Construction chemicals industry expects to be treated differentlyConstruction chemicals industry has proved its mettle for the growth of India and the time has come to treat this industry slightly different with other manufacturers,- M A Waheed, Director Technical, Perma Construction Aids Pvt. Ltd.From the beginning of 20th century, cement concrete and cement mortar based on ordinary Portland cement have been accepted as the main building materials for the construction of buildings and the infra structures, considering the ease, speed and the strength they offer. But this new building material, which is ordinary Portland cement, suffered from some initial drawbacks such as shrinkage cracks and leakages when compared to then existed lime concrete and lime mortar. So this product needed some modifications to get over its inherent weaknesses, which was achieved by use of some chemicals. With the increase in demand for bigger, higher and stronger structures in various environmental conditions, the ordinary concrete required further modifications to perform as per the expectations and deliver the end strengths in various climatic and critical conditions. This was again achieved through addition of chemicals to modify the behaviour of cement concrete to give the desired results.With time, the performance demands on concrete increased and R&D of chemicals for modification of concrete became a regular industry which is now known as construction chemicals industry. To keep with the pace of developments, construction chemicals industry took upon itself to develop products which not only make construction of modern structures possible by imparting easy workability, better strength development characteristics and expected performance in extreme environmental conditions and also to maintain structures through various climates extending their life. Now a concrete admixture has become an essential 5th ingredient of concrete and construction, and completion of a new structure can’t be imagined without the use of construction chemicals at various stages of construction. Construction chemicalsStarting from waterproofing compounds, construction chemicals have expanded range to ease the workmanship in demanding situations at various stages of construction. Today each full-fledged construction chemicals manufacturer produces fifty to hundred various construction chemicals. These construction chemicals can be generally divided into the following groups:• Waterproofing compounds• Tile-fixing adhesives and joint fillers• Repair and renovation products• Admixtures for concrete and mortars• Coating and protection products• Construction and workmanship aids.Codes and standardsAs Portland cement was developed in Europe so the construction chemicals. Suitable codes and guidelines were also framed there to take the full advantage of these new developments in the advancing civil engineering industry. India adopted the use of Portland cement very fast, and our government recognised the cement industry as the essential in nation building and supported the industry by easing the norms in its classification in excise and its treatment in sales tax etc. in the beginning of the 20th century. This industry grew rapidly. But after independence, the construction practices and the building technology did not develop with the same speed, leaving our own civil engineering codes and practices far behind when compared with the developed nations. Because of this, construction chemicals were very slow to enter our market, and did not get the due recognition they deserved. Now construction chemicals are thought of when the structure is leaking or in distress. For creating safe structures, we need to revise our age-old, meaningless building codes and civil engineering practices and overhaul the civil engineering syllabus in the engineering colleges to incorporate the latest technology and available materials. We not only need to create new codes for civil engineering but also for construction chemicals so that wrong materials do not enter the construction arena and put the structures to risk.Construction chemicals in IndiaWith the increase in demand for RCC structures and the government taking up large infrastructural projects, the need-based scope for various construction chemicals opened up in India in later part of 1980s. Practicing engineers then, were not aware of the construction chemicals. It was the construction chemicals industry which had to first introduce itself and then discuss the utility and the necessity of the construction chemicals on their project. As the construction chemicals were not specified, they were not reflected in the bill of quantities and hence not quoted for. This became an unavoidable necessity at an extra cost to the civil contractors, who would look for the most economic alternative on this extra item for which they are not going to be paid for. The knowledge about the use of right type of admixture in concrete, for the required result comes from understanding of the concrete in depth with respect to available raw materials ingredients, type of cement, strength and placement requirements and site condition apart from thorough knowledge of the chemistry of admixtures. As the admixtures were not specified, the construction chemicals industry took upon itself the strenuous task of training engineering professionals into this discipline of understanding and using specific chemicals in civil construction. Today a construction chemicals professional is a practical civil engineer and a chemical engineer rolled into one irrespective of his academic qualifications. Today we see constructions chemicals executives moving on various sites providing solutions through their knowledge irrespective of whether they have been able to sell some products or not. They help in fine tuning the concrete mix designs for achieving desired workability and strength and suggesting the precautionary measures to be exercised in achieving results in various aspects.IndustryConstruction chemicals industry is knowledge-based industry which has to evolve with new products, technologies and specifications. The relationship of construction chemicals to the civil engineering industry is exactly like that of a pharmaceutical industry to human body. Spurious, duplicate medicines are threat to the pharmaceutical industry as well as to human life, so is the case with construction chemicals industry also. Absence of specifications, reluctance of consultants to specify construction chemicals, absence of a regulating body similar to FDA and the human tendency of the contractor to pick up the most economical products have encouraged the unorganised sector jump into this business. Today spurious integral waterproofing compounds and tile adhesives and tile joint filers are being manufactured sold in the market by the unorganised sector in such quantities that the organised sector can hardly catch up.Unfortunately this industry is without any support from civil engineering fraternity, architects, specifies and the government. Because of non recognition and lack of knowledge about the importance of this industry, manufacturers are fighting his own battle with the excise or sales tax departments to explain the classification of their products, which is not easy even for an engineer to understand. The time and energy, which are thus wasted, could be harnessed for constructive developmental works. The role of this industry is close to that of a doctor in providing solutions to the civil engineering industry to get healthy and long-lasting structures which last for years without any risk and fear.ConclusionTo safeguard their interest, construction chemicals manufacturers have finally been able to form an association which is CCMA (Construction Chemicals Manufacturers Association). This association is in touch with various organisations like FICCI, BIS, Architects Associations, Civil Engineering Associations etc. to get a deserved status for this industry from the government, removing mindless burea
ucratic hurdles faced by this industry in its classification under excise/sale-tax and to get the requisite specifications incorporated through codes and relevant specification documents. The sensitiveness of this industry and its utility in the construction and nation building demand that it should be treated slightly different with other manufacturers, and the government needs to simply support it.
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