FAST FACTS

Concrete is completely non-combustible
C oncrete provides the best fire resistance of any building material.  It does not burn, it cannot be 'set on fire' like other materials in a building and it does not emit any toxic fumes, smoke or drip molten particles when exposed to fire.  Concrete and its mineral constituents enjoy the highest fire resistance classification.

This excellent fire performance is due in the main to concrete's constituent materials (i.e. cement and aggregates) which, when chemically combined, form a material that is essentially inert and has poor thermal conductivity.  It is this slow rate of heat transfer that enables concrete to act as an effective fire shield not only between adjacent spaces but also to protect itself from fire damage.

Concrete Is Efficient
Concrete's excellent thermal mass reduces energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings that can be reduced by up to 50% - a key component in efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

Fact
Sixty percent of the 47,744 mile U.S. Interstate highway system was built of concrete, especially in urban areas where FHWA anticipated heavy traffic volumes. Concrete was selected because of its superior durability, safety, higher reflection of light at night, and greater traction.

Fact
Concrete naturally can support the heaviest loads, such as truck traffic and the increasingly larger jumbo jets. There is less deformation than asphalt, and although the initial cost of concrete can be higher than asphalt, concrete usually has a useful life that is twice that of asphalt.

Fact
Concrete pavement consistently serves 20-30 years without needing major repair, while asphalt generally lasts only 8-12 years before resurfacing, or significant repairs are required.

Fact
A ten year survey concluded in the mid-1980s of 2,000 miles of municipal streets in Kansas revealed that asphalt pavement was nine times as expensive to maintain as concrete.

Fact
Because of its light color, concrete reflects from 33 to 50 percent more light than asphalt. By using more heat-reflecting concrete instead of asphalt, Atlanta officials lowered their average city temperature by six degrees!

Fact
America 's first concrete street, built in 1891 in Bellefontaine, Ohio, is still in service today.