Braskem and EPLAST completed the construction of the first hospital using the PVC concrete construction system. Located in the municipality of Vertentes/PE with about 2,200 square meters, the construction used the modular system consisting of different PVC hollow profiles, which are coupled using "male and female" connectors and joined by "bracket" profiles. For constructions using this technology, profiles have to be custom-ordered, according to project requirements, and, after on-site installation, they are filled with concrete and structural steel. 

The PVC concrete construction system offers countless advantages, among which, is the reduction of construction time by more than 65% (or 2/3), if compared with common brickwork, reduction in number of construction workers needed, ensuring high durability with less maintenance requirement, besides offering a cleaner construction process by drastically reducing material waste and final residual waste volume. The Vertentes hospital project used up 60 tons of this innovative technology for construction of the building structure, took just 120 days to build, including earthwork. If it had been built using the conventional model, it would have taken, on average, one year to be completed.

"The PVC concrete construction system stands out for the countless advantages it offers to the building process and the environment. It is worth pointing out that PVC is a material that prevents proliferation of microorganisms, making site sterilization faster and more effective. The whole team that took part in the Vertentes Municipal Hospital is honored to know that new beds were created for those who need them, at such a sensitive time for public health, with the COVID-19 pandemic", explains Almir Cotias, Vinyls Business Director at Braskem.

In line with Braskem's sustainable development strategy, the project also adds benefits to the environment: 27% less material consumption, 75% increase in water and energy savings during the construction, 80% reduction in final residual waste, in addition to PVC profiles being recyclable. 

"The market is looking for industrial building systems, which optimize processes, reduce residual waste and building costs, but, in particular, shorten building time. The PVC concrete system has significantly more advantages in all aspects compared to so-called conventional systems, and even other industrialized systems already validated by the Government. It would be impossible to build a hospital this size in such short time using other construction methods", highlights Sérgio de Pinho, representative of Eplast Nordeste S.A. - the main PVC profile supply industry.

Pioneering in the development of the PVC concrete construction system

Braskem also has a success history in other projects that have used PVC technology. An example of such success is the construction of the Renice Seraphim Municipal School in 2018, in the city of Sorocaba, São Paulo countryside. The company supplied resin for the production of PVC profiles for the construction, which included 25 classrooms and now serves about one thousand students. 
The innovative system has been outstanding and gaining momentum in the civil construction and architectural sectors, due to its flexibility for the execution of different types of construction, such as schools, houses, hospitals, among other environments.