(Construction) - New building materials are currently applied in practice at only about 10% due to high costs, lack of supply, lack of information, the habit of using traditional materials, etc. Each enterprise and industry association has sought its own path for their products but has yet to be effective.
Mr. Le Nam Hai, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Building Ceramics Association (VIBCA) and Chairman of the Southern Construction Materials Group, said: "The transition from traditional materials entirely dependent on natural resources to new environmentally friendly and resource-saving materials is a development trend. However, commercialization and practical application have only reached about 10%."
Recently, many new energy-saving building materials have been researched, produced, and marketed. Notable examples include antibacterial bricks produced by reputable brands like Viglacera, Dong Tam, Bach Ma, etc. Air-purifying bricks (through firing) with antibacterial ions, achieving 99% clean bacteria, meeting the international standard ISO 22196:2011 by Taicera, Ecocarat, Kim Cuong, etc. Or lightweight AAC concrete bricks, which are reusable and environmentally friendly. This material, made using autoclaved aerated technology from sand, lime, gypsum, cement, etc., offers better sound insulation, heat insulation, and strength than traditional products.
For paint and waterproofing products, manufacturers have followed two directions: water-based and oil-based. Oil-based products have the advantage of adhesion and smoothness but contain many harmful lead compounds. In contrast, water-based products are environmentally friendly while maintaining qualities like adhesion and ease of application. Recently, products from brands such as Sika, Kova, Valenta, etc., have been applied in the market.
In the past ten years, artificial sand has been produced and used effectively in many construction projects due to its special properties such as uniform grain size, adjustable modulus, and particle composition ratio according to mix requirements for different concrete types. This type of sand also helps save cement, asphalt, shortens construction time, increases project longevity, and is suitable given the depleting natural sand.
Additionally, the domestic building materials market has new materials such as nano technology cement, energy-saving glass using new technology to block radiation, etc.
These new building materials are produced from new sources or improved traditional materials, offering many advantages over old materials. They are environmentally friendly, causing less pollution during production, can be reused or recycled, save energy by consuming less during production and use, have high durability by withstanding environmental impacts and harsh weather conditions, provide high aesthetics with diverse colors and designs, and meet the increasing aesthetic needs of users. Especially, these products have good fire resistance, sound insulation, and heat insulation.
With these superior features, new building materials will enhance the quality of constructions, helping build modern, sustainable, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly structures. In the long run, they contribute to protecting the living environment and human health by minimizing negative impacts on the environment and stimulating economic development, creating new industries, promoting innovation, and economic growth.
Furthermore, consumers lack full information about the advantages, features, and usage of new building materials, making them wary of their quality and effectiveness.
Additionally, accessing capital for enterprises to transition from old production lines to new materials production is very challenging. There are no special mechanisms for companies wanting to borrow capital to produce new products, especially small and medium enterprises.
Mr. Le Nam Hai added that these products are currently focused on small residential projects, mostly accessed and used by the younger generation in their 30s, as they are more exposed to technology and information. Still, few people know and understand the technology used to produce these products.
Moreover, most new technology products are currently only promoted and consumed in large cities, but only about 10% of showrooms in these cities are displaying and consulting on new material products.
A suitable solution for new building materials to have a strong foothold in the market, many members of the Southern Construction Materials Group suggest: To promote the use of new building materials, there needs to be close coordination between government agencies, enterprises, and scientists. Financial and tax support policies, as well as promotional and educational activities, need to be strengthened to raise public awareness about the advantages and benefits of these materials.
With the efforts of all parties involved, it is believed that in the near future, new building materials will be more widely applied, contributing to creating modern, sustainable, and environmentally friendly construction projects.
By Cong Danh - Construction Newspaper
