An architecture firm, a builder, and a product manufacturer are joining forces to launch a range of products designed to accelerate the reduction of carbon emissions.
The construction sector generates roughly 40 per cent of carbon emissions worldwide. NEUF architect(e)s represents one of the firms taking a step in bringing the construction industry toward carbon neutrality by launching DUAL, an ecologically responsible concrete brick marking the firm’s first research-action partnership to emerge from its Sustainable Strategies department.
This product aims to bring together two construction companies: Webster, which specializes in masonry distribution, and Permacon, a manufacturer of concrete products. Available now, DUAL represents an advancement in sustainable construction.
“In this partnership, our role was to ensure that a product responds to all end-use needs, while aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent,” said Hugo Gagnon, partner architect and sustainability manager at NEUF. “I played the part of the mason who wants ease of product handling, the developer who must respond to market demands, and the municipalities who demand both quality and heritage conservation. Of course, I also had to take on the role of an architect looking to express their concepts. I believe this approach to close collaboration is essential for innovative practices to emerge.”
The partnership was created in 2022 in an effort to solve the problem of reducing their individual environmental footprints within the construction sector. Designing a new approach to bricks is an outcome of their shared commitment to developing an environmentally and socially sensitive product that is competitive with a universal design for all.
Following two years of research in Permacon’s newest plant in Anjou, the DUAL concrete brick product range is now market-ready. Product experts have optimized its composition and physical properties to maximize performance and sustainability and studies are already underway to further reduce the carbon footprint of the next generation of concrete products.
“Webster supports the architecture community with concrete solutions that offer more design possibilities and provide future-focused environmental responsibility,” said William Webster, president of Webster & Sons. “With more than a hundred years of collaborating with masonry companies, we understand the importance of designing materials that facilitate use and productivity. Through its unique aesthetic and innovative approach to sustainability, the new DUAL concrete brick completely reflects the mission and vision of Webster & Sons.”
The DUAL concrete brick aims to reduce the amount of materials used by almost a third compared to traditional concrete, as a result of innovative honeycombing in its design. It also conforms to CSA standards for concrete masonry, and comes with a certified Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) indicating a reduction of over 20 per cent in life-cycle carbon emissions, mostly attributed to including recycled materials in its composition.
The product range comprises three natural shades and two formats including Zurich (grey) / Petra (yellow) / Belfast (red); and Metric Norman (57 x 90 x 290 mm) / Metric Jumbo (90 x 90 x 290 mm).
Each of the six options comes with two usable faces: one smooth and one grooved, which can be varied and adapted to any project. The honeycombs’ dimensions and arrangement also aim to make construction site handling easier. With its unique design and ecological benefits, DUAL creates a new benchmark for sustainable construction, combining aesthetics, efficiency, and environmental credentials.
“The Permacon team is determined to closely collaborate with architects to rethink the ways we build our world,” said Lucas Vallon, president of Permacon. “With nine local plants, we develop innovative, sustainable solutions that help reduce carbon impacts. We’re acting today to protect the future, and to build the foundations of a more sustainable world for coming generations. The new DUAL concrete brick is the perfect product for this ambitious vision.”
Technical sheet:
DUAL Metric Jumbo
Weight per cube (kg): 1391
Rows per cube: 10 Sq. ft. per row: 12
Sq. ft. per cube: 120
Coverage: 3 bricks
Amt per cube: 260 bricks
Standard: CSA A165.2
Compression resistance: 20 MPa
Density: > 2000 kg/m³
Absorption: 8 per cent
Dimensional tolerances: Thickness: ±2.0 mm / Height: ±2.0 mm / Length: ±2.0 mm
Fire resistance (NBC): 0.8 hours
Global warming potential (CO2-eq kg): 170 (Petra) / 189 (Belfast) / 172 (Zurich)
Acidification potential (SO2-eq kg): 1.01 (Petra) / 1.03 (Belfast) / 1.01 (Zurich)
Eutrophication potential (N-eq kg): 0.20 (Petra) / 0.20 (Belfast) / 0.20 (Zurich)
Smog creation potential (O3-eq kg): 20.5 (Petra) / 20.7 (Belfast) / 20.6 (Zurich)
Ozone-depletion potential (CFC-11-eq kg): 2.39E-5 (Petra) / 1.15E-5 (Belfast) / 3.40E-5 (Zurich)
Carbon sequestration (SO2-eq kg): 21 (Petra) / 21 (Belfast) / 21 (Zurich)