27 June 2013

Natural Cements for Repair and Renovation of Heritage Structures

Organised by:

SCI's Construction Materials Group in partnership with the Institute of Concrete Technology

SCI HQ

Registration Closed

This event is no longer available for registration.

Synopsis

New cement plants have been set up in Europe to manufacture natural (or so called 'Roman') cement. This cement produces an ochre coloured breathable material which can be used for repair and re-forming of architectural details which is much more sympathetic for the repair of heritage structures. To overcome the limitations of its quick setting properties by using additives and by different mixing techniques we are effectively rediscovering skills that artisans and masons must have had in past times.

Natural or Roman cements, were key materials for the economic and easy manufacture of renders and cast architectural details for the exteriors of buildings during the ninteteenth and early twentieth century. Roman cements were produced by burning naturally occuring deposits fo calcium carbonate rich in clay minerals below their sintering temperatures and grinding burned stones to a required fineness. The materials offered a high speed of set, beautiful texture and warm ochre colour imitating those of natural stones, and could withstand exterior conditions very effectively. The production and use of Roman cement production peaked in the 1840s and 50s, and declined with the dominance of the newer Portland cement on the market and modern functional architecture with its absence of ornament.

For a long time, conservation of the architecture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century did not receive the same considerations as other periods, one of the principal reasons being lack of original historic binders which would closely match those of the orginal structure.

Recently a large European research programme, called 'Rocare' (www.rocare.eu) has extensively investigated historic renders based on Roman cements and will be addressed by the speakers. The meeting will be of interest to architects, consultants, materials suppliers, engineers and anyone with an interest in the preservation of historic structures.

This event is recognised by ICT for continuing professional development (CPD)

Programme

Event Day

Event Section

09:55: Introduction by the Symposium Chairman Professor Peter Hewlett, ICT
10:00: ROCARE project Professor Johannes Weber, IATCS-University of Applied Arts Vienna, Austria
10:30: Composition and Hyrdation of Roman (Natural) Cements Dr Christophe Gosselin, Geotest, Switzerland
11:00: Discussion
11:15: Coffee
11:45: Formulating Mortars For Use In Restoration Practice Professor Dave Hughes, University of Bradford UK
12:15: Practical Aspects of Restoring With Mortars Based on Roman Cements Jack Olesiak, Remmers Poland
12:45: Discussion
13:00: Lunch
14:00: Salt Resistant Mortars: Present Knoweldge and Future Perspectives Dr Barbara Lubelli, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
14:30: The rise, fall and revival of Natural Cements in the Developing Pattern of Binders Paul Livesey, Consultant, UK
15:00: Discussion
15:15: Tea
15:45: Hard pointing and soft bedding mortars from Aberdeen: characterisation, interpretation and specification Dr John Hughes, University of West Scotland, UK
16:15: Roman Cements in the USA Dr Gerard Lynch, Master Mason, UK
16:45: Discussion and summary by Chairman
17:15: Close
09:00: Registration opens/coffee

Venue and Contact

SCI

SCI HQ, 14-15 Belgrave Square, London, UK

Edwin Trout

+44 (0)20 7598 1561

Email: ict@concrete.org.uk

Fees

Delegate Fees

GB£120+vat . . . . . . . . . SCI/ICT/Concrete Society/The Buidling Limes Forum Member
GB£150+vat. . . . . . . . . .Non Members
GB£60+vat. . . . . . . . . .Student/Retired

Sponsorship

GB£500+vat, available on a first come first served basis.

Exhibition Space

GB£250+vat

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