Meeting new standards
Standards are important in the construction industry on many levels, and tire-derived products are breaking new ground in this area.
For example, North American playground standards require playground surfaces to pass a minimum level of safety performance, not exceeding 1000 Head Injury Criteria (HIC). The HIC is determined by dropping an object onto the surface being tested and then calculating the severity of impact force and associated risks to the user, such as brain injury. There are recycled-tire products available that provide an HIC rating below 570, which is the threshold considered safe for children in an automobile crash. Since playground surfaces harden over time, this extremely safe rating ensures the surface remains compliant to the standard for the long-term.
This product was recently brought to life at Pathways Centre for Children in Sarnia, Ont. As a community agency serving children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs in the Lambton County area, Pathways needed a product that would cater to all its visitors, including children with a range of mobility levels. Since outdoor play is such an important part of any child’s development, the centre installed a playground inclusive of those with mobility issues. The product created a smooth, wheelchair-accessible, soft floor on which children play.
This particular product uses a hollow-core impact pedestal design. This design is constructed so the tile surface is a smooth square, and the underside is engineered with a series of shock absorbers that resemble hollow tubes. The design reduces the impact associated with falls that inevitably occur when children are playing.
LEED feeling the impact of tire-derived products
Tire-derived products used in buildings are not recycled in the same manner as scrap tires, as these products should be returned to the manufacturer for recycling. However, using products made from recycled rubber in building developments and tires used
on construction equipment, projects can attain points toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Additionally, these products tend to be more cost-effective than conventional alternatives.
Tire-derived products can contribute to LEED credits for regional materials, waste diversion, and recycled content, and can meet low-emitting materials for indoor air quality requirements. If pursuing stormwater credits, products made from recycled tires can be chosen for low-impact development (LID) designs targetting improved stormwater quality and quantity management. Tire-derived products for permeable pavements, vegetated roofs, and rain-gardens resist rot and mould and will not leach into soil or groundwater. Whether they are incorporated into green roof features or chosen in colours with higher solar reflectance (SRI), durable and low-maintenance tire-derived roofing and outdoor surface products can support reduced urban heat island effect credits.
The market is recognizing the importance of this certification with green buildings having a growing appeal for public, corporate, and individual buyers. Tire-derived building products can contribute to successful LEED projects and keep scrap tires out of landfills.
Checking the Tires
Taking good care of a car includes being good to the tires. Keeping an eye on tire alignment, pressure, and rotation can add years to the tires and the vehicles themselves. This also applies to construction machinery.
Poor tire alignment causes tires to wear unevenly, potentially causing the driver to experience handling problems such as pulling or vibration on the vehicle. It also has an impact on fuel consumption since proper alignment will reduce resistance while the vehicle is in motion, in turn decreasing fuel usage.
Another poor maintenance practice that can increase rolling resistance is unbalanced tire pressure. This can put drivers at risk of a flat tire or a blowout. Even if a tire does not appear to be low on air, it can still have a negative impact on the overall handling of the vehicle, causing excessive tread wear. It is important to keep an eye on the tire tread on construction sites, where a worn tread could lead to unsafe slips, putting workers at risk of injury.
The first way to ensure tire disposal is being taken care of is to extend the life of those tires. Tire maintenance is an important part of this. Using tires to their full potential also means properly disposing of them once they are no longer functional as tires. Although the maintenance does not affect a tire’s ability to be recycled, extending the life of a tire keeps it out of the waste stream for a longer period.
Conclusion
Traditionally, tires have been disposed of improperly. They are thrown into landfills, burned (sometimes illegally), and poorly handled. The recycling tires program at OTS aims to responsibly manage the disposal of tires and increase their use in building projects for more sustainable results.
The trend toward sustainability in construction spans far beyond tires. For OTS and similar organizations, this provides a springboard to educate the industry about responsible tire maintenance and recycling, and highlight the available products made from recycled tires.
At the end of the day, paying attention to tire maintenance and using products made from recycled tires can save companies money, contribute to LEED certification, and demonstrate companies are environmentally responsible.
Andrew Horsman is the executive director of Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) and leads the organization in delivering the diversion and market-development activities. He has a long history working with stewardship issues in North America and previously held the title of regulatory compliance manager at Wal-Mart Canada and vice-president of corporate responsibility at Delphi Group. Horsman can be contacted via e-mail at info@ontariots.ca.
