Potential for reusing single-use products as construction materials
Some objects designed as disposable products end up becoming problematic waste once they have served their purpose. One possible solution for these materials is to incorporate them into certain construction products, provided they do not breach regulations and standards. ITeC has been tasked with identifying the requirements these products would have to meet, the methods for verifying compliance, and what type of certifications they would need for a smooth market entry.
INBUILT project: innovative bio/geo-sourced, re-used and recycled construction products
INBUILT will develop and demonstrate 10 innovative products and systems, such as large-sized rammed earth blocks, recycled fired and non-fired bricks, hybrid straw-clay boards, recycled concrete (bulk and blocks), prefabricated waste wood wall elements, smart windows and curtain walls with recycled glass and bio-PUR frames, recycled textile and paper fibre insulation, bio-based recycled insulation and second life photovoltaic panels.
Exploitation of a construction product developed in an EU project
A company has developed a product during a R&D project granted with EU funding where a number of other partners have also collaborated. The product performance is promising enough for bringing it to the market. For this purpose, ITeC has prepared a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make a formal agreement between the project partners for the joint intellectual property of the new product. It also defines a common line of action regarding protocols for product dissemination, product licencing, information exchange, profit share, reporting, confidentiality issues, and conditions for terminating the agreement.
MEZeroE project: open innovation ecosystem to develop nZEB envelope solutions
MEzeroE aims at connecting enterprises active in the building envelope industry (including SMEs) with research institutions that can support them in the different product development phases. This support can range from product testing to standardisation, including monitoring the real-world performance of the installed envelope solutions. The final objective is bringing innovative, effective, and fully compliant products to the market as fast and smoothly as possible.
Construtex Project: new applications of textiles on construction
The project will assess the potential for using resources (materials, techniques) from the textile industry in the construction sector. It will start by identifying needs and gaps in the sector in order to check if technical textiles could be applied, with the right adaptations. The proposals will be subject to a technical and economic feasibility analysis, as a prior step before becoming R&D projects.
Development of a European Evaluation Document (EAD) for innovative fibre boards
A European H2020 project is developing a new medium density fibreboard (MDF) free of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) using industrial cellulosic waste as raw material. A product of this nature is outside the scope of the harmonized standards that regulate MDF boards, so a specific evaluation procedure will be required in order to bring it to the market with the required CE mark.
Technical-regulatory advice and guidance for future certification of a façade system
A team of developers is working on a new building system for façades, and they need to know how it fits into the regulations. ITeC has analyzed the proposal vis-à -vis the existing European standards (and their possible future evolutions) and has outlined the roadmap (objectives, technical requirements, methodologies, etc.) that should be followed during the final development of the system for a smooth market entry from a legal perspective.
Regulatory requirements for an innovative drain system
A product developer is working on a drain system that is not fully included in the range of application of the harmonized regulations for this kind of equipment. ITeC has provided advice to establish which are the regulations that apply in this specific case, which will also anticipate which certification protocol will be required to introduce the system in the market.
Plan for the evaluation of an adhesiveless fixing system for ceramic tiles
A company is working on a technique to fix ceramic tiles on drywalls without mortar or adhesives. The developers need to know in advance the technical and regulatory criteria that will be used to assess the new system, in order to be ahead of potential problems that would delay the market entry.
Bloc-Replastic project: concrete blocks with plastic waste
Its objective is to obtain a prototype of a precast block made of concrete containing plastic waste that, due to its cost, aesthetics and technical performance, can be advantageously positioned in the market. The project covers the selection of the optimal type of waste, the detailed definition of the industrial manufacturing process, the testing program and the certification of the final product.
