Environmental Certification Guided the Choices
Low-carbon construction was taken into consideration from the very beginning of the design phase, when decisions have the greatest impact on a building’s overall emissions. Structural solutions play a key role, especially in projects targeting the BREEAM Excellent environmental certification level.
“Calculations at the early stages of a project are important because meaningful changes can still be made then. By law, the final carbon assessment is carried out at the handover stage of the building, but by that point it is already too late. This is why preliminary assessments and their use in design are essential,” explains Kati Pyylöniemi, Design Manager at NCC.
“The building frame represents a significant portion of the building’s mass, and therefore structural solutions offer substantial potential for reducing construction-related carbon emissions. Evaluating low-emission alternatives is an important part of every procurement process, particularly when constructing a BREEAM Excellent-certified building,” says Jani Hukka, Procurement Engineer at NCC.
EPD Verifies the Calculations
Peikko’s green beams are manufactured using more than 90% recycled steel, and their carbon footprint is approximately 50% lower than that of conventional steel structures. The product also has its own Environmental Product Declaration (EPD).
“The environmental impacts of the beams have been verified through an independently certified EPD, which allows product-specific CO₂ emissions to be calculated easily,” Hukka adds.
“At Peikko, it is important for us not only to manufacture products but also to support our customers in achieving their low-carbon targets. By switching to green beams, carbon emissions related to the entire structural frame can be reduced by approximately 5%. A single decision can therefore have a significant overall impact,” says Pia Rantanen, Project Manager at Peikko.
Deliveries and Project Management in Perfect Sync
In addition to material choices, smooth cooperation was a key factor in the project. Peikko delivered the products from its factory in Lahti to Kivenlahti, Espoo, using a truck powered by biodiesel, and collaboration with NCC progressed seamlessly from design through construction.
Both parties report that the project proceeded according to plan. Alongside reliable deliveries, active communication and rapid responses to changes were emphasized throughout the project.
“Peikko’s delivery reliability, quick response times, and consistently high quality made the choice easy. In addition, the green beams supported the Cleantech Garden project’s BREEAM Excellent objective, which was another important reason for selecting them,” comments Miika Knuuttila, Site Manager at NCC.
“Whether it involved design changes or arranging site visits, we always received prompt responses from NCC’s project team. We also received beam deliveries on schedule, and even minor schedule changes were easy to accommodate thanks to proactive communication,” praises Rantanen.
