March 23rd 4:30 – 7:30 (Brussels time zone)
CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE THE EVENT (on the day of the event)
This international workshop on defective concrete brings together homeowners and stakeholders who are affected by or are involved in researching defective concrete in Ireland, Switzerland, USA and Canada.
Delegates will provide an international perspective on the problems associated with defective concrete in each country and how it is being addressed in the different regions. There will be presentations from affected homeowners and also from scientists and engineers with a track record of researching defective concrete and working with national bodies to improve standards of concrete manufacturing.
This EU hosted workshop brings together stakeholders, academic researchers and professionals who are affected by or are involved in researching the processes and impacts of deleterious geological minerals on defective concrete in the USA, Canada, Switzerland and Ireland. Delegates will provide an international perspective on the problems associated with deleterious minerals in concrete and how the problem is being addressed within each region. As well as hearing from affected homeowners, MEPs, the European Commission and the European Parliamentary Research Service, we have invited presentations from scientists, geologists and engineers who have a track record of researching aggregates, geological minerals, defective concrete, defective homes and working with national bodies to improve the standards of concrete manufacturing.
Aims of the workshop are to:
- Provide an overview of the emergence of the issue of deleterious minerals and defective concrete in each region.
- Share knowledge of the processes and impacts of deleterious minerals on concrete to further a collective understanding of this issue
- Develop an international research network of academic researchers and professional practitioners to discuss and develop a research strategy to further investigate deleterious minerals and defective concrete in Ireland.
PROGRAMME
Part 1.
EU & legislation/housing
4.30pm to 4.35pm. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan MEP Introduction
4.35pm -4:40pm. Debra MacCoy, State of Connecticut, Lead Advocate – Overview of defective concrete in the USA
4.40pm -4:45pm. Dr Eileen Doherty affected homeowner and campaigner – Overview of defective concrete in Donegal
4.45pm -4.50 pm. Julie Tracey affected homeowner and campaigner – Overview of defective concrete in Mayo
4.50 pm-5.05pm. EPRS – Silvia Kotandis – European Parliament Research Service Policy Analyst – Explanation of how the EU processes work, how legislation is applied to MS, Commission oversight & infringement procedures
5.05pm-5.20pm. EU Commission- Fulvia Raffaelli – Head of Unit ‘Construction’ at European Commission – DG GROW – The role of market surveillance authorities in the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) & the CPR review currently ongoing.
5.20-5.25pm. Chris McManus MEP Introduction
5.25pm-5.35pm. Martin & Manon (Co-chairs of the LEFT group) – The LEFT on Housing -the Right to Good Quality Housing.
5.35pm-5.50pm. Q&A session
Part 2.
Science & Engineering (Convener – Prof Paul Dunlop)
5.55pm – 6.00pm Clare Daly MEP Introduction
6.00pm – 6.15pm. Damien McKay – Managing Director & Chartered Engineer; Engineers Ireland, HD McKay Consulting Engineers.
Title: Defective Precast Concrete Blocks – Impacts on Buildings & Appraisal of Key Findings From Scientific Analysis of Block Samples
6.15pm – 6.30pm. Eoin McGrath – Head of Minerals section at Geological Survey of Ireland and member of the Minerals Resources Expert Group EuroGeoSurveys
Title: Geological Risks to Construction Materials
6.30pm – 6.45pm. Dr Andreas Leemann – Group Leader Concrete Technology, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Title: Deleterious Minerals in Concrete Aggregates: The Swiss Experience
6.45pm–7.00pm. Professor Benoît Fournier, Department of Geology and Engineering Geology of Laval University, Québec City, Canada
Title: Development of Quality Control Specifications for Sulphide-Bearing Aggregates in Canadian Concrete Standards.
7.00pm – 7.15pm. Nick Scaglione – President Concrete Research & Testing, LLC
Title: Deterioration of Concrete Due to the Oxidation of Pyrrhotite – A Concrete Petrographer’s Perspective
7.15pm -7.30pm. Dr Kay Wille, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director of the ACMC Laboratory, University of Connecticut (UCONN)
Title: Crumbling Concrete Foundations Due to Pyrrhotite in the US: Investigation and Research
7.30pm. EU hosted meeting ends, concluding remarks – Prof Paul Dunlop