A responsible choice

FRP bars were developed with sustainability in mind whereas Steel bars were introduced to the world at a time where eco-friendly initiatives were not as crucial as they are today. This already gives FRP bar an advantage over its popular alternative. Imagine being able to realize all your construction projects, with the peace of mind that you are not damaging the planet and you’re ensuring durable results. This has been a pain point in the construction industry for the longest time, and FRP is the solution. Making the responsible choice of abiding by the rules of green construction and sustainable building materials is the best way to go if you want to get the best outcome for your concrete structures. FRP bar is more durable than steel, more resistant to corrosion and lighter, all 3 are factors that contribute to its sustainable benefits. 

Production, Transport and Service

According to the study ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC COMPARISON OF FRP REINFORCEMENTS AND STEEL REINFORCEMENTS IN CONCRETE BEAMS BASED ON DESIGN STRENGTH PARAMETER by Nikhil Garg, PhD and Dr. Sandeep Shrivastava (Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, India and Government Engineering College, Bikaner, India), the use of GFRP instead of steel can lead to significant reductions in CO2 emissions on the production, transport and service levels. In fact, according to the results of the study: 

• In production, the use of GFRP leads to a 43% decrease in CO2 emissions compared to steel. Moreover, GFRP’s high resistance and tensile strength allows for the utilization of more sustainable materials like sea water, sea sand and sea aggregates to produce concrete.
• In transportation, due GFRP weighing one quarter of steel, trucks are able to carry more volume and be more efficient in comparison with steel transport. In fact, this will also lead to a lower CO2 emission because we are saving a large number of trips, and this is a significant change in the long run. 
• In service the use of a non-corrosive reinforcing alternative such as GFRP, eliminates the biggest vulnerability of reinforced concrete: corrosion. Through these natural properties, GFRP is evidently the more durable solution and can improve the longevity of any concrete structure it belongs to. This also leads to a reduction in the need for repairs and maintenance in the structure’s life. 

Want to learn more?

Green construction is a growing trend and it should be handled with more care. Making responsible choices when it comes to building materials allows for more solid, durable concrete structures, and it plays a part in the overall CO2 emissions damaging our planet. One of SFTec’s core values is sustainability which is why they are committed to sharing this sustainable solution and its benefits, the SFT-Bar (GFRP bar), with the world of construction. To learn more about this topic and other benefits of SFT-Bar, schedule a call with our experts, we will be happy to discuss it further!