 |
 |
||||||
[October 2004]
Brick to Remain Dominant Says Industry Leader in Germany
In the run-up to BAU 2005 (Munich, 17-22 January 2005), the importance of clay brick is being emphasised by industry leaders. In the opinion of the German Brick Industry Association (Bonn, Germany), the all round use and acceptance of bricks "still make them the predominant building material". In addition to fire protection, sound insulation and moisture protection, light vertically perforated bricks primarily satisfy all requirements relating to energy-conserving thermal insulation together with substantially lower heating consumption, a good indoor climate and high residential value.
Thanks to this versatile product profile, the advantage of brick is not just that it can be used in nearly every area of housing construction. According to Martin Roth, Managing Director of the German Brick Industry Association, "bricks also make a special contribution towards attaining the political demand for sustainability in the construction industry". He said that this applies both to new construction and construction in existing buildings, e.g. old residential complexes which cannot be modernised due to economic reasons.
In the opinion of Mr Roth, it is not economically justifiable to use public funds to repair these existing apartments. Even with the best modernisation methods, the layout of apartments cannot be optimised and changed demands cannot often be met. "In this case, the brick industry favours the demolition/new construction concept, which is now also supported by national politicians," he said.
In addition to using reserves of properties and contemporary architecture, energy efficiency also has an effect as an ecological factor. Mr Roth added that the lower cost risk compared with difficult-to-cost repairs must also be seen in a positive light. "Innovative brickmakers are now discussing this topic together with the housing industry and politicians, and the first projects using the rational construction method have been successfully implemented. BAU 2005 will once again provide a platform for this economic concept as part of construction in existing buildings," said Mr Roth.
German Brick Industry Association: www.ziegel.de
BAU 2005: www.bau-muenchen.de
ENDS