According to a recent report by TechSci Research, Qatar’s construction chemicals market will expand on account of growing awareness regarding quality construction and improving building standards across the country.
The construction chemicals market in the country is dominated by BASF, followed by Sika Qatar, Al Gurg Fosroc, Sodamco Qatar and Mapei, the report added. Karan Chechi, research director at TechSci stated that the surge of construction around the 2030 vision and the FIFA World Cup, will “boost construction chemicals market in Qatar over the next five years”.
Ahmed Eid, country sales manager, Construction Systems (Qatar), BASF outlines considerations around construction material usage, specifically with sustainability in mind: “Controlling energy consumption and costs, raw materials and resources, as well as the overall carbon footprint are prime concerns all builders, contractors, architects face during, before and after construction,” he says.
He adds that today, with sustainability in the minds of private and public enterprises, as well as the community at large, it is challenging to create a structure that is not only durable and aesthetically pleasing, but also eco-friendly and mindful of potential environmental impact.
He maintains that BASF’s central strategy and passion centres around resolving sustainable challenges through chemistry. “When BASF chemistry is applied to materials in the construction industry, buildings can be made more durable and require fewer resources for maintenance. The right chemical combination in concrete can work wonders by making buildings more efficient in the long run,” he explains.
BASF Construction Chemicals offer a range of systems and products that conserve natural resources and contribute to climate protection by reducing material usage and the need for regular maintenance.
For example, MasterMatrix® is an additive that boosts construction process efficiency with highly fluid concrete and creates stronger structures. “By limiting maintenance costs and reducing labour time, the product lends to sustainable construction practices,” Eid explains.
He describes how, through using insulation materials such as exterior insulation and finishing systems (EIFS) it is possible to increase heating or cooling efficiency, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and increase design flexibility during construction.
Also, admixtures play an important role in sustainability. “Green Sense Concrete is an optimised mixture program in which recycled cementitious and non-cementitious materials are used in combination with specially formulated BASF admixtures. The brand produces environmentally-friendly, cost-effective concrete that meets, and often exceeds, performance targets,” he assures.
Earlier this year, BASF launched a new generation of polymers known as MasterEase, which reduces plastic viscosity by up to 30%. Eid adds: “It is particularly suited to concrete mixes that are optimised for advanced engineering properties and sustainability.”
With building materials come a variety or repair products with composite strengthening properties which, Eid explains, “restores damaged concrete to its original load-bearing capacity while increasing its strength and structural performance thereby avoiding the structure to be demolished and rebuilt for the higher structural performance,” Eid contests.
Included in this range are primers, repair mortars and fairing coats that help restore the structure’s original strength and durability and protect against corrosion, while a range of injection resins fill and seal cracks and voids and mitigate the risk of further deterioration.
“BASF has a system that is also a major contributor to sustainability. Incorporating high-performance water-repellents, elastomeric and high-build anti-carbonation and chemical resistant coatings, the product helps combat extreme weather conditions, environmental contaminants and corrosive elements,” he says and adds: “In addition, it eliminates costs and minimises resources spent on frequent structural upgrades that may otherwise be needed.”
Under its flooring systems offering, BASF offers dry shakes and cementitious toppings for economical and high mechanical resistance surfaces in factories and warehouses.
According to Eid, “Polyurethane flooring products excel in design flexibility, elasticity, crack and scratch resistance, and are exceptionally tough. These type of products are ideal for public, commercial and retail buildings as well as healthcare and educational facilities.”
He continues: “Our MasterTop DTZ, for instance, is a decorative yet resistant epoxy terrazzo floor covering used in public space areas prone to high volumes of foot traffic and rolling wheels – and it is durable and easy to use.”
Owing to its ease of maintenance, this solution was successfully applied at the Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City project in Qatar. “It is easy to clean and convenient to maintain due to its high mechanical strength and resistance to impact, abrasion and harsh chemicals. A perfect choice to keep the healthcare facility safe for patients, staff or visitors, the product is also slip resistant,” Eid explains further. He maintains that an added advantage is that BASF has created a flooring system “which will last for the entire lifecycle of the building, also eliminating maintenance or upgrade costs over a period of time”.
He outlines some of the challenges around the Burj Khalifa and how BASF overcame them: “The construction of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, was a five-year project with critical and specific building requirements. These included (but were not restricted to) uninterrupted pumping of concrete to a record high of 600 metres while overcoming the extreme climate of Dubai and the weather difference of 20˚C between day and night temperatures during winter.
“Furthermore, the specifications indicated that all of this should be achieved while saving energy.”
He explains that BASF’s super-plasticiser MasterGlenium® was supplied to the Burj Khalifa, “enabling the concrete to withstand pressures equivalent to the weight of a small car resting on an area the size of a big toe!” he adds with incredulity.
“This strength ensures a long building life, and thus reduces maintenance and refurbishing costs, as well as subsequent energy utilisation. By avoiding the need for vibration and reducing heat curing, the solution further facilitated energy saving and reduced the overall carbon footprint caused by construction. The product also made it possible for the construction unit to complete two stories per week instead of the one per week standard followed in Dubai,” he adds in conclusion.
