Environmental Requirements

3.1 Fitness for Purpose
Certified products should be good performers in their intended application. It is implied that certain standards of product performance are implicit in the label.
 

The Onecrete Building Panels have been extensively tested by Griffith University, Queensland, in both cyclonic and non-cyclonic conditions, and is wind rated at W65 or greater. Although the Onecrete system has not been load-bearing tested by a third party, it meets the Building Code of Australia’s relevant Standard for load bearing properties. GECS has reviewed structural certificates as evidence of compliance to the Building Code of Australia’s relevant Standards. The Onecrete products come with a structural warranty covering product-life.

3.2 Overall Reduction of Environmental Load
The product shall exhibit an environmental improvement or have innate properties which demonstrate a significant reduction of environmental load compared to products which meet the same consumer use. This reduction must be related to the primary environmental loads of the product and not be limited to small or insignificant improvements.
 

Onecrete Building Systems makes use of CSR Hebel’s aerated concrete blocks which previously have been independently certified by GECA licence number HEB- 2006. CSR Hebel’s GECA certified range of building walls are environmentally preferable building products due to their low embodied energy and good insulation abilities.

The Onecrete Building System takes this one step further by completely eliminating the need for additional resources which would result in an overall higher embodied energy. Typically, a building requires a timber frame, a metallic frame, concrete or brick veneer frame with load bearing properties. The Onecrete products subject of this report eliminate the need for one of these load bearing systems by acting as a load bearing panel itself, supporting the roof while simultaneously forming the exterior wall. This is made possible since the panels contain re-enforcing steel and adhere to Concrete Structures Code (AS3600). These load bearing panels contain a lot less embodied energy and exhibit a primary reduction in the life-cycle-based environmental load that would otherwise result from the use of a timber frame or concrete wall, or load-bearing frame equivalent. It is within this premise that Onecrete Building Systems is found compliant with the environmentally preferable requirements of GECA 08-2007 – Environmentally Innovative Products Standard.
 

3.3 Material Requirements
Products shall not contain carcinogenic substances in categories 1, 2A as classed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer – http://www.iarc.fr at levels which expose the user at a maximum level of one twentieth of the allowable limit determined by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) and/or the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS).
 

The main components of the Onecrete Load Bearing Panels under assessment are the same as that of the CSR Hebel range previously certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia; Licence number HEB-2006.

All relevant MSDS’s for the ingredients used in the manufacturing of CSR Hebel blocks have previously been reviewed by GECS during the verification stage of assessment. Since Onecrete Building System is made up of CSR Hebel aerated concrete, those previous findings are transferable and satisfy the requirements of this criterion.

Furthermore, a non-trent grout external coating exists between the panels and the slab, which consists of engineered sand and cement mix, and is part of the Onecrete Building System. GECS has reviewed an MSDS sheet for the grout and is satisfied that none of the substances used in the grout are of any concern under the requirements of this criterion.

Finally, GECS has previously reviewed delivery dockets, as part of the CSR Hebel assessment, showing continuity of supply of the materials used in the manufacturing process. No other substances or ingredients used are of concern to GECS under this criterion.
 

3.4 Post-Consumer Recycling
Certified products must not be impregnated, coated or otherwise treated in a manner that would prevent recycling in Australia or in the country where the product is used. Exceptions may be made where a coating imparts a very long life span to the product that cannot be achieved in any other way.
 

The CSR Hebel product range is not impregnated or coated with any surface, label or coating which would restrict further recycling of the final concrete product. Reject product is readily recycled back into the production process. These previous findings by GECS are applicable to the Onecrete product under assessment.

3.5 Packaging Requirements
Chlorinated or halogenated plastics must not be used in product packaging.
Used packaging shall be able to be recycled by local recycling systems.
The manufacturer must provide written information to the consumer, either on the product packaging or in a separate document supplied with the product, clearly stating:
- The intended use of the product.
- Instructions for correct installation, use and storage so as to maximise the product lifetime and energy efficiency.
- Maintenance instructions, if applicable. Maintenance instructions must not specify the use of any chemical or coating limited by any part of this standard.
- Product stewardship arrangements, recycling or preferred disposal instructions for the product end-of-life.
 

The Onecrete Load Bearing Panels, subject of this report, meet the requirements of this criterion since the packaging is exactly the same as that used on the CSR Hebel blocks. All the relevant product consumer information is available.