The exhibition sections at BAU 2015: Materials, technologies, systems – Part 2

BAU 2015 is a 180,000 m² showcase of materials, technologies and systems. An area the size of 25 football pitches filled with state-of-the-art technology for the international building and construction industry. In a five-part series, we look at the main focuses in the individual sections at the show. In Part 2, the spotlight is on stones and soils, bricks and roof construction, and chemical building products.

Stones / Soils (Halls A1, A2)

This extensive section at BAU takes up two halls filled with solutions and products for facade systems, dry construction and prefabricated construction. Here visitors can also gather in-depth information on materials such as sand-lime, on pumice and fiber-cement building materials, on plasters and renders, screeds and insulation materials. A particular emphasis, as in previous years, is on concrete. Special attention will be paid to the latest developments in sustainability, energy efficiency, design and innovation: These include the planning handbook "Planungsatlas für den Hochbau", ways of thermo-activating the concrete core, and visual concrete with all the different surface finishes that are available. "With our partner concept we will be showing the whole spectrum of this system construction material and will continue to position concrete as a building material for sustainable construction," explained Thomas Kaczmarek, Managing Director of the concrete-marketing organization, BetonMarketing Deutschland. Another focus will be on open-pored water-permeable concrete that is suited to use as a top layer in road-building. Unlike asphalt or other paving surfaces, this permeable concrete does not seal the surface, therefore it guards against overloading the drainage network and reduces the risk of flooding.

Bricks / Roof construction (Hall A3)

Flat roof tiles fit in very well with modern tastes in building aesthetics. In particular the medium-format tiles – using ten to twelve per square meter – are growing in popularity. This medium size is ideal not only for new buildings, but also for re-roofing on top of an existing roof frame. Without any major financial input, this easy-to-handle format is therefore a simple solution for R&M projects, which after all account for more than 70 percent of the entire turnover of tile manufacturers.

In terms of colors, black and gray tiles dominate, favored for their understated elegance and for blending in well with the technical installations on the roof, e.g. solar-thermal panels.

Along with dark colors, matt surfaces are also increasingly in demand. Matt and satin-finished tiles reduce light reflection by more than 90 percent, and they offer excellent protection against mechanical and environmental influences. Their dirt-repellent properties also appeal. As well as product solutions for roof construction, visitors to BAU will be able to gather extensive information on roof windows and openings, on facades and energy-generation systems and on roof and chimney construction materials.

Chemical building products (Hall A6, B6)

The main focuses in the section on chemical building products will be on the themes of energy-efficiency improvements in R&M, sustainability and energy-efficiency. Prompted by national and international legislation, environmental and health aspects are shaping the development, production and application of chemical building products.

Within the field of chemical building products, the subject of waterproofing has gained particular attention, due to the flooding in southern and eastern Germany. Remedial work is still going on in the affected regions. "The biggest problem with flooding is the pollution and floating debris that comes into the buildings with the water," explains Norbert Schröter, Principal Managing Director of Deutsche Bauchemie e.V. In Munich the manufacturers will be presenting the latest solutions for waterproofing the outside of buildings (bituminous products) and for inside, for example compound seals in rooms affected by damp, as well as new products, e.g. special plaster systems, for direct application to the affected areas of the building.

The infrastructure in Germany is under discussion, and the urgently needed renovation and modernization in this area is also a classic theme for the chemical building products segment. Therefore it will be given due attention in Munich. This applies in particular to products and systems for bridge renovation, road maintenance and tunnel construction. In all these systems priority is given to technically safe implementation and to the shortest possible application times. In order to increase the resistance of buildings, the manufacturers are also working on optimizing the building materials – in the case of concrete additives, for example, to make them ever more efficient and usable in a wider range of applications. As well as insulating and waterproofing materials, the manufacturers of chemical building products will also be presenting solutions for fire protection, screeds and renders, paints, varnishes, adhesives and sealants.

About BAU

BAU, the World's Leading Trade Fair for Architecture, Materials and Systems, is the biggest and most important event in the sector. The last event took place from January 14 to 19, 2013 at the Messe München exhibition center. Over 2,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and over 235,000 visitors from all around the world took part in the show.

On display at BAU on 180,000 square meters of exhibition space – for years all the available space has been fully booked – are architectural solutions, materials and systems for commercial and residential construction and for interior fit-out, for both new-build and renovation and modernization. Every two years this event brings together market leaders from the sector to participate in a unique international display of competence spanning all the construction trades.

BAU is also the world´s largest trade fair for architects and construction engineers, attracting more than 60,000 design professionals. The exhibits at the fair are organized according to building material and also product and theme areas. Key topics for the future of the industry, such as sustainability and building for life, play an important role in all sections of the exhibition. The many attractive events in the supporting program, including high-caliber forums with experts from all over the world, round off this industry showcase.