Environmentally friendly building materials are materials that, during production and use, do not emit elements that cause ecological imbalance, harm the environment, or harm existing living organisms. and long term. XD&PL Newspaper discussed with Vice Chairman of Vietnam Roofing Association Le Minh Phuc about this issue.

In the field of construction roofing sheet production, how is the production of environmental protection products deployed?

– Regarding fibro-cement roofing sheets, domestic and foreign public opinion is very interested and afraid with asbestos material even though the Government has allowed its use. In my opinion, when evaluating an environmental protection material, it must be divided into two stages. The first step is how to produce that material? Is there an adverse effect on the environment? Then take into account the assessment of whether it has TTMT as a material? On that criterion, we evaluate the raw materials that the fibro-cement roofing industry is using.

Like the fibro-cement roofing industry in the world, Vietnam is using chrysotile asbestos called chrysotile to produce roofing sheets. This is a type of mineral fiber extracted from the ground, only crushed and filtered to get fibers, providing for specific industries including roofing industry. To obtain asbestos fiber, people do not use heat to heat it directly or indirectly, so no gas is released. The cost of asbestos fiber is much cheaper than other synthetic fibers. The main components that make up 95% of asbestos are calcium, silicon and magnesium, so even if it is melted, the gases released will not contain any harmful ingredients. Moreover, this is an unburnt construction product. However, the problem that the fibro-cement roofing industry pays great attention to is that the diameter of the fibers is too small, the size of microns, so it is easy to enter the body through the respiratory tract, causing dusty lung diseases, mainly. for those who directly produce , and consumers are not much affected because asbestos fibers have been sealed by cement .

To overcome this situation, the Vietnam Roofing Association has conducted many technological solutions such as grinding and mixing asbestos-cement in closed containers, creating waves with a vacuum machine, humidifying asbestos and the environment before processing. . In recent years, especially after the Government’s Decisions 133/2004/QD-TTg and 121/2008/QD-TTg, the roofing industry has invested over VND 200 billion to improve equipment and technology. Waste treatment technology makes the environment meet national and regional standards. Through many health checks, no cases of specific diseases or deaths due to asbestos were detected.

Can you tell me specifically in Vietnam, which facilities have invested in new technology lines to produce environmentally friendly products?

– Although the Government has allowed the roofing industry to use chrysotile to make roofing sheets, if there are customers who buy non-asbestos roofing sheets, we must gradually switch to manufacturing non-asbestos sheets. That is the law of the market. The Association encourages members of the Association with conditions to improve their equipment to produce asbestos and non-asbestos corrugated and flat panels. Currently, there are 3 roofing factories, namely Dong Nai, Nam Viet and Thuan Cuong, which are promoting the production of non-asbestos products, meeting international standards because this type is currently in great demand and has to be imported from Malaysia. Flat panels are often used to make partitions, wall panels, ceilings, floors… This type mainly uses only pulp and cement without using asbestos because it does not require bearing capacity. Currently the Association can produce 10 million m2 of non-asbestos roofing sheets. The product has participated in the national exhibition, meeting the standards of TTMT materials. It is planned that in early 2011 the roofing industry will produce 500,000 m2 of non-asbestos flat sheets. A great advantage of our roofing industry is that most of the conversion lines are designed and manufactured by the Institute of Design – Ministry of Industry and Trade with the cost only 40% of the imported price. Even some countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East still want to put this line in Vietnam.

The association is designing less energy-intensive production lines from 0.8kw/sheet like European countries to 0.5kw/panel and is striving further down to limit the use of electrical energy. or coal pollute the environment.

Thank you Sir!

Cafeland.vn – According to Construction Newspaper