GRC in Action in the GCC Construction

GRC, with its various applications and methods of production, has come a long way to arrive at this stage of material engineering to suffice the increasing needs of the construction sectors across the globe. To get the desired durability, the old-school GRC elements were set for further improvement. Various chemical tests stand testimony that physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of GRC decorative invariably depend upon the methods of applications and the quality of materials used to produce it.

Brief Introduction: Do you know what GRC, GRP and GRG have in common? Yes, all of them are distinct families of various materials which contribute greatly to aesthetics of modern construction industry. GRC (Glass Reinforced Cement which is also known as GFRC - Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement), GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) and GRG (Glass Reinforced Gypsum) are compositely engineered materials predominantly used in building and construction industry to - (A) add value to its aesthetics, (B) protect the building from corrosion, (C) resist fire & weather, (D) prolong building life-cycle span, just to name a few. While on the one hand, GRC is chemically resourceful that offers adequate flexural strength to resist failure in bending; GRP, thanks to its innate chemical properties, is mechanically applied at a higher speed where the use of heavy brick, cement board or stone seems to be impractical, on the other. And, GRG finished products are used for interior applications such as GRG ceiling panels, GRG Roman pillars, GRG walls, GRG domes etc. in the form of special grade gypsum. 

Source: www.speedhouse.com

The idea to strengthen materials which have weaker tension goes back to the ancient times. As per a research paper published in Turkey, the potential of glass as a construction material came to realization in 1940. Various chemical tests were conducted to improve its applications with the addition of Zirconium Oxide on harsh alkali conditions. With the passage of time, efforts were made to improve the efficacy of glass by combining it with cement, sand, polymer, water and AR fiberglass which resulted in GRC. Now, glass is commonly reinforced with concrete, plastic, ceramics and gypsum as the needs of glass reinforced composite materials have widened and grown manifold. GRC, with its various applications and methods of production, has come a long way to arrive at this stage of material engineering to suffice the increasing needs of the construction sectors across the globe. To get the desired durability, the old-school GRC elements were set for further improvement. Various chemical tests stand testimony that physical, mechanical and chemical characteristics of GRC decorative invariably depend upon the methods of applications and the quality of materials used to produce it. The methods to produce GRC include spraying, casting, spinning, extruding and pressing.

Current uses of GRC decorative: Over a couple of decades, GRC has been at the vanguard of the construction industry where claddings, facades, cornices, panels, brackets, pillars or mouldings are the integral constituents of the building.

Global Market: As per MarketsandMarkets, an India-based market research and analysis firm that tracks B2B market growth rate globally, has analysed, '' The GRC market was valued at USD 1.83 Billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 3.32 Billion globally by the end of 2023, at a CAGR of 10.5% during the forecast period.'' Adoption and application of GRC elements is expected to grow fastest in American continent thanks to the growing construction activities in North America. However, North America and Asia Pacific moved neck and neck at 30% apiece of the global market.

The growth of GRC industry is dependent on the growth of the construction industry as they are closely interlinked with each other. The demand of GRC elements is expected to surge ahead as we are witnessing an unceasing population growth that will fuel the construction activities to address residential, commercial as well industrial needs. 

Future prospects in the GCC: The factors that fuel growth of GRC finished products in the GCC includes flourishing construction activities. GCC is the home to the World's two mega-projects: Expo 2020 and FIFA World Cup 2022. More than 180 countries' pavilions are being developed for the Expo 2020 alone to make this mega event success. The Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 has unlocked greater opportunities for the GRC manufacturing companies as the Kingdom is developing two mega projects: Red Sea Development and NEOM meant to attract international tourists. These construction projects pave the way for higher consumption of GRC elements in the KSA.

Furthermore, the increasing use of steel in building construction, accessibility of skilled workforce and availability of the state-of-the-art technologies also significantly attribute to the never-seen-before demand of the GRC finished materials in this region.

According to an industry report documented by Deloitte & Touch (M.E), an agency of world repute in providing audit, tax, consulting and financial services, construction industry is witnessing a boom in the region and set to outperform the region's other industries not only now but also in future as the governments have already started the implementation of economic diversification plan to minimize the dependence on oil & gas sector . Also, Venture Onsite, a construction project intelligence agency headquartered in Dubai, reports that Saudi Arabia (USD 40.1 Billion) and the UAE (USD 48.3 Billion) alone contribute to the 64% of the total construction project award in the year 2019 which will result in widening the appeal of GRC decorative. Additionally, the public sectors in the region are upbeat to improve their performances by increasing the number of schools, hospitals, metro stations, airports, industrial as well commercial cities that will further widen the appeal of glass reinforced fiber products and propel their demands in the GCC.

Dr. Moawia Al Khawaladeh, an industry expert with over 20 years of experience at prominent GRC manufacturing companies in the UAE, opines that the demand of GRC is poised to gain significant momentum as it is eco-friendly and goes down very well with the idea of the green buildings rated by Leadership in Energy & Energy Design (LEED).