Phase 3: Use of aggregates in construction

Aggregates are crucial ingredients in most construction activities and construction materials, the primary volumes being in road pavements, road bases and concrete. These are also the down-stream materials where the strictest requirements are set to properties and quality. Sub-activities in aggregate use will be performance analyses, quality control and materials.

All products must be in accordance with the essential requirements in the CPD, which means environmentally friendly products, with no negative health effects (e.g. asbestos, radon), nor polluting effect through leaching of chemicals to the environment. Besides, physical and chemical durability is also an environmental issue, through the effect for long term materials consumption and structural safety.

The first action to be taken is to investigate options and opportunities based on the local conditions and actual purpose for aggregate use. This includes to:

• Investigate the performance of recycled aggregate available to determine if and to which extent they can substitute natural aggregate.
  
• See if and how sand/gravel can be replaced by available crushed materials. Quantify the pros and cons regarding the proportioning and use of such materials.
  

Aggregate requirements should be considered and discussed:

• Avoid (work against) too strict and narrow requirements to e.g. road materials in order to have a broader utilisation of sizes and less surplus materials.
  

Use new technology:

• Apply the newest standards and obtain novel application and mixing technology for crushed and recycled materials in product recipes, including the adaptation of chemical admixtures, depending on (and utilising the properties of) the aggregate/rock type available, and taking the specific end use into consideration.
  Refer to the attached table/flow-chart for BAT with manufactured aggregate concrete.
  

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