Concrete Canvas FAQs - General
When was Concrete Canvas founded?
Concrete Canvas Ltd, was incorporated in the UK in 2005 to manufacture its 2 award winning technologies, Concrete Canvas and Concrete Canvas Shelters. These products were developed to exploit Concrete Canvas, a unique material technology invented at Imperial College London in 2004 by the two company founders, Peter Brewin and William Crawford.
Return to TopWho does Concrete Canvas sell to?
Concrete Canvas has sold to both military and commercial customers worldwide. Military customers have included the British MoD, Singapore MoD, Royal Netherlands Army and the Australian Defence Forces. UK Commercial customers have included Network Rail, Highways Agency, National Grid, Costain Group, Enterprisemouchel and UK Local Authorities.
Return to TopWhat awards have Concrete Canvas won?
• MTP Gold Medal Award, Budma 2011 • Material ConneXion’s MEDIUM Award for Material of the Year 2009 • D&AD Global Award 2007 • Index Award Finalist 2007 • Saatchi and Saatchi Award 2005 • I2P Idea to Product International Competition • Deutsche Bank Pyramid Award 2005 • British Cement Association Innovation Award 2005 • Helen Hamlyn Award for Creativity 2005 • European Business Plan, Innovation Prize 2005 • Imperial College New Business Challenge 2005 • Oxford Business Plan Competition 2005 • Matthew Wrightson Award 2004 • BSI Sustainable Design Award 2004 • Royal College of Art Selected Works Scheme 2004 • Imperial College Ideas Challenge 2004
Return to TopCan I request to be sent copies of CC or CCS literature?
All of our technical literature is available to download at the download section of this website. www.concretecanvas.co.uk/download
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - General
What is Concrete Canvas (CC)?
Concrete Canvas (CC), is a flexible concrete impregnated fabric, that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable, water and fire proof concrete layer.
Return to TopWhat applications is CC currently used for?
CC has a number of applications in the civil construction and military sectors including ditch lining, slope stabilisation, pipeline protection, roofing, foundation blinding, asbestos containment, water tanks, flood defences, shotcrete replacement, tunnel lining, retaining walls, building cladding, sandbag reinforcement, gabion reinforcement, expedient resurfacing and dust suppression.
Return to TopIn what formats is CC available?
CC can be supplied as either palletised bulk rolls, or man portable batched rolls. CC5 bulks rolls are 200sqm, CC8 are 125sqm and CC13 are 80sqm. CC5 batched rolls are 10sqm and CC8 are 5sqm. Due to it’s relative weight, CC13 is not available in batched rolls as standard.
Return to TopWhat are the weights of the different thicknesses of CC?
Concrete Canvas has nominal weights of 7kg/sqm, 12kg/sqm and 19kg/sqm for CC5, CC8 and CC13 respectively.
Return to TopHow is Concrete Canvas manufactured?
CC is manufactured in our UK production plant using bespoke machinery designed by Concrete Canvas, to impregnate a custom cement blend with various admixtures into a 3D synthetic fibre matrix, with a PVC coating on one surface.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - Environmental Conditions
Is it possible to lay CC in wet conditions?
Yes. Once wet, CC has a working time of approx. 2 hours.
Return to TopIs it possible to lay CC in very cold conditions?
Yes. Warm water should be used for hydration and plastic sheeting should be applied over the hydrated Canvas during setting. Consult the CC User guide for further instruction or contact Concrete Canvas directly. Generally, the same setting conditions that apply to conventional concrete pouring should be observed when installing CC.
Return to TopAre there any special precautions to take when laying CC in very hot conditions?
Yes. It is advised to install CC at dusk to avoid evaporation of the hydration water in warm environments. In very hot conditions, it is advised to re-wet the material at 2 hour intervals until fully saturated.
Return to TopWill CC degrade in UV?
No.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - Storage/Lifespan
How should CC be stored prior to use?
CCC should be stored in dry conditions, away from direct sunlight and within the manufacturers sealed packaging.
Return to TopWhat is the shelf life of properly stored CC?
When stored in the manufacturers packaging, CC can be kept for up to 24 months without significant degradation in performance.
Return to TopWhat is the lifespan of properly installed CC?
CC has a design life of 25 years if properly installed, subject to its application.
Return to TopDoes CC require any post installation maintenance?
No.
Return to TopHow should CC be disposed of or demolished?
CC can be demolished using standard construction demolition equipment and disposed of in the same manner as conventional concrete installations.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - Material Properties
Are there different colours of CC available?
Concrete Canvas is supplied in its natural colour (mottled grey) as standard. There are a number of options for colouring CC including adding pigment to the cement blend, dying the base fabric fibres or applying coloured surface treatments. These would be subject to a minimum order quantity. The fibre surface of CC can easily be coloured by painting with a good quality exterior masonry paint.
Return to TopAre there different widths of CC available?
CC is supplied in standard widths of 1.0m for CC5 and 1.1m for CC8 and CC13. It is possible to produce narrower or wider rollers but this would be subject to a minimum order quantity.
Return to TopIs it possible to accelerate or retard the setting time for CC?
Yes. In sufficient order volumes, Concrete Canvas can accelerate or retard the setting times of CC to accommodate different environmental conditions and applications.
Return to TopIs it possible to over-hydrate CC?
No.
Return to TopWhat happens if CC is under hydrated??
The CC will not reach its full strength and the setting time may be retarded.
Return to TopWill CC set underwater?
Yes. It will hydrate fully from immersion.
Return to TopWhat fire protection does CC provide?
CC has achieved Euroclass classification B-s1, d0 which is the highest achievable level for combustible materials.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - Installation
Which contractors have previously installed Concrete Canvas in construction projects in the UK?
Contractors include Costain Group, Balfour Beatty, Morgan Sindall, Enterprisemouchel, Morrison Construction, Skanska, AMCO, Murphy Group, Dyer & Butler, J Breheny Contractors Ltd and Raymond Brown Ltd.
Return to TopWhich customers have previously specified Concrete Canvas for construction projects?
Customers have included UK MOD, Network Rail, Landmarc, Environment Agency, UK Coal, Bear Scotland, Rhondda Cynon Taff County Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Neath Port Talbot County Council, and Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council.
Return to TopWhat methods are there of joining layers of CC together?
The 3 most common methods are, overlap joint, adhesive sealant joint and concrete grout joint. There are a number of other mechanical and non-mechanical methods such as pegging, hog-ringing, steel wiring, thermal welding, and general fixings such as stapling, nailing or screwing.
Return to TopWhich thickness of CC should I specify?
It depends on the application. Consult the application table in the CC User Guide or contact Concrete Canvas directly for technical advice.
Return to TopWhat water should be used to hydrate CC?
CC can be hydrated using saline or non saline water. The water does not need to be potable.
Return to TopHow much water/sqm CC should be used for hydration?
The minimum ratio of water:CC is 1:2 by weight. CC cannot be over hydrated so an excess of water is always recommended.
Return to TopWhat is the maximum inclination of ditch profile that CC can be installed onto?
CC can be installed onto vertical surfaces.
Return to TopAt what intervals should CC be pegged down?
This is dependent on the application and the quality and inclination of the substrate, but as a guide we recommend pegging at 2m intervals and at joints.
Return to TopShould CC be laid fibre or PVC surface facing upwards?
For the majority of applications, CC should be installed with the fibre surface exposed. The fibre reinforced concrete layer will protect the PVC backing from weathering and UV damage.
Return to TopHow can I cut CC?
Prior to hydrating, unset CC can be cut using basic hand tools. It is recommended to use snap off disposable blades or handheld self sharpening powered disc cutters. After CC has set, it can be cut using angle grinders, jigsaws with ceramic blades or good quality tile cutters.
Return to TopWhat Health and Safety precautions should I take when handling Concrete Canvas?
General PPE precautions should be taken; face masks, protective clothing and gloves should be worn when handling CC. CC does not contain measurable amounts of soluble Chromium (VI) and is not classified as an irritant.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - Pricing
What is the price of CC?
The price of Concrete Canvas is volume dependant and the price/sqm drops when ordering large volumes. Contact your local Concrete Canvas rep for a quote specific to your requirements and delivery location.
Return to TopAre samples available of CC?
Yes. Concrete Canvas supplies small and large sample packs which contain hardened swatches and unset A4 samples of each of the three material thicknesses. Due to the volume of requests for sample packs, a postage fee will apply.
Return to TopCan I order different lengths of material other than the standard bulk or batched lengths?
Yes, subject to a batching surcharge.
Return to TopWhere can I buy ancillary CC installation products?
Concrete Canvas can supply a full range of ancillary products for CC installation including ground pegs, water weights, jointing grout, render and sealant.
Return to TopDoes Concrete Canvas have international distributors for CC?
Yes. Contact Concrete Canvas for details about your nearest distributor.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas (CC) FAQs - Eco-friendliness
How does CC compare environmentally with conventional poured concrete ditch lining?
Concrete Canvas directly reduces the C02 footprint of construction works by providing material savings of up to 95%.
Return to TopHas CC been granted EA (Environment Agency) approval for projects within the UK before?
Yes. CC was approved for use by the Environment Agency (EA) Biodiversity team in 2010 for the Church Village Bypass Ditch Lining Project. Several projects have since been granted approval on a case-by-case basis.
Return to TopHow does CC washout affect the alkalinity of running water courses during installation?
CC has a low wash out rate compared to other cements and a limited alkaline reserve. Unlike most concretes, it is not classified as an irritant and is less damaging to the environment.
Return to TopWill CC restrict the growth of Japanese Knot Weed?
Yes.
Return to TopWill CC inhibit moss growth?
No. Untreated CC will naturally ‘green’ over time as the textured top surface allows moss growth, whilst the fibre-reinforced concrete layer will prevent root-growing vegetation, which in ditching applications, would otherwise restrict water flow and increase maintenance costs.
Return to TopConcrete Canvas Shelters (CCS) FAQs - General
What are CCS?
CCS are rapidly deployable, inflated structures that harden on hydration to form durable concrete buildings. They enable high quality permanent buildings to be constructed with comparable time and effort to temporary soft skinned structures. Installation is extremely simple and requires no heavy lift cranes and no training. The units are modular in design and can be expanded to meet operational needs.
Return to TopHow did the concept for CCS originate?
The concept originated from the idea of using inflation to create a purely tensile surface to use as the formwork for perfect compressive forms, thus using the properties of concrete most efficiently. The Concrete Canvas was developed over a 3 year period and thousands of iterations, including developing a plant to produce the Canvas continuously.
Research was conducted in Uganda, visiting camps in the field and interviewing refugees and 22 UN Agencies and NGOs over a 5 week period. New Orleans was also visited in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as well as a user feedback forum in Geneva with staff from the all the major aid agencies.
The development has been iterative, beginning with 1/8th scale prototypes and trial samples and progressing to full scale prototyping and testing.
Return to TopIs it possible to purchase a CCS or CC?
Concrete Canvas have established a production facility in South Wales, for the commercial manufacture of both Concrete Canvas Shelters and Concrete Canvas. Please contact us at sales@concretecanvas.co.uk if you would like to place an order.
Return to TopWhat do you need to deploy a CCS?
The building comes supplied with everything required for construction, including a full set of deployment instructions and H&S information (Annex D). Construction is extremely simple and requires only access to power for the blower unit (can be provided as 110 or 240V) and a water supply (approx 1000lt for the CCS25 and 2000lt for the CCS54). The water does not need to be potable, and bore-hole water, river water or seawater can be used. No major ground excavation or foundation work is required.
Return to TopHave you done any analytical testing on CCS?
The University of Bath has completed Finite Element Analysis of CCS54 structures. The result showed that the shelter can withstand all specified load cases including a person standing on the roof, uneven snow loading and Hurricane force winds. In addition it proved that the shelter can be earth-bermed with up to 0.75m of wet sand on the sides of the structure and 0.5m on the roof.
Return to TopWhat are the weights of each shelter variation?
The weights of the shelters are continually dropping as we develop both Concrete Canvas and Concrete Canvas Shelters. A basic guideline for the CCS25 and CCS54 are 1900kg and 3100kg respectively, significantly less than any other comparable semi-permanent and permanent structures.
Return to TopHow do the shelters perform thermally?
Concrete Canvas Shelters have excellent thermal properties and have been designed to allow earth or snow berming. This provides both improved thermal insulation and a large thermal mass which helps maintain a constant internal temperature by dampening temperature fluctuations between night and day. This is especially important in desert environments where the temperature can vary from extreme heat in the day to below freezing at night.
Return to TopWhat is earth or snow berming?
Earth or snow berming is the practice of using earth or snow against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss and to maintain a steady indoor air temperature. Concrete Canvas Shelters, when earth bermed, will also provide protection against small arms fire and shrapnel.
Return to TopWhat size of shelters are available?
There are two shelter variants available with 25sqm and 54sqm of floor space (known respectively as CCS25 and CCS54). Visit 2.4 for further illustration. The technology can be scaled up to provide larger structures and we are continually investigating the ideal size requirements of various applications of Concrete Canvas Shelters.
Return to TopIs it possible to repair CCS?
Yes. Concrete Canvas can be used to patch Concrete Canvas Shelters as it bonds extremely well to itself. Alternatively a standard cement mortar may be used.
Return to TopIs it possible to connect shelters together?
Concrete Canvas Shelters have been designed as part of a modular system: units can be easily linked together enabling the space to be tailored to the application. The prefabricated units can be expanded as required, by docking units end-to-end to allow an uninterrupted flow of internal space. The double doors are reversible allowing the blades to be changed from outward opening to inward opening to facilitate docking.
Return to TopWhat is the lifespan of a CCS?
CCS units have a design life of 25 years. This is based on accelerated age testing of the Concrete Canvas for a range of environmental conditions. CCS units are manufactured from 3 constituent elements, the Concrete Canvas, plastic liner and steel doors. All 3 have been independently tested to the relevant British and International Standards.
Return to TopHow do you demolish a CCS?
Concrete Canvas Shelters can be demolished using simple hand and/or power tools or by conventional demolition using heavy equipment. Concrete Canvas Shelters are thin walled structures. When demolished, they constitute a very small volume of debris which can be reused as hardcore in rebuilding operations.
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