Modern Builders: High-performance GFRC

What is Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete?

Glass fibre reinforced concrete (GFRC/GRC) is a highly developed composite material consisting of a finely tuned concrete matrix and specially treated glass fibres. The glass fibre content is usually approximately between 3 and 5.5 percent by volume depending on the application, making the concrete particularly stable and durable. The special production method means that no minimum concrete cover is required for GFRC elements. This leads to a significant reduction in the minimum component thickness and allows the construction of both flat and geometrically more demanding products.

Where is Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Used?

The adaptability of different mix formulations, moulds and surface treatments makes GFRC a preferred material for architectural applications. The stable yet lightweight architectural concrete is therefore particularly suitable for 

• Ventilated curtain wall façades
• Interior panelling
• Street furniture
• Tunnel fit-out
• Decorative elements
• Window sills

What are the advantages of Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete over traditional concrete? 

Glass fibre reinforced concrete offers a number of advantages over traditional concrete that make it particularly attractive for special construction applications and architectural designs: 

• Tensile and flexural strength: the spraying process cuts the glass fibre strand into short fibres and incorporates them evenly into the fine concrete matrix with random orientation. In contrast to inserting the reinforcement in mesh layers, this means that no minimum cover is required and the reinforcement is not only located in one level of the glass fibre concrete element, but also in the remaining load-bearing layers of the GFRC element except for the surface layer. Therefore, the outstanding material characteristics of sprayed GFRC can be achieved.
• Corrosion-free: glass fibre reinforced concrete has an improved load acceptance and therefore provides for its superior ductility minimising the risk of cracks. Therewith and by additionally using alkali-resistant glass fibres, carbonation and with it the possible degradation of concrete is avoided resulting in the positive long life cycle of our GFRC products. The corrosion resistance of the glass fibres eliminates further problems such as rust in the reinforcement and the associated renovation costs. 
• Thinner components: the reduced concrete cover allows for more filigree and lighter construction elements, which has a positive effect on design and costs. 
• High adaptability: the glass fibre reinforced concrete can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and textures, enabling creative architectural solutions.
• Lightweight: the lower weight of glass fibre reinforced concrete reduces the load on the load-bearing structure, resulting in cost savings for the foundations and load-bearing structure of the building. However, there are also advantages for the entire logistics chain: Lower weight means easier transport as well as simpler and faster assembly with lighter lifting tools. 
• Sustainability: the lower material consumption and long service life contribute to the sustainability of construction projects. In addition, CO2 savings are also possible thanks to the low weight and faster installation.
• Weather resistance: glass fibre reinforced concrete is generally resistant to environmental influences such as freeze-thaw, wet-dry or heat-rain cycles.