The background
The Library of Birmingham was a key component of Birmingham City Council’s Big City Plan to regenerate the city centre. The new library acts as a hub for the region and an engine for both knowledge and creative economies. This major cultural destination is a landmark in the design of 21st Century libraries.
Low carbon technology for heating/cooling plus low energy lighting and water conservation systems are just some of its environmentally friendly features included to help the building achieve a BREEAM excellent rating.
The Challenge
High strength concrete (100 N/mm2), with extended workability characteristics, was specified for the central columns.
Our solution
Master Builders Solutions contributed to this iconic building, supplying its MasterGlenium SKY 569 admixture to the mix design for the high-strength concrete used in the building’s central columns.
MasterGlenium SKY 569 is an innovative third-generation superplasticizer based on polycarboxylic ether (PCE) polymers. Its specially engineered for Ready-Mixed Concrete and allows its delayed adsorption onto the cement particles, dispersing them efficiently.
Using MasterGlenium SKY 569, it is possible to obtain a high quality concrete mix with accelerated strength development and extended workability without delayed setting characteristics.
MasterPozzolith 324N from Master Builders Solutions was also used to good effect at the Library of Birmingham. This cost-effective, water-reducing plasticizer based on lignosulphonate disperses and deflocculates the cement particles within a concrete mix. It significantly improves the workability and cohesive properties of a concrete, enabling economies in mix designs to be used.
