Metsec Decarb

Reducing construction’s Carbon footprint.

What is Decarb?

Metsec Decarb is a range of products utilising the very latest steel making technology designed to reduce the CO₂ and carbon footprint of your next project.

voestalpine Metsec’s commitment to sustainable construction is emphasised by the introduction of responsibly sourced steel to our product ranges. Manufactured by processes which minimise carbon output by using state-of-the-art electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy, rather than the traditional blast furnace which burn fossil fuels, Metsec Decarb promises to make a significant contribution towards reducing the carbon dioxide and carbon footprint of the building project.

No to Greenwashing:

Metsec Decarb isn’t a minor improvement; it is a significant change that will make a real and measurable difference to the emissions calculation for any project. The carbon reduction program for voestalpine Metsec purlins and frames can claim an almost 55% reduction of CO2 emissions.

Greenwashing is a problem when companies make a minor improvement to a service or product and claim an impact far greater. Metsec Decarb directly demonstrates that minimum current regulatory requirements won’t future-proof any business.

No to a Mass Balance Approach:

Metsec Decarb isn’t a gimmick that relies on clever maths. The mass balance scheme of assessing the amount of recycled material used to produce steel is problematic in that there is currently no over-arching standardisation across the industry.

It’s a mix-and-match approach that can include the purchase of carbon credits, which can leave the mass balance process open to the charge of creative accounting. Buying a product’s way into a green and eco-friendly register, while not moving a degree from the original high carbon emission standard, is not decarbonisation.

No to Carbon Offsetting:

Metsec Decarb dry lining doesn’t rely on planting trees. It is a significant improvement in the manufacturing and delivery process that achieves a reduction in emissions of over 65%.

Carbon offsetting may go some way toward balancing the carbon emissions of a manufacturing process, but it doesn’t address the core issues and treats the symptoms rather than the cause.

Yes to Environmental Product Declarations:

Metsec Decarb delivers accurate project savings for embodied carbon. The EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) is a standardised document designed to communicate the environmental performance and impact of a product or material over its lifetime.

With a Metsec Decarb EPD a project’s embodied carbon savings can be reliably, and accurately calculated.

An EPD is a document that requires third-party verification of compliance and is valid for a period of five years. EPDs for the construction industry are based on ISO 14040/14044, ISO 14025, EN 15804 or ISO 21930 standards.

See ref. GWP – Fossil, A1-A3 (KGcCO2E) 1.25E+00 (EPD HUB, HUB-1378) for purlins and framing (54.7% reduction).

See GWP – Fossil, A1-A3 (KGCO2E) 9.63E-01 (EPD HUB, HUB-1224) for Decarb Dry-Lining Systems. (65.35% reduction).

Yes to Deliverable CO2 Savings:

Metsec Decarb delivers embodied carbon savings as part of an overall program. Set alongside Metsec’s SFS 30-year MetWall Perform – through the wall – warranty it is part of a sustainable, safe process in line with environmental best practices that meets the requirements of ISO 14001.

Yes to Fire Safety:

The product itself has not changed. What is different is the method of production, the use of electric arc furnaces rather than fossil fuel. The fire-resistant properties of the Metsec profiles are as good as they always have been.

Metsec Decarb is fully compliant with BS476-22:1987. There is also an ongoing current testing regime to BS EN1364-1:2015 in progress.

A fire performance warranty is offered by CCF & SIG via their Tradeline and Speedline range of dry-lining steel profiles.

Yes to Availability and Seamless System Integration:

Metsec Decarb is readily available and can be used with the top UK drylining suppliers; British Gypsum, Knauf and Siniat.

Metsec Decarb supports assemblies with 6 sheathing board options, Klasse G-board, RCM Y-Wall, Euroform Versaliner, Siniat Weather Defence, British Gypsum Glasroc X and Knauf Windliner.