Review: 21st KIT Symposium on Building Materials and Building Conservation
22.04.2025
Figure: KIT/IZB
As the concrete construction industry is responsible for a significant proportion of global CO₂ emissions, it is all the more important to promote sustainable solutions. The careful use of mineral building materials in particular is becoming increasingly important due to the scarcity of resources. The practical feasibility and effectiveness of climate-efficient construction methods play a decisive role here. At the 21st KIT Symposium ‘Building Materials and Building Conservation’, which took place on 1 April in Karlsruhe, the almost 110 participants dealt intensively with these topics.
Climate-efficient construction - building materials and construction methods
Under the title ‘Climate-efficient construction - building materials and construction methods’, speakers from research, practice and the public sector presented a wide range of approaches for new, climate-efficient concretes and more sustainable construction methods. A particular focus here was on practical and economic feasibility. The aim was to find solutions that fulfil both ecological and industrial requirements and identify the concrete savings potential. To kick things off, the participants were given a comprehensive overview of the progress made with low-emission and climate-friendly cements. Not only the technical properties and relevant regulations, but also the ecological assessment of these cements were examined in more detail. This was followed by an introduction to the theoretical principles of additive construction, in particular 3D printing, including a carbon footprint assessment. The second part of the event began with a welcome address from the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment by State Secretary Dr Andre Baumann. The programme then focused on modular construction, looking at both theoretical and practical aspects as well as the impact on sustainability. The final item on the programme was dedicated to the currently applicable guidelines and specifications for concrete construction, which relate to feasibility and potential restrictions on climate-efficient construction.
The ‘Building Materials and Structural Maintenance’ symposium takes place annually as a cooperation between the Information Centre for Concrete (IZB), the Association of German Concrete Engineers and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and was once again held this year under the patronage of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector.
The event was aimed at engineers, architects and specialised companies as well as building owners, authorities and building operators and anyone interested in current issues relating to concrete construction.
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