comfort and resistance to wear and tear are essential criteria in the construction industry.
insertion into their landscape and are therefore closely linked to the concept of sustainable construction. That is how Lafarge sees it anyway and the company has long included these criteria in its approach
to innovation.
Beautiful constructions, more comfortable for longer

Gonzalo Azumendi / age fotostock - Zaha Hadid (architecte)
> Villa Navarra, Provence, France, built using Ductal , designed by architect Rudy Ricciotti.
SOLUTION SYNIA
LAFARGE WAS THE FIRST building materials
company to mass produce plasterboard with four tapered edges, Synia, an ideal solution for ceilings and high partitions. The technical specifications of the product, which was launched
in 2004, guarantee complete flatness of ceilings and large vertical partitions. Compared with traditional plasterboard which only has two tapered edges, Synia provides a perfect finish. Once the sheets are painted or wallpapered, the seams are invisible
to the naked eye, even under low-angled lighting. It is also very easy to use, with all four edges of each sheet tapered to simplify installation and save time on the worksite. > Central World Plaza shopping center, Bangkok, Thailand.
ir Norman Fosters Millau Viaduct, Santiago Calatravas Oviedo Conference Center, the Villa Navarra or the Footbridge of Peace in Seoul designed by Rudy Ricciotti, Le Corbusiers church of Saint-Pierre-deFirminy, the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, designed by the Scott Wilson Advanced Technology Group, Zaha Hadids Phaeno Center in Wolfsburg all exceptional structures with a striking avant-garde appearance. The beauty of these constructions obviously owes a lot to their designers. But some would probably not have been built without Lafarges ability to offer them innovative solutions, thereby giving them the freedom to imagine these slender bridge decks, elegant roofs and floating structures. For many, the technical performance, the impeccable finish and resistance of the products used contributes without a doubt to their aesthetic qualities. Whether in relation to large projects of this type or family homes, aesthetics, comfort and resistance over time have long been among the criteria guiding the Groups R&D. First, because they extend the likely lifespan of a building an unattractive, uncomfortable building which deteriorates quickly is likely to be demolished quickly. Second, because they are an integral part of their usage value, a primordial part of the living spaces
or passageways designed for their inhabitants. We pay very close attention to these questions, particularly through surveys of our customers, as well as end users in order to find out what they expect, says Franois Redron, Marketing Director for the Concrete Business. In terms of aesthetics, the Groups expertise in the formulation of its products makes it possible to obtain an impeccable finish to the raw or painted concrete elements. For example Agilia, the self-placing, selfleveling concrete created by Lafarge, is an ideal solution to obtain perfect finishes. We are in the process of developing new products in order to further improve the surface of shells, says Franois Redron. The Artvia range of decorative concretes, launched in 2004, is constantly being expanded as a result of aggregates whose shapes, textures and colors can be infinitely varied. And Ductal is still providing an astonishing range of applications: floating bridges, elegant walls and even trendy furniture. Lafarges high performance concrete has been chosen by architects Alain Moatti and Alain Rivire to create the furniture for the chain of 62 Yves Saint Laurent boutiques around the world. The Group also offers a very wide range of mortars and wall renders, adapted locally to take account of regional aesthetics. The same is true of aggregates which make it possible to enhance colored or coated concretes, slabs, panels or road coverings. Finally, in the Gypsum Business, products such as PrgyDco pre-rendered plasterboard, Synia plasterboard with four tapered edges and PLAtec pre-fabricated decorative elements contribute to improving finishes for less cost and greater ease of use.
Sustainable construction also means comfortable construction. From this perspective, homes, offices and public spaces must meet increasingly high standards. To do this, Lafarge has developed many thermal insulation, thermo-acoustic and water-resistant products. The Groups expertise in terms of construction systems allows it to offer almost turnkey solutions, combining various product ranges: insulating concretes for thermal bridges, thermal bridge interrupters, insulating or waterresistant renders and mortars, plasterboard incorporating thermal or acoustic insulation, etc. The purpose of innovating is to market products and systems with more added value for us and our customers, explains Bernard Fauconnier, Director of R&D, Sales, Marketing & Innovation for the Gypsum Business. These aspects of comfort, aesthetics and resistance contribute significantly to this. Placing customers understanding and innovation at the heart of our strategy in this way allows us to establish our leadership, to be more competitive, to attack new market segments, to improve our manufacturing standards and to focus on quality Which obviously benefits the company, but is above all the best means of responding to customers needs.
A constructions usage value guides Group R&D.
Cdric Arnold / Ra - Architect49 Co., Ltd. (architecte)
Creative freedom
ZAHA HADID, ARCHITECT
I love working with curves, as I think that visually it is a way of simplifying the structure, enabling more complexity to be expressed without smothering or clogging up the visual scene. I am interested in techniques which enable me to do this in concrete. I love concrete, as it is a very fluid and continuous material. I like taking advantage of its fluidity, its fineness, as I am currently doing with Ductal.
22
L A FA R G E
Zaha Hadid, architecte
L A FA R G E
23
SOLUTION
ARTEVIA
mention a wide range of patterns (tiles, slabs, etc.). Far from being simply attractive, these products combine design and performance. Their formulation gives them an excellent adaptation to complex shapes, makes them fast to install, simple to maintain and very hard wearing. > The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Meyerton, Gauteng, South Africa.
ARTVIA is a range of decorative concretes
specially designed for interior and exterior use. Mat or gloss, natural or sophisticated, combining a wide selection of colors and extremely varied material effects, Artevia concretes offer great creative freedom. They produce surfaces which resemble polished marble, natural dressed stone or the rustic appearance of sand, not to
24 | L A FA R G E | I N N O V AT I O N R E V I E W
Lafarge 61, rue des Belles-Feuilles, BP 40, 75782 Paris Cedex 16, France Tl. : + 33 1 44 34 11 11 Fax : + 33 1 44 34 12 00 www.lafarge.com
Ignus Gerber / Mdiathque Lafarge - Green Installation
CONTACTS
Senior Vice-President, Group Communications Sara Ravella sara.ravella@lafarge.com Phone: + 33 1 44 34 58 36 Editorial director Yolaine Galhi Editor-in-chief Anne Larroquette Concept-Production Lafarge, Textuel Copy Lafarge, Textuel Printed by E-Graphics Front cover
Ductal panels (detail) on the construction site of the RATP bus depot, Thiais, France, designed by Emmanuel Combarel & Dominique Marrec.
Mdiathque Lafarge - Benot Fougeirol Emmanuel Combarel & Dominique Marrec (architect)
Ductal (detail), Belleville nursery, Paris, France, designed by Bruno Rollet.

Mdiathque Lafarge - Benot Fougeirol Bruno Rollet (Architecte) October 2009

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6challenges

LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION

1. PRODUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

5. ADAPTING TO SPECIFIC NEEDS

6. COMFORT AND AESTHETICS

Heat resistance test at the Chilanga II cement plant, Zambia.

innovation is now being used to tackle the challenges of sustainable construction.

CENTER PAGES LOW-ENERGY HOUSING

> The Pont du Diable footbridge, in the gorges

An innovation strategy to promote sustainable construction

Ignus Gerber / Mdiathque Lafarge

Scientific progress is built on sharing and communication, whatever the field.

Materials engineering is no exception. This is why Lafarge has increased its

well as the most prestigious international schools, institutions and universities.

WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN TOMORROWS CITIES

A dynamic relationship with architects, engineering offices and project owners

Receptive partnerships to promote materials engineering

Marc Mimram Architecte

Laurence Prat / Mdiathque Lafarge

PAUL ACKER Scientific Director of the Lafarge Research Center (LCR)

Products environmental footprint

> Family home made from Agilia, Vancouver, Canada.

Ignus Gerber / Mdiathque Lafarge

Innovative products promoting sustainable construction

Working on clinker itself and using additives produced by industrial ecology

SOLUTION LOW-CARBON CEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS ON TRACK

THE CEMENT INDUSTRY A RESPONSIBLE PLAYER:

Concrete a sustainable material

Better recycling through grading

SOLUTION DURACLIMETM ASPHALT

1990 2000 2005 2006

> Source : WBCSD CSI GNR report

UNEARTHING THE SECRETS OF GYPSUM

Optimized formulation for concretes

Gypsum requiring less water

Ignus Gerber / Mdiathque Lafarge

Paul McMullin / Mdiathque Lafarge - ConstructionPhotography.com

Faster, simpler pollution-free solutions

A whole range of products to make worksites more convenient.

20 golden rules of sustainable construction

PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT RESPONSE TO ENERGY NEEDS 7

INCORPORATE PASSIVE AND THEN ACTIVE RENEWABLE ENERGIES 10 11

GO BEYOND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

4 CUSTOMIZED SUN PROTECTION TO AVOID OVERHEATING 5 DIFFERENCE IN GLASS SURFACES DEPENDING

2 EFFECTIVE THERMAL INSULATION

ON ORIENTATION OF WALLS TO REDUCE LOSSES

6 A LIGHT-COLORED ROOF TO AVOID OVERHEATING 3 IMPROVED AIRTIGHTNESS OF THE ENVELOPE

19 MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES CHOSEN 16

Keeping to schedule and reducing the quantity of cement

SELF-SPREADING AND SELF-LEVELING, this ready-mixed mortar produces

SOLUTION DUST-FREE RENDER

Assistance and networks of builders

Cdric Arnold / Mdiathque Lafarge - Ra

Claude Cieutat / Mdiathque Lafarge

Simple and appropriate

Jim Johnson / Mdiathque Lafarge

A REAL REVOLUTION IN THE CONSTRUCTION WORLD, Sensium technological

Mdiathque Lafarge - Flga S.A. - Santiago Calatrava (architecte)

Pierre-Franois Grosjean / Mdiathque Lafarge

A multilocal strategy for value-added services

Franck Betermin / Mdiathque Lafarge - Abaca Press

Optimization of the logistics chain

Less energy-hungry buildings