The purpose of this CPD is to introduce low impact on the environment bricks - a revolutionary development in brick production methods, enabling an 81.3% reduction in embodied carbon emissions compared with traditional clay facing bricks.

The CPD looks at the whole life of the bricks from extraction of raw materials, through production and functional lifetime, to end of life uses and compliance with re-use and recycling policies.

We will discuss some of the preconceptions around sustainable building products - their sustainability credentials, aesthetic considerations and affordability and how they have been systematically addressed in the development of these products. We will look at the supply chain and how using no fossil fuels in production contributes to greater price stability.

The presentation takes an in depth look at the independently verified life cycle analysis of low carbon facing bricks, breaking the emissions down into four stages and showing how the reductions are achieved. The process of natural carbonation is explained - this is a unique feature, whereby CO₂ from the atmosphere is captured and permanently stored after construction.

We will take a close look at the vibro-press production method, showing how the traditional brick aesthetic is maintained, and how the technical properties have been refined to achieve the same performance as clay facing bricks.

The CPD investigates the similarities and differences between low embodied carbon facing bricks and traditional facing bricks, featuring an easy reference table comparing the technical data for durability, size tolerance, active soluble salts, water absorption and fire rating.

We will discuss design considerations and innovation, and have included a good practice guide for working with reduced carbon bricks on site.

We will look at some of the key government targets and legislation relating to sustainability, and then explore some case studies, demonstrating how much CO₂can be saved on a project.

Attendees should leave the presentation with all the information required for specification - a full understanding of low emissions bricks: their technical properties, how they compare to traditional facing bricks, and how they fit into the drive to net zero and a sustainable construction industry.

Lowie Bricks UK Ltd