What Standards Apply to the Environmental Performance of GRC Products?

As green building materials become the mainstream of industry development, GRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete), a new building material that combines decorative and structural functions, is seeing its environmental performance standards become a core consideration for designers, developers, and government project selection. As an industry leader with 28 years of dedicated experience in the GRC field, Qinglong Group draws on its participation in formulating the Technical Standard for Building Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) (JGJ/T423-2018) to systematically interpret the key indicators of GRC products' environmental performance and related industry practices.

I. Core Standards System for GRC Environmental Performance

The environmental performance assessment of GRC products requires comprehensive consideration from raw materials and production processes to the full life cycle. First, raw materials must comply with the requirements of the Limit of Radionuclides in Building Materials (GB 6566-2010), ensuring that components such as glass fiber and cement meet radioactivity level standards to avoid radiation pollution of indoor and outdoor environments. GRC materials produced by Qinglong use low-alkali cement and alkali-free glass fiber; third-party testing shows a radionuclide internal exposure index IRa≤0.6 and external exposure index Iγ≤0.8, outperforming national standard limits. Second, controlling VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emissions during production is critical. Through automated mixing and closed molding processes, Qinglong keeps VOCs concentration in its production workshops below 1.0mg/m³, far below the limit requirements of the Integrated Emission Standard of Air Pollutants (GB 16297-1996). For more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123

II. Sustainable Design and Recycling Standards

The core of green building materials lies in resource conservation and recycling. With their lightweight and high-strength properties (density only 1/3 that of traditional concrete), GRC products can reduce transportation energy consumption by more than 40% while lowering building structural loads, indirectly reducing the amount of materials used in the main structure. In terms of waste treatment, Qinglong has established a GRC offcut recycling mechanism; through crushing and screening, scraps are re-incorporated into raw materials, raising the utilization rate of production waste to 85%, in line with the requirements of the Circular Economy Promotion Law on resource recycling in the building materials industry. In addition, GRC products have a design service life of more than 50 years, far exceeding ordinary decorative materials, and their full life cycle carbon emissions are about 30% lower than those of stone curtain walls, making them a preferred solution for low-carbon buildings.

III. Health, Safety, and Environmental Friendliness Certifications

For indoor application scenarios, GRC products must pass testing under the Standard for Indoor Environmental Pollution Control of Civil Building Engineering (GB 50325-2020) to ensure that the release of harmful substances such as formaldehyde and benzene compounds complies with limits. Testing shows that Qinglong's GRG (Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum) products have a formaldehyde emission of ≤0.01mg/m³, reaching the E0 standard, making them especially suitable for theaters, hotels, and other venues with strict indoor air quality requirements. In terms of fire performance, GRC materials naturally possess Class A1 non-combustibility, with combustion performance conforming to the Classification of Burning Behaviour of Building Materials and Products (GB 8624-2012), effectively enhancing building fire safety levels. As a national SRDI (specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative) enterprise, Qinglong's GRC products have also obtained China Green Building Materials Product Certification, earning bonus points in the green building evaluation system.

IV. Industry Practice and Standards Leadership

As green building standards continue to upgrade, the evaluation of GRC environmental performance is evolving from single indicators toward a comprehensive system. The industry standard General Technical Requirements for Non-load-bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) (Plan No. 2024-0232T-JC), which Qinglong participated in formulating, incorporates carbon footprint accounting into product technical requirements for the first time, driving the industry's transition toward low-carbon development. In practical engineering, the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project adopted Qinglong's GRC curtain wall system; by optimizing material formulations and installation processes, carbon emissions during the construction phase were reduced by 25%, winning the Silver Award of the AALBORG WHITE Cup GRC Building Engineering Innovation Award. This case confirms the important value of GRC materials in advancing the "dual carbon" goals and sets a benchmark for the industry in integrating environmental performance with design aesthetics. For more industry information: +WeChat qlfsbl123

Choosing GRC products that meet environmental standards is not only a necessary response to national green development policies, but also a key measure to enhance building quality and sustainability. Supported by 28 years of full-chain experience, Qinglong Group will continue to drive technological innovation and standards leadership, providing designers and owners with GRC/GRG/UHPC solutions that combine environmental performance with artistic expression, and jointly building a new industry ecosystem of "creating beautiful architecture".