First Korean Builder to Obtain New Disaster Safety Technology Certification

[ Hyundai E&C acquired new disaster safety technology. Principle of early-strength concrete technology. “Concrete Technology for Reducing Collapse Accidents During Winter Construction Using Modified Early Strength Cement and Early Strength Accelerating Admixture, and Nano C-S-H Stimulant”, designated as a new disaster safety technology, is characterized by ▲ improving the initial strength through purity-selected coarse-grained improved cement, ▲ shortening the setting time through an early strength accelerating admixture, and ▲ elevating the hydration reaction rate through a nano C-S-H stimulant, which can express a strength of more than 5 MPa within 24 hours under 5℃ on-site curing conditions ]

Hyundai E&C is bolstering its leadership in concrete safety and quality technology through the creation of early-strength concrete* and an AI-powered concrete quality management system.

* Early-strength concrete: A high-grade cement that hardens faster than traditional cement and is ideal for winter construction.

Hyundai E&C has newly developed early-strength concrete, achieving rapid and even initial compressive strength via nanoparticle-based uniform blending technology and control of raw material purity. This innovation, jointly developed with Sampyo Industry, ensures high compressive strength quickly relative to standard concrete, reducing construction environment risks.

This technology is exceptionally competitive, especially in winter construction. Unlike conventional concrete, which needs to be heated with lignite, heaters, etc. to create an environment of 10℃ or higher during curing, the cement hydration reaction is accelerated when meeting the temperature condition of 5℃, allowing it to achieve a strength of more than 5 MPa (megapascal)* within 24 hours, thereby strengthening durability and expediting the subsequent operations.

* MPa (megapascals): 1 MPa is the strength to withstand a load of 10 kg per 1 cm3 of concrete, and if the compressive strength drops below 0℃ before reaching 5 MPa, early frost damage will occur.

Moreover, as early-strength concrete does not require a large number of heat sources, it minimizes safety accident factors such as gas leakage, suffocation, and fire, and helps maintain consistent quality throughout the pouring process regardless of heat source supply, while reducing costs and air.

After winning the Excellence Award for Execution at the Hyundai Motor Group's Safety Idea Contest last year, the technology was recognized as “Concrete Technology for Reducing Collapse Accidents During Winter Construction Using Modified Early Strength Cement and Early Strength Accelerating Admixture, and Nano C-S-H Stimulant” by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and thus designated as “Disaster Safety New Technology No. 2023-27”.

The designation is reserved for outstanding technologies that are developed for the first time in Korea or that innovatively improve and enhance major parts of existing disaster safety technologies. Hyundai E&C has been recognized for its excellence in minimizing collapse during social disasters, and is the first company in Korea to obtain the new disaster safety technology certification for concrete technology.

The technology, which is cost-effective and highly applicable to sites as it is compatible with existing production plants and construction equipment, has been applied to a number of sites, including the Daegok-Sosa double-track subway section 2 and Hillstate Indeogwon Vertex. Having secured the original technology for the raw material production and manufacturing process, Hyundai E&C will expand the number of applicable sites, while ensuring high quality and stable supply of its self-produced, commercialized concrete. 

Meanwhile, Hyundai E&C is continuously upgrading its smart integrated inspection system, Q-Pocket, to improve work efficiency and establish a proactive response system to minimize quality risks. Q-Pocket, which Hyundai E&C applied to sites for the first time as a builder in 2021, is a mobile and web-based system that enables inspection planning and defect management, and conducts site-wide quality management through real-time monitoring and web-based quality operations.

Based on the concrete pouring data accumulated over the years through Q-Pocket, the company developed Q-CON, an AI-based concrete quality issue prevention system, and is focusing on improving concrete quality control and work efficiency by establishing a system to deliver and manage high-quality ready-mixed concrete, including ▲ automation of concrete quality control document review and ▲ prediction of concrete strength by age after pouring.

A Hyundai E&C official said, “We are striving to develop technologies and systems to improve the function and quality of concrete, the main material for construction sites.” “We will work to further build customer trust and improve the overall quality of the construction sector by securing distinctive source technologies and digitally transforming and upgrading our management system, keeping safety and quality as our top priorities.”