The growing building & construction industry coupled with huge demand for plastics from the same has been driving the building & construction plastics market. Building & construction plastics are being increasingly used in cladding, roofing, water proofing, reinforcement, flooring and insulation. The development of the industry in India, China and Brazil is expected to be one of the vital factors driving demand over the next few years, as per Transparency Market Research. In addition, urbanization and changing lifestyles in these countries is anticipated to spur growth along with rising demand for plastic based door fittings accessories. However, increasing prices of upstream raw material and environmental regulations related with the usage of plastic materials are expected to restrain the growth of the market in the coming years. Increasing application scope of building & construction plastics in green building market coupled with growing demand for bio-based plastics is expected to open opportunities for the growth of the market over the next few years. PVC components were the most widely consumed and accounted for around 35% of the global demand in 2012. The demand for PVC was more due to its characteristics such as durability, abrasion resistance and light weight. However, acrylics are expected to show the fastest growth over the next few years owing to their rising demand from surface coatings, sealants and adhesives market. Pipes & ducts were the largest application segment for building & construction plastics in 2012. North America, dominated the market in 2012, followed by Europe, owing to the growth of building and construction industry especially with renovation of structures and designs. Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth- CAGR of 7.5% between 2013 and 2019, on account of increasing usage of door fittings and pipes and ducts.
With a CAGR of 7%, global market value for plastics in building & construction application market is anticipated to be worth US$45.6 bln by 2016, as per Research and Markets. On a global scale, Europe accounts for more than 30% of the market. While US accounts for the largest share of the global market value on a country basis, India and Japan surpasses the US in terms of growth rate anticipated in the near future and leads the world. Among the end-use segments in building & construction plastics, Insulation market is expected to reach US$13.3 bln. Pipes & ducts occupy for 36% the entire market as the largest share, driving a CAGR of 6.6% during the analysis period, 2011-2016. Doors & fittings sees as the fastest growing end-user, with a CAGR of approximately 8.8% by 2016.
As per plastics.americanchemistry.com, the use of plastics in building and construction helps in energy savings. A one-year study ( by Franklin Associates) found that the use of plastic building and construction materials saved 467.2 trillion Btu of energy over alternative construction materials. That amounts to enough energy saved over the course of a year to meet the average annual energy needs of 4.6 million U.S. households. Savings vary by material and products. (Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd., U.S. DOE and U.S. Census Bureau). Below are some examples of plastic building products that promote the efficient use of energy and other resources:
Roofing
Reflective light colored roofing membranes made of vinyl or thermoplastic olefin (TPO) blends are key energy saving applications. Studies have shown that the surface temperature of a light covered roof compared to a darker one could be as much as much lower.
Insulation
Whether it is spray polyurethane foam (SPF) in the attic or rigid foam polyiso board on the roof, polyurethane based systems offer durability, energy savings and moisture control. When used for retrofit situations, they also help reduce the amount of building waste sent to landfills.
In walls, behind walls and under floors, the use of polystyrene foams can provide significant energy efficiency. For example, rigid extruded polystyrene (XPS) is a builder favorite because it can be installed easily and effectively. Structural insulated panels (SIPs) made with expanded polystyrene (EPS) can help homeowners save hundreds of dollars annually on heating and cooling bills. Savings vary by material and products.
Wall Coverings
Vinyl based wall coverings are commonly used for durable, easy-to-clean hospitality and health care facilities. Vinyl requires only half as much energy to manufacture as the same amount of paper wall coverings.
Windows
Plastics rival traditional materials for window glazing. For example, polycarbonate is used as panes. These clear, lightweight, shatter-resistant plastic products have low thermal conductivity, which can help to reduce heating and cooling costs. Vinyl window frames are inherently energy efficient and save the U.S. nearly 2 trillion thermal units of energy per year, helping reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy generation—all the while cutting maintenance time, materials and costs.
Piping
Plastic pipe and fittings are easy to install, durable and will not rust or corrode over time. Several types of plastics are used for piping depending on the properties and performance required. Whether they are polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) they each offer excellent fusion integrity when joined properly helping to eliminate potential leak points where water could be wasted. In home building, flexible cross-linked polyethylene piping (PEX) is becoming a favorite
Decks, Fences and Railings
“Lumber” planks and rails made from recycled plastics or plastic-wood composites are carefully engineered to same dimensions so warpage and knots are virtually eliminated. They can outlast traditional materials, often require less maintenance, and are resistant to peeling, cracking, splintering or fading.
Plastic House Wrap
The advent of plastic house wrap technology has reduced the infiltration of outside air into the average home by 10-50%, helping to drastically reduce the energy required to heat or cool the home. These plastic films have helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by as much as 120 to 600 million tons of CO2 since 1980 (assuming that all homes built since 1980 have some form of plastic barrier). |
{{comment.DateTimeStampDisplay}}
{{comment.Comments}}