64
D. Kocáb et al.
emissions. Despite that, there is no doubt it will be used as the primary building
material in the near future because it has a great number of advantages (e.g. high
variability of its composition and properties and the shape variability of the elements
made from it) [5]. It is therefore obvious that there is great scope for searching
for and developing new technologies and procedures when designing new concrete
structures or assessing the current ones, including their assessment with regard to
sustainability.
General principles related to sustainability in construction are described in the
ISO 15392 standard [6]. The purpose of the ISO 13315 standard [7, 8] is to provide
the basic rules of environmental management for concrete and structures built from
it. The primary goal is to help mitigate the effects on the environment resulting from
activities related to construction of concrete structures. The point of sustainable
design of structures is to reduce the negative impact and, at the same time, increase
the benefits for the society, the environment, and economy [4, 9].
Although much has been written on sustainability recently and at first sight it
might appear to be a simple matter, it is in fact a rather complicated issue [10].
There are several definitions that may differ based on the area of the construction
industry being assessed. The basis of sustainability is formed by three primary aspects
(pillars): social, environmental, and economic. Two areas of defining sustainability
can be used: general and construction-related. The first definition (the general one)
characterizes sustainability in a rather broad context, not being linked to a specific
area. The other definition (the construction-related one) focuses on more specific
situations, e.g. sustainability of building structures [6]. In relation to the implementation of the sustainable development principles there is a very important question
of whether the social, economic, and environmental aspects should be given equal
importance or whether environmental protection is more important and therefore the
environmental aspect of sustainability is above the others. Regardless of more and
more frequent discussions on the significance of each pillar, it is generally recognized
that all the three pillars must be taken into consideration in relation to sustainable
development [4]. However, it is certainly necessary to consider sustainability from
the very start of the construction process.
2 Sustainability of Concrete Structures with Regard
to Frost Resistance
As is clear from the introduction, sustainability of concrete structures is a very broad
topic whose practical application is complicated. If it is necessary to decide about
the suitability of various design options of concrete structures in compliance with the
principles of sustainability, a clearly defined criterion must be available [11]. One
such criterion could be the building material sustainability potential (BMSP). It is a
rather simple way of comparing the sustainability levels of various kinds of concrete
with regard to their resistance to various degradation effects. The BMSP assessment
D. Kocáb et al.
emissions. Despite that, there is no doubt it will be used as the primary building
material in the near future because it has a great number of advantages (e.g. high
variability of its composition and properties and the shape variability of the elements
made from it) [5]. It is therefore obvious that there is great scope for searching
for and developing new technologies and procedures when designing new concrete
structures or assessing the current ones, including their assessment with regard to
sustainability.
General principles related to sustainability in construction are described in the
ISO 15392 standard [6]. The purpose of the ISO 13315 standard [7, 8] is to provide
the basic rules of environmental management for concrete and structures built from
it. The primary goal is to help mitigate the effects on the environment resulting from
activities related to construction of concrete structures. The point of sustainable
design of structures is to reduce the negative impact and, at the same time, increase
the benefits for the society, the environment, and economy [4, 9].
Although much has been written on sustainability recently and at first sight it
might appear to be a simple matter, it is in fact a rather complicated issue [10].
There are several definitions that may differ based on the area of the construction
industry being assessed. The basis of sustainability is formed by three primary aspects
(pillars): social, environmental, and economic. Two areas of defining sustainability
can be used: general and construction-related. The first definition (the general one)
characterizes sustainability in a rather broad context, not being linked to a specific
area. The other definition (the construction-related one) focuses on more specific
situations, e.g. sustainability of building structures [6]. In relation to the implementation of the sustainable development principles there is a very important question
of whether the social, economic, and environmental aspects should be given equal
importance or whether environmental protection is more important and therefore the
environmental aspect of sustainability is above the others. Regardless of more and
more frequent discussions on the significance of each pillar, it is generally recognized
that all the three pillars must be taken into consideration in relation to sustainable
development [4]. However, it is certainly necessary to consider sustainability from
the very start of the construction process.
2 Sustainability of Concrete Structures with Regard
to Frost Resistance
As is clear from the introduction, sustainability of concrete structures is a very broad
topic whose practical application is complicated. If it is necessary to decide about
the suitability of various design options of concrete structures in compliance with the
principles of sustainability, a clearly defined criterion must be available [11]. One
such criterion could be the building material sustainability potential (BMSP). It is a
rather simple way of comparing the sustainability levels of various kinds of concrete
with regard to their resistance to various degradation effects. The BMSP assessment