Keltbray Piling achieved a new landmark for the UK construction industry last month by installing the first ever permanent works pile using a zero cement concrete, Cemfree
Working for Taylor Wimpey on its new housing development in Mount Pleasant, London, Keltbray is installing a secant wall and bearing piles for main contractor Bouygues.
The Cemfree material, developed and manufactured in the UK by the DB Group, is an ultra-low carbon alternative to traditional cement concrete. It has all of the structural characteristics of traditional concrete and is more sustainable as it is more resistant to chloride ingress and requires fewer construction joints and less crack-control steel when used within key structural elements.
Stuart Norman, Managing Director of Keltbray Piling said: “Using Cemfree in the piled foundations over traditional concretes has the potential to save up to 80% in embedded carbon. These works have been a part of a growing collaboration effort with our industry partner, the DB Group, which manufactures the Cemfree binder product.
“This is Keltbray’s fifth project where we have used Cemfree but only the first time we have used it for permanent works and so far we’re delighted with the results.”
Following this project, Keltbray’s Demolition and Civil Engineering division will proceed with follow-on capping beam and excavation works.
