1. 1 Classification of concrete release agents: A successful application of the control banding concept Ton Spee, Arbouw Jeroen Terwoert, IVAM

2. 2 Concrete release agents What and where Which health risks Reducing risks Implementation and evaluation

3. 3 Uses of concrete relase agents Concrete products factory (e.g. concrete paving stones, prefab construction elements) Building site (pouring concrete)

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5. 5 Traditional concrete release agent Technical requirement: Creating a hydrophobic layer on the mould Petroleum product –Heavy fraction: creating a hydrophobic layer –Light fraction: solvent

6. 6 Risks of traditional concrete release agents Environment –Overspray, losses (soil) –Evaporation (atmosphere) Transport and storage –Flammable liquid Working conditions –Irritation: skin, respiratory tract –Central nervous system (+)

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8. 8 Alternative products (Bio)degradable oil: modified petroleum products + Less harmful to environment –Irritation: skin and respiratory tract Fatty ester emulsions + Renewable raw materials + Biodegradable + Non-irritating

9. 9 Classification system for concrete release agents Purpose: –Transparency in the market By: –IVAM, in cooperation with Arbouw, suppliers, government, within a European project Result: –Five classes of concrete release agents: 1 = best, 5 = worst

10. 10 Implementation: shift to class 1 products Opportunities Threats Dealing with opportunities and threats

11. 11 Opportunities Suppliers: –Higher added value to product Employers –Less health complaints from employees –Costs related to spills –Image of responsible company Employees –Less health complaints –Bad smell Government –Reducing VOC emission is priority

12. 12 Threats Suppliers –Laggards, divided Employers –Higher costs –Complicated Employees –New product new technique, (lack of) skills different appearance –Complicated Government –Priority: small source of VOC (5 mln L/y)

13. 13 Dealing with threats Complicated:clear, univocal, simple message Higher costs: example calculation New technique: courses (concrete society, suppliers) Disagreement among suppliers: solved within BLF Priority: included in priorities for VOC reduction (money) Money: grant from European Union

14. 14 Class 1 Ready biodegradable according to OECD 301 B,C,D or F test No R-phrases Minimum 75% (excl water) renewable raw materials Fp > 100 o C Ready biodegradable according to OECD 301 B,C,D or F test (excl 10 days window) No R-phrases, except R65 Fp > 100 o C Class 2

15. 15 Class 3 > 80% degradable according to CEC L 33-A-93 No R-phrases, except R65 Fp > 61 o C No R-phrases, except R65 Fp > 61 o C All other products Class 5 Class 4

16. 16 Message for the worker (and employer) Class 1 is the best product, class 5 the worst Suppliers Leaflet EU Course from Concrete Society Arbouw –State of the art document –Product group information system Arbouw (PISA)

17. 17 P I S A

18. 18 Leaflet

19. 19 Course

20. 20 Different appearance of surface layer

21. 21 Message for employers State of the art document –Alternatives –Which agent in which situation –How to apply Apperence of the surface Type of sprayer Technical details (pressure, spraying angle) –Ppe related to class of agent Example calculation of effect on building costs –Total costs for a building project: 8.6 mln –Extra costs of new release agent: 750 –Extra costs in percantage: 0.009%

22. 22 Message for occupational health professionals ClassComposition 1Most renewable raw materials; biologically degradable; free of solvents 2Mixture of mineral and renewable oils; partly biodegradable; free of solvents 3Primary degradable (not necessarily biodegradable); may contain solvents 4Insufficiently degradable or no degradability data available; may contain solvents 5Contains solvents; R-phrases; poorly degradable

23. 23 Market development for concrete release agents (2001 – 2003 estimated)

24. 24 VOC emissions 1998 - 2003, relative to 1998 Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (except yellow line)

25. 25 Conclusions Implementation of an alternative may be successful Complicated, many parties involved Apart from employers and employees: IVAM, EU, Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment, Concrete Society, Arbouw All parties communicate a clear, univocal and simple message Analyse and use opportunities and threats

26. 26 Thanks !! Sponsors - Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment - European Agency for Safety and Health at Work - Arbouw VOC Emission data - CBS: Kees Olsthoorn - TNO: Peter Coenen

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