Menu
Close menu

Concrete and cement

The construction sector accounts for one-fifth of Sweden's climate impact, and concrete production accounts for six per cent of the world's total carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, construction must increase to meet society's needs. To solve this impossible equation, the industry needs to both reduce emissions from new production and increase the reuse of existing structures. Concrete elements often have many years of life left when demolished, but currently lack quality assurance and standards for reuse.

RISE is driving the transition to climate-neutral concrete. We develop standards for reuse and alternative materials, certify products for CE marking, and verify solutions in our large-scale 3D printing environment. From material development and life cycle analysis to finished structures, we help the industry realise tomorrow's sustainable solutions.

Katarina Malaga

Chef Strategisk forskning och affärsutveckling
+46 10 516 68 62 Read more about Katarina

Contact Katarina

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

* Mandatory 

By submitting the form, RISE will process your personal data.

Testing and analysis of cement and concrete

Quality, safety, and sustainability are fundamental to every construction project. At RISE, we offer advanced analysis and testing of cement and concrete, covering everything from chemical composition to strength and long-term performance.

Read more

Test methods for alternative binders for early cracking

In civil engineering and infrastructure projects, structures with a high risk of early cracking are common. Assessment of the risk of cracking, which forms the basis for any measures to be taken, is a requirement under Anläggnings AMA (the Swedish Civil E
Read more
Services in concrete and cement
Service

Testing, audit inspection and certification of aggregates

Accredited tests for mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of aggregates and filler for road-, asphalt-, mortar- and concrete purposes according to EN 12620, EN 13043 and EN 13139. We also perform audit inspections in the above-mentioned areas with the Construction Products Regulation, CPR. RISE is a notified body in the area.
Service

Testing, verification/audit, evaluation, and certification of binders

Accredited tests for mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of cement, masonry cement and mortar according to EN 197-1 and EN 413-1. We also perform sampling, audit inspections and evaluations in the above-mentioned areas against the Construction Products Regulation, CPR. RISE is a notified body in areas such as cement, masonry cement and m
Service

Testing of frost resistance of concrete

Accredited testing of frost properties of concrete.
Service

Testing of hardened concrete - strength and chlorides

Mechanical and chemical analyzes of concrete.
Service

Testing of shotcrete

Testing of shotcrete.
Expertise in concrete and cement
Expertise

Climate smart cement and concrete

The Swedish construction industry is facing large technological challenges in the years to come. This is linked to the climate footprint of our built environment and we need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions as well as lower the exploitation of natural recourses.
Expertise

Utilization of waste streams in concrete

We can help you with strategies and technical development for recycling of residual and demolition waste, as well as excavation masses to secondary aggregate in concrete and other construction products, such as bricks.
Expertise

Textile reinforced concrete

Concrete reinforced with steel is globally the most used construction material. It is easily formable in a fresh state and has a good durability, even under harsh environmental conditions. The function of steel in concrete is to improve the tensile strength of the material and to control cracking both under hardening of the cementitious binder and applied loads. Steel can corrode under atmospheric conditions. In concrete, however, it is protected from corrosion due to the high alkalinity (high pH) within the concrete that allows the steel to remain passive. Different causes can lead the steel to loose its passivation such as carbonation or chloride attack.
Expertise

Cellular lightweight concrete

During the last decades there is an increasing trend towards the use of lightweight materials in constructions and infrastructures. In that sense concrete is a material with an intermediate density of around 2400 kg/m3. 
Expertise

Concrete dispute representative

In case of failure in new production or repairs, there may be a dispute about the cause of the faults, the responsibility for the faults and the consequences of the faults.
Technology infrastructures for concrete and cement
In the Nordic region's first large-scale 3D printing environment for concrete, you can develop and verify prototypes and new design solutions. As an accredited laboratory since the 1940s and a notified body for CE marking, we test materials and products in accordance with international standards.
Test & demo

Testbed for 3D-concrete printing

The testbed offers the development of materials for concrete 3D printing (both one- and two-component), design, prototyping and validation in connection with other testbeds at RISE. The robot arm on a track enables the printing of objects with unique maximum dimensions of 9.5x3x3 meters.
Project

Betcrete 3.0 – for a climate-neutral cement and concrete industry

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world, but also a significant source of CO2 emissions.

Read more
Articles on concrete and cement
Article

Climate-smart concrete throughout the building process

In developing the tenant-owner association Viva in Gothenburg, Riksbyggen’s goal has been to create Sweden’s most innovative building project with a focus on sustainability. By thinking innovatively about concrete, they have identified methods to reduce the project’s carbon footprint. “This project was intended to demonstrate how we can reduce climate impact. And we have seen that it really is possible,” says Nadia Al-Ayish of RISE.
Article

How we can build new from old

Municipalities are attempting to achieve ambitious climate goals, but must also meet the increasing need for new housing and premises. The construction sector wants to become part of a circular economy – but must first and foremost comply with strict building codes and material requirements. These are not simple equations, but reuse is part of the solution. 
Article

How the construction sector can increase the reuse of building components

Reusing heavy building components such as concrete frames will help the construction sector achieve net zero emissions by 2045 – while increasing the number of homes. Efforts are now underway to shape the market. 
Article

Recycled concrete builds cities of the future

Producing concrete has become a major source of global CO2 emissions. Simultaneously, 70 percent of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050. The growing need for infrastructure and housing means that the use of concrete will increase sharply. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find sustainable alternatives to traditional concrete. The industry understands the importance of this. According to RISE's concrete and materials experts, a new standard for recycled concrete could be introduced as early as 2025.
Article

“Reuse must become the norm in the construction industry”

The construction sector has a lot to gain from reclaiming materials - especially load-bearing structures such as concrete frames, which often have a long lifespan after demolition. Despite the great climate potential, development is being slowed by unclear rules and uncertainty about quality. To speed up the transition, RISE has established a center with the goal of making reuse a natural part of the construction process.

Why RISE

01

Standard development and quality assurance

– driving new standards for reuse and climate-improved concrete
02

Certification and testing

– notified body for CE marking, accredited laboratory since the 1940s
03

Test infrastructure

– the Nordic region's first large-scale 3D printing environment for prototypes and verification
04

Material development

– from alternative binders to reuse solutions for load-bearing structures
05

Comprehensive expertise

– combines materials science with design, durability and life cycle perspectives

Relevant areas for you

Built environment

Cities and communities are facing a complex transition where climate goals, social sustainability and economic development must go hand in hand. For …

Climate adaptation

Torrential rain flooding basements, heat waves creating unhealthy indoor environments, rising sea levels threatening coastal properties – extreme wea…

Infrastructure

Society's infrastructure is ageing and the maintenance debt is growing. Roads, bridges, railways, tunnels and utility networks need to be renewed and…

Circular transition

New EU directives and changing customer demands are prompting companies to adopt circular business models, but this transition is complex. Challenges…

Materials and durability

Selecting the appropriate material is essential for optimising a product's performance, lifespan, and environmental impact. At the same time, the ind…