The Technical Committee met on the 15th September 2026, hosted by Mapei, London.
Below is an update on some of the activity within the remit of the Technical Committee.
Technical Guidance Review programme
The Technical Committee has reviewed and prioritised updates to the Society’s existing portfolio of Technical Reports. Some 14 have been identified as ‘essential’ and will now be part of an ongoing review programme. Work is already underway on updates to:
- TR22 – Non-structural cracks in concrete
- TR34 – Concrete industrial floors
- TR67 – Movement, restraint and cracking in concrete structures
- TR74 – Cementitious materials and properties of concrete.
Concrete Society members will be notified when drafts are available for consultation.
Advancing concrete
The Technical Committee also plays a role in identifying new topics for guidance, to be published as Advice Notes, Good Concrete Guides and Discussion Documents.
Recently published, Discussion Document 51 – Calcined Clay aims to demonstrate the viability of calcined clay in combination with cement as a binder in concrete. The paper recommends a series of interventions to enable behavioural change, demand signalling and widespread adoption of calcined clay in the UK, and can be downloaded from www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips/dd51-calcined-clay.
Due to be published in November 2026 is the update to Good Concrete Guide 8: Concrete Practice – guidance on the practical aspects of concreting. The revision provides updates to align with BS 8500:2023 and current practice. The guide covers materials, properties, specification, ready-mixed concrete, site production and transport, placing and compaction, construction joints, cold and hot weather concreting, reinforcement, formwork, curing, finished and testing.
Developing competence
Training provision is within the remit of the Technical Committee and the Concrete Society is working with CONSTRUCT and CITB to deliver the framework for concrete operative competence, as part of the industry’s super-sector programme. This project will create clear career and development pathways for those in concrete construction, including specialist and progression routes.
The Society is investing in its education and training provision. Our spring programme represented a significant update to course materials and new courses have been added to our autumn programme. We continue to work with the Institute of Concrete Technology and the University of Derby’s Centre of Mineral Products to support formal qualifications too.
Early-stage careers
The Society has initiatives to engage with younger members, to hear about their priorities and how the Society can support them through their careers. The Society has a young member representative on its governing Council, rewards achievement through the Emerging Talent award and encourages engagement through a growing number of regional young members’ committees. Both the Wales and Northern Ireland regions have dedicated activities and meetings for young members.
A review from the September meeting will be available soon.
