Few would challenge the idea that the construction industry has a desire for decarbonisation. However, the barriers to entry surround the construction industry’s would-be decarbonisers on all sides: new materials often come at a higher cost, are less practical or strong, or cause delays in design, delivery, or construction.
These factors tend to compound, leading to additional compliance hurdles for engineers, builders, and certifiers. Any embodied carbon reduction strategy needs to have an answer to these difficulties to be considered a viable option.
In short, for the lower-carbon solution to be chosen, it needs to be just as simple to design, build, and certify as its more carbon-intensive competitors.
The need to make change simple was the driving force behind creating SENSE 600®: an Australian-made, high-strength reinforcing steel from SENSE Solutions®.
“We wanted to make the lower-carbon choice the obvious choice,” said Anthony Ng, Engineering Solutions Manager, InfraBuild.
“We understand that our products need to deliver change without needing to vastly change the behaviour and processes of engineers, certifiers, builders, and developers.”
SENSE 600 uses up to 16.7 per cent less raw material than InfraBuild’s equivalent 500N reinforcing steel alternative, delivering up to a 39 per cent reduction in embodied carbon from its innovative bar design. In addition to this reduction, it’s made in an efficient Electric Arc Furnace, from 100 per cent scrap steel.
“The real change offered by SENSE 600 comes from what doesn’t have to change at all,” said Ng. “It aims to make decarbonisation simple for those who choose to use it: from the design processes, through to certification, all the way through to how they communicate sustainability to their stakeholders.”
Different by design, no difference to design processes
SENSE 600 can be substituted in place of standard 500N bars, using existing design software, with substitution guides and calculators provided to further support the process.
Respect for the time and process was a priority for SENSE Solutions engineers during the design process, said Ng.
“Removing the burden on engineers’ workloads in an alternative scenario where additional work would have been required was a key consideration for us. We didn’t want them to have to substantially change their processes to benefit from reducing a structure’s embodied carbon. Clever engineering and bar design, in the end, allowed us to keep their design processes the same.”
This same level of simplicity follows SENSE 600 on-site, with time and carbon savings both built in. During construction, no new machinery is required, and fabrication, bending, cutting, and placement all follow standard procedures, as you would with 500N reinforcing bar. Welding, too, follows existing AS/NZS 1554.3, so welders don’t need additional instruction or training.
By conforming to these existing standards, SENSE 600 adds another layer to its in-built efficiency. It meets relevant Australian Standards (AS/NZS 4671, AS 3600, AS 2159, AS 5100.5), and comes with CodeMark certification to support compliance and substitution under the Australian Building Code. Through this confidence in credibility, SENSE 600 hopes to enable a swifter pursuit of decarbonisation in the construction industry.
Environmental credential, certified
Consumers and construction industry stakeholders alike are sceptical at the mention of ‘sustainable solutions’ without a strong evidence base.
“Industry stakeholders are calling for change that can be verified – that can be substantiated, measured and accredited,” said David Bell, Manager Sustainability and Insight, InfraBuild.
“Stakeholders at every stage deserve to feel confident in the sustainability solutions they’re investing in.”
According to David Bell, this motivated SENSE Solutions to prioritise obtaining verification and certifications to support their lower-carbon claims – certifications that they can pass along to those who choose to use their materials in their projects. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for SENSE 600 have been published and independently verified.
In addition to this, SENSE 600 has been recognised under the Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) program. These verified claims can, in turn, add strength to projects applying for Green Star certifications under the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA), as well as Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) credits through the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC).
From intention to action: a SENSE of what’s to come
Through simplified workflows, pre-existing certifications and clearly substantiated environmental credentials, SENSE Solutions helps consumers bridge the gap between sustainable intentions and sustainable actions. By building change into its design, not into the processes of its end users, SENSE 600 helps answer the construction industry’s call for rapid decarbonisation: disruption without disrupting the people dedicated to making the change.
