In the dynamic landscape of the UK construction industry, the pursuit of sustainability and circularity has driven transformative initiatives to reimagine the role of steel in building projects. Despite an impressive 90% steel recycling rate, a mere 10% of reclaimed steel is currently reintegrated into construction. Recognising the potential to enhance this figure and align with sustainability goals, Matteo Attanasio, Senior Structural Engineer & Head of Sustainability at Symmetrys, set out to disrupt the market.
Sustainability and the aim to make construction a ‘NET-ZERO’ industry
Dedicated to creating an effective solution for seamlessly integrating pre-used materials into construction – and so contributing to the industry's journey towards net-zero emissions – a research and development collaboration was forged in response to this challenge between Symmetrys engineers and London South Bank University (LSBU).
The result of this collaboration: FerrousWheel, a groundbreaking open-source, cloud-based software tool. This transformative and most importantly practical tool has already revolutionised the integration of reclaimed steel into new construction projects.
Funded by Innovate UK's Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) initiative, the original four-month research collaboration, brought together the expertise of Symmetry's' structural engineers and the academic prowess of LSBU's School of Civil and Building Service Engineering.
Innovative Solutions
FerrousWheel offers dynamic and accessible solutions, departing from cumbersome Excel sheets. It streamlines the process of matching reclaimed steel elements with 3D models and provides real-time information on stock listings. This empowers engineers and architects to seamlessly visualize and incorporate reclaimed steel. Moreover, FerrousWheel calculates the environmental impact, presenting data through visually compelling graphs that underscore its positive influence on greenhouse gas emissions.
Overcoming Challenges
The inherent challenges of working with reclaimed steel, including variations in conditions and limited supply. While the initial four-month project concluded in April 2023, the commitment to FerrousWheel's ongoing development persisted until (and beyond) its official launch in September 2023, ensuring its continual evolution to meet industry needs.
Impact and Future
The collaboration with LSBU academics has been instrumental in creating FerrousWheel, a transformative tool shaping the reintroduction of steel into the construction cycle. By expanding the stock of reclaimed steel beams accessible through FerrousWheel, the project aims to increase opportunities for integrating these materials back into the economic cycle. This contributes to a more sustainable and circular future for the construction industry.
The first public release of FerrousWheel was announced by Symmetrys in September 2023.
- Summary - The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) program by Innovate UK is designed to foster short-term collaborations between businesses and UK academic institutions. The initiative aims to quickly inject innovation capacity into businesses by accelerating the evaluation or development of innovation projects with the potential for significant impact. The program provides a rapid, targeted intervention (lasting two to four months) to help businesses overcome innovation barriers, develop new models, and expand their capacity for growth and sustainability (https://www.ktp-uk.org/accelerated-knowledge-transfer/)
- LSBU won 3 AKT2i (as name of the pilot scheme – now just AKT) also won:
- HR Wallingford (https://www.ktp-uk.org/accelerated-knowledge-transfer-to-innovate-akt2i-pilot-scheme-2/)
- Opportunity - Inspired by the highly successful KTP model, the AKT is a short-term program (2-4 months) designed for rapid, targeted interventions to quickly address specific innovation challenges within a business, accelerating the development or evaluation of projects. KTP is a long-term program, typically lasting between 12 to 36 months, that facilitates collaboration between businesses and academic institutions to work on strategic projects, fostering deep, sustained innovation.
To discuss KTP opportunities, email ktp@lsbu.ac.ukc
FerrousWheel – Pioneering Sustainable Steel Reuse: Unveiling a Game-Changing Tool
London South Bank University (LSBU) proudly announces the release of FerrousWheel. FerrousWheel is a groundbreaking automated tool developed in collaboration with Symmetrys. This visionary initiative, funded by Innovate UK's Accelerated Knowledge Transfer initiative, marks a significant leap towards transforming the landscape of sustainable steel reuse in the construction industry.
In September 2023, Symmetrys announced the first release of FerrousWheel, a revolutionary automated tool crafted in collaboration with London South Bank University (LSBU).
FerrousWheel, signifies a leap forward in redefining steel reuse in construction projects. Seamlessly integrating with Revit, this innovative tool opens doors for architects and designers to effortlessly access steel stockists, explore reclaimed steel inventory, and seamlessly replace conventional steel sections in Revit models with their reclaimed counterparts. The overarching goal is to fast-track the integration of steel reuse concepts, streamlining design processes for industry professionals.
Key Features of FerrousWheel: Shaping a Sustainable Future
- Automated Integration with Revit: FerrousWheel effortlessly links with Revit, amplifying accessibility and simplicity in incorporating reclaimed steel into construction designs.
- Open-Source and Free Access: FerrousWheel stands as an open-source marvel, freely available to all users. Symmetrys commits to the ethos of knowledge sharing, contributing to industry-wide efforts to reduce embodied carbon in designs.
- Community Collaboration: Symmetrys champions user feedback to refine and elevate FerrousWheel. The tool's release anticipates generating valuable insights, fostering ongoing improvements to make it even more proficient for users across the industry.
Crafting a Circular Future
The birth of FerrousWheel aligns seamlessly with Symmetrys' unwavering commitment to sustainability and reducing embodied carbon tied to steel production. By facilitating the seamless incorporation of reclaimed steel into construction projects, FerrousWheel takes strides in supporting the industry's transition toward a circular economy.
Anticipating Impact: FerrousWheel as a Game-Changer
Symmetrys envisions FerrousWheel as a catalyst for reshaping the narrative of sustainable construction practices. As the tool steps into the public domain, the company eagerly awaits feedback and insights from users.
About Symmetrys
Symmetrys stands as a pioneering architectural and engineering firm, deeply committed to sustainable and innovative practices. Collaborative ventures like FerrousWheel exemplify Symmetrys' mission to drive positive change within the construction industry.
