Fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), composites, are advanced materials combining different single materials that lets achieve stronger and more flexible characteristics. FRP have experimented a wide expansion in multiple industrial sectors as they produce high-quality, cost-effective, and durable products. Construction FRP market is driven by the rising product demand in the construction industry due to its long life and low maintenance cost. Some countries as Poland, Greece and Slovenia have wide opportunities of growth in their use. To promote the introduction of FRP in the construction the partnership has identified the need to focus in two different targets that are in the core of the value chain of the construction industry: architects – civil engineers and building construction workers. Architects – civil engineers design building construction works, while building construction workers are in charge of implementing construction works. Both targets are key in the introduction of FRP. According to a report from the Architects Council of Europe, the majority of them have not received any education in FRP. In addition to this, building construction workers with primary or secondary studies neither have knowledge on FRP. Furthermore, the partnership has detected a lack of IVET and CVET training to use FRP in the construction sector that limits FRP introduction . TAB4BUILDING project aims to develop a common training for both targets that let them to increase their skills in the knowledge and application of FRP in the construction sector. This main objective has been defined in several operative objectives. A short summary of them would be: - increasing the knowledge of target groups about FRP and its usability. - increasing the technical, quality control and management skills with these materials. - promoting the use of FRP in the architectural design. - transfering harmonize guidelines and tools to target groups, and to increase the collaboration and learning in FRP applied to construction. To achieve these objectives the project will develop a blended training with in person sessions combined with online sessions with a common training programme for both targets sharing some common subjects and dedicating some specific to each target. Along 24 months, 3 Intelectual Outputs will let develop the professional profile map (IO1), develop the methodology and the e-learning tool (IO2) and the training contents (IO3). In addition, 4 complementary activities: A4 management and coordination, A5 validation actions, A6 dissemination and communication activities and A7 sustainability and exploitation activities will help to achieve the expected results. The partnership is composed by 6 partners from 5 EU countries to assure the widest scope of representation. - Silesian University of Technology (SUT) from Poland will coordinate the project and help with its technical knowledge from their School of Civil Engineers. They will connect with the industry from NE of Europe. - Asociación de Investigación en Materiales Plásticos y Conexas (AIMPLAS) from Spain is a technological centre expert in FRP materiales with a wide CVET training programme. It will take a lead in the development of the IOs and in the training contents. - 3s Research Laboratory (3s) is a Research Institute from Austria with expertise in the design and implementation of projects in the field of knowledge with a multidisciplinary focus.They will take a lead position in the development of the professional profile map and the IOs. - Federación Valenciana de Empresarios de la Construcción (FEVEC) from Spain is a leading association in the building sector in the región of Valencia with a wide training programme. They will connect the industry in the SW of Europe. - Gospodarska Zbornica Slovenije(GZS) is the construction area in the National Chamber of Commerce of Slovenia with a wide training programme, leading promotion at international level. It will connect the industry in the Centre of Europe. - Panhellenic Association of Engineers Contractors of Public Works (PEDMEDE) is leading the construction sector in Greece representing the whole industry. They have a wide training programme and will be the link with the industry in the SE of Europe. European Industry Construction Federation (FIEC), as associated partner will contribute to spread TAB4BUILDING training through other the EU associations. Project result will be a training programme with ECVET certification for architects – civil engineers and building construction workers in the knowledge and use of FRP in construction that will help to introduce this material in construction with the benefits that it represents. Partners will disseminate results in the EU industry with an open access focus. The online distribution of contents, the inclusion of the training in partners portfolios, and the promotion of the training in third countries will guarantee results sustainability.
The main objective of the project was to increase the competences of the target groups in the knowledge and application of FRP in the construction sector, making professionals that can use FRP acting on the whole value chain. The project had also the following specific objectives which we wanted to achieve by its implementation: - Increase the understanding of architects and civil engineers about the specificities of FRP, so they can include them in their designs. - Increase the skills to work with FRP for building construction workers in their construction tasks. - Increase the technical, quality control and management skills of FRP materials about main concepts and existing transformation process. - Develop a stream of knowledge on how to focus an architectural design on different types of FRP materials. - Architects and civil engineers are able to supervise and recommend of quality controls. - Transfer harmonized guidelines and tools through a work-based and collaborative methodology adapted to target groups including country specificities. - Create sustainable networks for increasing the collaboration and learning.
Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) are materials manufactured combining artificial or natural polymers and fibers. FRP market is rising in the construction industry every year (in 2018 it was estimated to be €16.4 billion only in Europe). According to the EU report from the Architects Council of Europe a 70 % of architects and civli engineers have more than 10 years qualified and absence of education in FRP. Only a few professionals and companies have the necessary knowledge. In Europe, there is a lack of specialized building professionals with the appropriated skills in FRP. Most architects and civil engineers do not know much about FRP, even though they have higher education. Concerning building construction workers, they have primary or secondary studies with a labour training based in learning by doing. Neither of them have access to CVET to FRP. It was necessary that the whole value chain know the usability and the processing of FRP. It was fundamental acting through agents that design construction works (architects – civil engineers) and agents that implement those designs (construction workers). After making a state of the art of training available in Europe for the construction sector, there were not any training in FRP.